The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Mam’selle

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 2, 2013 is Mam’selle.

About This Song

Mam’selle was written by Edmund Goulding, with lyrics by Mack Gordon. The song was used in the 1947 Tyrone Power movie The Razor’s Edge. Five different recordings of the song reached the top ten list in that same year, including versions by Dick Haymes, Frank Sinatra and Dennis Day. Frankie Laine recorded a jazz version as well.

About This Version

Today’s version is from one of my favorite Tony Bennett albums, Tony Bennett Sings For Two. This album featured just Tony and Ralph Sharon on piano with no other musicians. I only recently discovered that the entire album was recorded in a single session. It’s a beautiful album that features Bennett’s voice perfectly.

http://open.spotify.com/track/25RurDuYwQlN78ijOoCG4N
Mam’selle, as well as Tony Bennett Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Friday, February 22, 2013 is There Will Never Be Another You.

About There Will Never Be Another You

This song was written in 1942 by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the Sonja Henie film Iceland. Like most Harry Warren songs, There Will Never Be Another You found a home in the jazz and popular song repertoire.

Iceland

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of There Will Never Be Another You for his 1959 album In Person! with Count Basie and His Orchestra. I’ve loved this song for many, many years, dating back to my work on a Harry Warren revue at New Stage Theater in Jackson, Mississippi in 1978. I also have very fond memories of the use of this song in one of my favorite films, The World According to Garp from 1982.

It’s a beautiful and heart-felt love song and this version from 1959 is a sincere declaration of young love. The Count Basie Orchestra is wonderful on this song, as well as the entire album. Bennett also sings this song in a breathtaking medley with A Weaver of Dreams in Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, arranged by Ralph Sharon.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2nGTLf9VjGyv98IZ8IAfxc
There Will Never Be Another You, as well as the full In Person! album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The Song of the Day for Tuesday, November 27, 2012 is There Will Never Be Another You.

About There Will Never Be Another You

This song was written by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon for the 1942 film musical Iceland, starring Sonja Henie. I first fell in love with this song when it was featured in one of my favorite movies, The World According To Garp. The song is a jazz standard and has been recorded by Rosemary Clooney, Chet Baker, Lionel Hampton, Frank Sinatra and Art Tatum. It really is a beautiful song.

About This Version

This  version is from Mr. Bennett’s 1959 album In Person! With Count Basie and His Orchestra (compiled on From Now On, released in 2012).

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Song of the Day: A Weaver of Dreams / There Will Never Be Another You

The Song of the Day for October 8, 2012  is the beautiful medley of A Weaver of Dreams and There Will Never Be Another You.

About A Weaver of Dreams and There Will Never Be Another You

A Weaver of Dreams was written by Victor Young and Jack Elliott.

There Will Never Be Another You was written by Harry Warren, with lyrics by Mack Gordon. It was written for the 1942 movie Iceland, starring Sonja Henie. It is widely played jazz standard and has been recorded by many artists, including Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

This medley is from Tony Bennett’s 1990 Astoria: Portrait of the Artist.  This album is a favorite of this author and this arrangement is really outstanding. Hope you enjoy it.