The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Country Girl

The song of the day for Friday, September 25, 2015 is “Country Girl.”

About This Song

“Country Girl” was written by the Canadian-born composer, conductor, arranger and trumpet player Robert Farnon in 1966. Farnon composed both light classical and popular music, as well as film and television scores. He worked with Tony Bennett on several albums, including the wonderful 1968 Snowfall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Country Girl” on November 26, 1966 for his album Tony Makes It Happen!. This song, as well as the entire album, was arranged and conducted by the wonderful Marion Evans. This was, to the best of my knowledge, the first time that Bennett and Evans worked together. They continue to work together today, most recently on Cheek To Cheek.

Country Girl

Listen to Country Girl on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1967


“Country Girl,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Lost In The Stars

The song of the day for Friday, September 11, 2015 is “Lost In The Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars” was composed in 1949 by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. The song is from the 1949 musical of the same name, based on the 1948 novel by Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country. Set in South Africa in an era when apartheid seemed as if it would never end, the plot concerns a black priest whose son, in a robbery attempt, kills a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song many times and all of the versions are wonderful. Today’s version is his first recording of “Lost In the Stars” and was recorded on June 6, 1956. This song was conducted by Ray Conniff. The arrangement is, I believe, from the uncredited Marion Evans. Other songs on the album were arranged by Neal Hefti, Gil Evans and Don Costa. “Lost In The Stars” was released in January 1957 on Bennett’s second full-length album, Tony.

Lost In the Stars

Listen to Lost In the Stars on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1957


“Lost In The Stars,” as well as Tony, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, September 5, 2015 “Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was composed by Burton Lane with lyrics by Yip Harburg for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Old Devil Moon” in 1954 for his first album, Cloud 7. Today’s recording is from his 1967 album Tony Makes It Happen! and was arranged by the great Marion Evans.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4t3I5khZ6TCaoSYYW1cKms
“Old Devil Moon,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

About Today

We interrupt our regular programming to bring you Tony Bennett YouTube Saturday. Today’s video of “Old Devil Moon” is from the MTV Unplugged concert, broadcast in April 1994. Mr. Bennett is accompanied by Ralph Sharon, Clayton Cameron on drums and Doug Richeson on bass.

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Song of the Day: I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart

The song of the day for Thursday, August 27, 2015 is “I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart.”

About This Song

“I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart” was written in 1938 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills, Henry Nemo and John Redmond. The song was a major hit for Duke Ellington, reaching #1 on the charts. In addition to his own recording that year, other recordings by Benny Goodman and Mildred Bailey were made that year and were extremely popular as well. In 1952 Ellington named this song as one of his eleven favorites.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart” in 1967 for Tony Makes It Happen! The arrangement is by Marion Evans; the album was produced by Howard Roberts.

About Today

I realize it’s two Duke Ellington songs this week. So sue me. I just love his songs so much.

I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart

Listen to I Let a Song Go Out of My Heart on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1967


” I Let A Song Go Out Of My Heart,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Saturday, August 22, 2015 is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

“I Won’t Dance” was composed by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields. This song was originally written in 1934 for a London musical called Three Sisters with lyrics from Oscar Hammerstein and Otto Harbach, though the show was flop and was quickly forgotten. The following year, a film of Roberta was made, and the song was re-purposed, this time with the new Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded this song for their album Cheek To Cheek. They seem to be having a lot of fun singing this song, artfully arranged by Marion Evans.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett was so excited to hear that Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap are releasing the Jerome Kern album next month. I’ve been humming Jerome Kern songs all day, so it’s only fitting to include one his songs. Today’s song is on the album. I’m also looking forward to hearing the recording of “All The Things You Are,” which Bennett sang at his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert, but has not recorded since. Well, actually, I’m looking forward to the entire album.

And because it’s Saturday, our video today is Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett singing today’s song from their Emmy-nominated special for PBS. And it has showgirls!

I Won"t Dance

Listen to I Won"t Dance on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


“I Won’t Dance,” as well as , is available from iTunes.

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