The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Let’s Begin

The song of the day for Monday, July 7, 2024, is “Let’s Begin.”

About This Song

“Let’s Begin” was written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach for the 1933 musical Roberta, which also included many other fine Kern songs, including “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let’s Begin” on October 14, 1957, for his third album The Beat of My Heart. For this album, Bennett invited percussionists as guest artists; Art Blakely was the guest artist for “Let’s Being.” Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Let’s Begin,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Sunday, January 31, 2021, is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

“I Won’t Dance” was originally written in 1934 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Otto Harbach and Oscar Hammerstein, for a London musical called Three Sisters, though the show was a flop and was quickly forgotten. The following year, a film of Roberta was made, and the song was re-purposed, this time with lyrics by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields.

About This Version

With The Bill Charlap Trio, Tony Bennett recorded “I Won’t Dance” for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement.

I Won"t Dance

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015

“I Won’t Dance,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Yesterdays

The song of the day for Friday, January 29, 2021, is “Yesterdays.”

About This Song

“Yesterdays” was written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach for the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Roberta was made into a film in 1935. The Kern-Harbach score for Roberta also included “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and “Let’s Begin,” which Tony Bennett recorded in 1957 for his third album, The Beat of My Heart.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Yesterdays” for his 1966 album A Time For Love. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement and led the Ralph Sharon Trio. It’s an especially fine arrangement and Hal Gaylord’s bass was very good.

Yesterdays

Tony Bennett · A Time For Love · Song · 1966

“Yesterdays,” as well as A Time For Love, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Let’s Begin

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 31, 2019, is “Let’s Begin.”

About This Song

“Let’s Begin” was written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach for the 1933 musical Roberta, which also included many other fine Kern songs, including “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and “The Touch of Your Hand.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let’s Begin” in 1957 for The Beat of My Heart. For this album, Bennett invited drummers and percussionists to record songs on this album; for “Let’s Begin,” drummer Art Blakey is featured.

Let"s Begin

Tony Bennett · The Beat Of My Heart · Song · 1957

“Let’s Begin,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Won’t Dance

The song of the day for Saturday, April 6, 2019, is “I Won’t Dance.”

About This Song

“I Won’t Dance” was originally written by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein and Otto Harbach in 1934 for a London musical called Three Sisters, though the show was a flop and was quickly forgotten. The following year, a film of Roberta was made, and the song was re-purposed, this time with the new Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “I Won’t Dance” in 2014 for their album Cheek To Cheek and features a great arrangement by Marion Evans.

I Won’t Dance

I Won’t Dance, a song by Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga on Spotify

“I Won’t Dance,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our video this Saturday, we have Fred Astaire’s dance to “I Won’t Dance” from the film Roberta.

Fred Astaire – I Won’t Dance, from Roberta

Here’s the full “I Won’t Dance” number from “Roberta.” It starts with Fred playing what earlier in the film he calls “dirty piano.” And how about Ginger in that dress! Wow!

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