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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

March 16, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Thursday, March 17, 2022, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Nat “King” Cole, who was born on March 17, 1919.

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number. Nat “King” Cole had a major hit with this song in 1940.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Lorraine” in 1965 in Chicago. Bennett was working with cornettist Bobby Hackett at the Palmer House. Nat “King” Cole had passed away just the month before and they wanted to do a recording of “Sweet Lorraine,” one of Cole’s early hits. Hackett played the ukulele for the recording and a friend of his, Joe Marsala, played clarinet. The recording was included on If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set is available on Apple Music.

We were very pleased to find a video of Nat Cole and his trio performing “Sweet Lorraine.”

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bobby Hackett, Cliff Burwell, If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, Joe Marsala, Mitchell Parish, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett

April 28, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Thursday, April 29, 2021, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About Today

Today marks the 122nd anniversary of the birth of Duke Ellington, born in Washington D.C. on April 29, 1899. His music will never be forgotten and will never be outdated.

About This Song

“Sophisticated Lady” was written by Duke Ellington in 1932, with lyrics by Irving Mills and Mitchell Parish. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year. “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s “Stormy Weather.” It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett was recorded in 1999 for the album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Sophisticated Lady

Listen to Sophisticated Lady on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1932 instrumental recording.

Sophisticated Lady

Listen to Sophisticated Lady on Spotify. Duke Ellington · Song · 2018.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, Duke Ellington, Irving Mills, Jorge Calandrelli, Mitchell Parish, Tony Bennett

March 16, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 17, 2021, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

Today’s song is in honor of Nat “King” Cole, who was born on March 17, 1919. Nat Cole recorded “Sweet Lorraine” in 1940 and it was a big hit for him. Tony Bennett and Nat Cole were good friends, and Bennett dedicated today’s song of the day in Cole’s memory.

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Lorraine” on March 11, 1965, with Buddy Hackett on ukulele and Joe Marsala on clarinet. The recording was released on If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, released in 1965.

Sweet Lorraine

Listen to Sweet Lorraine on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1965.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bobby Hackett, Cliff Burwell, Joe Marsala, Mitchell Parish, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett

September 1, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 2, 2020, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell in 1928, It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number. Nat King Cole had a major hit with this song in 1940.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Lorraine” in 1965, though it was not part of the rest of the sessions for If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. In March 1965, Tony Bennett and Bobby Hackett were appearing live in Chicago and decided to record this song in tribute to Nat King Cole, who had died a month earlier. Hackett played the ukulele (not the cornet, which was his instrument) and Hackett’s friend, Joe Marsala, played clarinet.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bobby Hackett, Cliff Burwell, If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, Joe Marsala, Mitchell Parish, Nat King Cole, Tony Bennett

March 10, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 11, 2020, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. The song was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number. Nat King Cole had a major hit with this song in 1940.

About This Version

I’ll let Tony tell the story about this recording:

That album, If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, also included a song that’s always been very special to me: “Sweet Lorraine.” I dedicated it to Nat Cole, who had died a month earlier in April 1965. I was heartbroken when I heard that Nat had passed away. Bobby Hackett and I were working at the Palmer House in Chicago, and it seemed appropriate to pay tribute by recording Nat’s signature tune while we were in his hometown. Bobby, whose instrument was normally cornet, surprised us all by playing ukulele on this record; his buddy Joe Marsala played clarinet.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set , is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bobby Hackett, Cliff Burwell, Joe Marsala, Mitchell Parish, Nat Cole, Tony Bennett

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