An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett
The song of the day for Thursday, May 19, 2022, is “Sing You Sinners.”
“Sing You Sinners” was written by W. Franke Harling and Sam Coslow for the 1930 movie Honey, starring Lillian Roth.
Tony Bennett recorded “Sing You Sinners” on July 20, 1950, featuring an arrangement by Marty Manning.
“Sing You Sinners,” as well as all of the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Wednesday, May 18, 2022, is “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams.”
Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” in 1933 for the movie Moulin Rouge, where it was sung by Constance Bennett. Although numerous artists have recorded “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” (including Bing Crosby 1944), this song is very strongly identified with Tony Bennett. In fact, his 1946 demo record of “Boulevard of Broken Dreams” was heard by Mitch Miller and got Bennett his first recording contract with Columbia Records.
Tony Bennett recorded “The Boulevard of Broken Dreams” on April 17, 1950, featuring an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was released as a single on May 22, 1950.
“The Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” as well as the songs collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Tuesday, May 17, 2021, is “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for the 1928 revue Blackbirds of 1928, produced by Lew Leslie. The song was the first big hit for this songwriting pair. It has been a widely recorded jazz and popular standard, with recordings by Ukelele Ike, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Anita O’Day, and many others.
Tony Bennett recorded this version of “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” on April 17, 1950, with an arrangement by Marty Manning. This was Bennett’s first session with Columbia Records.
“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” as well as the other singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Wednesday, May 4, 2022, is “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.”
“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” (“Corcovado” in the original Portuguese) written by Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1960 is one of the great early bossa nova songs. The English lyrics were written by Gene Lees. The song has a serene quiet feeling–the English title fits the mood of the song perfectly. Both Stan Getz and Miles Davis recorded jazz versions of “Quiet Nights.”
Tony Bennett recorded “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” for his 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.
“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” as well as I Wanna Be Around is available on Apple Music.
The song of the day for Sunday, April 24, 2022, is “Have I Told You Lately.”
“Have I Told You Lately” was written in 1962 by Harold Rome for I Can Get It For You Wholesale, which marked the Broadway debut of the then 19-year-old Barbra Streisand in the supporting role of Miss Marmelstein, a secretary. Her audition for the role was so good, that the writers enlarged her role to take better advantage of her prodigious talents. The cast album was recorded by Columbia Records, and Goddard Lieberson had the good sense to sign the young Streisand to a contract and thus Columbia produced her first album, The Barbra Streisand Album, released in 1963.
Tony Bennett recorded “Have I Told You Lately” in 1962, featuring an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was released in 1962 on the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco.
“Have I Told You Lately,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco is available on Apple Music.