An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett
The song of the day for Sunday, May 9, 2021, is “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me.”
“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” was written by Rube Bloom and Ted Koehler for the 1933 Cotton Club Parade — World’s Fair Edition.
Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” in 1961 for his album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the orchestration.
Don"t Worry "Bout Me
Listen to Don"t Worry "Bout Me on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961
“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from Apple Music.
The song of the day for Sunday, April 11, 2021, is “It Never Was You.”
“It Never Was You” was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1938 Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday, the score of which also included “September Song.”
Tony Bennett recorded It Never Was You” in 1961 for the album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.
It Never Was You
Listen to It Never Was You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961
“It Never Was You,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from Apple Music.
The song of the day for Wednesday, March 31, 2021, is “Lover Man.”
“Lover Man” was written in 1941 by Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, and James Sherman. The song was written for Billie Holiday, and remains most closely associated with her, despite many other fine recordings. Her recording of “Lover Man” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1989. Other significant recordings include those by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bill Evans and Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, and Barbra Streisand.
Tony Bennett recorded “Lover Man” in 1961 for his album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the big band.
Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)
Listen to Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961
“Lover Man,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from Apple Music.
Here’s Holiday’s version:
https://open.spotify.com/track/0DuWyzeLH09PQcnOMJiRgE?si=CAI5DApAQjiurqLSXWSuMQ
The song of the day for Saturday, March 13, 2021, is “I’m Comin’ Virginia.”
“I’m Comin’ Virginia” was written in 1926 by Donald Heywood, with lyrics by Will Marion Cook. It was recorded by many of the great jazz performers: Bix Beiderbecke, Bunny Berigan, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby with the Paul Whiteman Orchestra, and Ruby Braff. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song that it is “.. an unusual and a very good song.”
Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Comin’ Virginia” for his 1961 album My Heart Sings. It features a great arrangement by Ralph Burns.
I"m Coming Virginia
Listen to I"m Coming Virginia on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961
“I’m Comin’ Virginia,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from Apple Music.
The song of the day for Sunday, March 7, 2021, is “Stella By Starlight.”
“Stella By Starlight” was composed by Victor Young for the film The Uninvited. Ned Washington’s lyrics were added in 1946. The song was recorded in 1947 by Harry James and Frank Sinatra; it has been frequently recorded ever since. It found its way as a jazz standard in the early 1950s, with recordings by Stan Getz, Bud Powell, and Stan Kenton. It ranks as the 10th most important jazz title at jazzstandards.com.
Tony Bennett recorded “Stella By Starlight” for his 1961 album My Heart Sings. The arrangement was written by Ralph Burns.
Stella By Starlight
Listen to Stella By Starlight on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961
“Stella By Starlight,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from Apple Music.