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, February 6, 2015 is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

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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

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s wonderful Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in 1999, the centennial year of Ellington’s birth. It’s a lovely, quiet arrangement that features Gray Sargent on guitar and Joel Smirnoff on violin.

About Today

Today’s song was a request from a good friend of the blog. We’re always happy to honor your request for an upcoming song of the day. Just leave a comment and we’ll be happy to oblige.

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.

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Monday, December 29, 2014 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,’ said Ellington. “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

Today’s version is Bennett’s third studio recording of “Sophisticated Lady,” the first two were included on Alone Together and Tony Bennett’s Greatest Hits Volume 7. A fourth version was just released on his album with Lady Gaga, Cheek To Cheek. This version is from his 1999 album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in the centennial year of Ellington’s birth. This beautiful arrangement features Gray Sargent on guitar and Joel Smirnoff on violin.

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.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 6, 2014 is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was composed by Cliff Burwell with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. The song was published in 1928 and quickly became a jazz standard. Rudy Vallee, accompanied by Burwell, recorded the song in 1928. Other early recordings included those by Isham Jones and Teddy Wilson. Later recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Art Tatum, Chet Baker, Coleman Hawkins and, most famously, Nat “King” Cole.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s 1965 album If Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. I’ll let Tony Bennett tell the story (from The Good Life):

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 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.)

http://open.spotify.com/track/50XojfSBJJQ75bAFowNyGZ
“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as the album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Stardust

The song of the day for Friday, July 19, 2013 is “Stardust.”

About This Song

“Stardust” was written in 1927 by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Mitchell Parish. Carmichael’s original 1927 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1995; this same recording was chosen by the Library of Congress as one of 50 recordings that year to be added to National Recording Registry. The song has been popular since it was written and has been widely recorded. The 1931 Louis Armstrong version is considered to be one of the best recordings of this song, next to Carmichael’s original.

About This Version

Today’s version is an outtake from A Wonderful World, which was released in 2002. “Stardust” was arranged and conducted by Peter Matz and featured Lee Musiker (piano), Gray Sargent (guitar), Paul Langosch (bass) and Clayton Cameron (drums) in addition to the orchestra.

http://open.spotify.com/track/40SuGA77EBFvCd8W6RqlZ4
“Stardust,” as well as all of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 2, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Monday, April 29, 2013, 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 this grade school teacher, 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 first recorded Sophisticated Lady in 1960 for Alone Together. Today’s version comes from his 1999 tribute album to Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Yes, that’s Gray Sargent on guitar.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3TFxZHXUFvwHuFrVghjj7x
Sophisticated Lady, as well as the full Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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