The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Tony Live! I Love a Piano

The song of the day for Sunday, July 19, 2020, is “I Love a Piano.”

About This Song

Written in 1915, “I Love A Piano” was one of Berlin’s ragtime style songs. It was introduced in the 1915 Broadway musical Stop! Look! Listen!, where it was sung by Harry Fox. It as recorded in 1915 by Billy Murray, but did not catch on immediately, due in part, I’m sure, to the fact that home phonographs may not have been as prevalent as they were a few decades later. Berlin included it in the 1948 movie Easter Parade with Fred Astaire and Judy Garland and since then the song has been well-received.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “I Love a Piano” at his 1994 MTV Unplugged concert. It gave him a chance to introduce his pianist and musical director, Ralph Sharon.

“I Love a Piano,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Saturday, July 18. 2020., is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had To Be You” was written in 1924 by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn. It’s a popular standard with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edwards, and Frank Sinatra. It has also be used in several films, including Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Had To Be You” at his 1994 live performance on MTV Unplugged, which introduced a new generation to Tony Bennett.

“It Had To Be You,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Speak Low

The song of the day for Sunday, July 12, 2020, is “Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus, where it was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Lena Horne.

About This Version

This version is from Tony’s 1994 MTV Unplugged program. This is my favorite of all of his recordings of “Speak Low.” It is hip and very cool–a perfect jazz performance.

“Speak Low,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, July 11, 2020, is “Old Devil Moon.”

About Today

Tony Live moves to 1994 and one of Tony Bennett’s greatest triumphs: His live appearance on MTV Unplugged on April 12, 1994. The performance was a huge hit, for both MTV and Bennett. The concert album MTV Unplugged not only won Bennett the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance but also the coveted award for Album of the Year.

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

“Old Devil Moon,” as well as MTVUnplugged, is available from Apple Music.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves to Sing with Elvis and Diana

The playlist for the week of October 13 is Tony Loves to Sing with Elvis and Diana.

This week’s playlist consists of duets featuring Tony and one of that marvelous couple: Elvis Costello and Diana Krall. This week’s songs are presented in chronological order.

1994 MTV Unplugged
They Can’t Take That Away From Me by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Elvis Costello.

2001 Playin’ With My Friends
Alright, Okay, You Win by Mamie Watts and Sid Wyche. Diana Krall.

2006 Duets: An American Classic
The Best is Yet to Come by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Diana Krall.
Are You Havin’ Any Fun? by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain. Elvis Costello.

2018 Love is Here to Stay
‘S Wonderful by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Diana Krall.
Love Is Here to Stay George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Diana Krall.
Somebody Loves Me George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Diana Krall.
Do It Again George Gershwin and Buddy DeSylva. Diana Krall.
They Can’t Take That Away From Me George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Diana Krall.