The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Friday, April 10, 2025, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

“Sophisticated Lady” was written in 1932 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Mitchell Parish and Irving Mills. Ellington wrote it as an instrumental named “Never No Lament,” but changed the title to “Sophisticated Lady” after the lyrics were added.

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 recorded “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

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

We have Ellington’s 1933 recording of “Sophisticated Lady” with Johnny Hodges, Barney Bigard, Juan Tizol, Cootie Williams, Harry Carney and more:

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 11, 2025, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish in 1928. It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Vallee 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” on March 11, 1965, for If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. Trumpet player Bobby Hackett played ukulele and Joe Marsala played clarinet.

Bennett told this story in his autobiography, The Good Life:

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 on Apple Music.

Here is Nat Cole’s 1940 recording of “Sweet Lorraine.”

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Monday, August 5, 2024, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

“Sophisticated Lady” was written in 1932 by Duke Ellington, 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 recorded “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The recording features Joel Smirnoff on violin. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

em>Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

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

Here’s a live recording of “Sophisticated Lady: from Ellington’s performance at the 1956 Newport Jazz Festival (where he brought down the house with the extraordinary 14 minute rendition of “Dimenuendo In Blue” which I’m also including):

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 17, 2024, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish and was originally a vaudeville song. The initial Rudy Valle recording made the song popular as 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” on March 11, 1965, for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. In his autobiography The Good Life, Bennett tells the story behind this recording.

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 February 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 on Apple Music.

I found this video of Nat King Cole singing today’s song. I hope you enjoy it.

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 15, 2023, is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Sophisticated Lady” in 1932 as an instrumental. Lyrics were added later by 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 recorded this version of “Sophisticated Lady” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The album was released to coincide with the 100-year anniversary of Ellington’s birth. The song was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. Joel Smirnoff played the violin solo for this recording.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

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