The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Friday, July 19, 2019, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

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 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” in 1965; it was released on his album If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set. Bennett tells 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

Sweet Lorraine, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

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

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 20, 2017 is “Sweet Lorraine.”

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

This lovely recording is from Bennett’s 1965 album If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set. It features Bobby Hackett on the ukulele and Hackett’s friend Joe Marsala on clarinet. It’s a very nice recording.

Sweet Lorraine

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965


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

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Saturday, April 9, 2016 is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Sophisticated Lady” in 1932 as an instrumental. Lyrics were added later by Mitchell Parish and Irving Mills. 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 has recorded “Sophisticated Lady” several times, but I am quite partial to this recording from his 1999 album Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Gray Sargent on guitar and Joel Smirnoff on violin provide the brilliant accompaniment.

Sophisticated Lady

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


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

About Today

Our video is the Duke Ellington Orchestra performing “Sophisticated Lady” in Copenhagen, probably in 1971. It features the great Harry Carney.

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Sunday, November 8, 2015 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 These Versions

Today we feature three different versions of “Sophisticated Lady,” from 1960, 1999 and 2014. Mr. Bennett also recorded this song in 1973 while on the MGM/Verve label, but that version is not available on either Spotify or iTunes.

We open with the 1960 version, arranged by Frank DeVol and released on Alone Together. In spite of this version including two of my least-favorite things (too many strings and a chorus), it’s a good arrangement and Bennett is in top voice.

Next is the 1999 version, which Mr. Bennett recorded for his centennial tribute album to Duke Ellington: “Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool.” This is a slower and more considered version than the 1960 recording. The beginning of the song, with just Gray Sargent’s guitar, is wonderful. And if that’s not special enough, Joel Smirnoff’s violin comes in. It just guitar, violin and Bennett’s voice. It’s delicate, sincere and touching, with just a hint of irony. For me, this is a perfect recording of this wonderful song.

We conclude with Bennett’s most recent (solo) recording from 2014 on Cheek to Cheek. This version features just piano with a very effective Marion Evans arrangement.

1960

Sophisticated Lady

Listen to Sophisticated Lady on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Alone Together, is available from iTunes.

1999

Sophisticated Lady

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


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

2014

Sophisticated Lady

Listen to Sophisticated Lady on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2014


“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Cheek to Cheek, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 18, 2015 is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

Written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell, with lyrics by Mitchell Parish, “Sweet Lorraine” 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

In his autobiography, The Good Life, Tony Bennett included this story about today’s song and our album of the month:

That album 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 is normally cornet, surprised us all by playing ukulele on this record; his buddy Joe Marsala played clarinet.)

The results are wonderful.

Sweet Lorraine

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965


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

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