The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Friday, September 26, 2021, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Harold Lang and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in 1973 with The George Barnes-Ruby Braff Quartet. The recording was released in 1976 on the album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs.

I Could Write A Book

Listen to I Could Write A Book on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Friday, October 9, 2020, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “I Could Write a Book” in 1940 for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in July 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1976 on Bennett’s Improv label. The Rodgers and Hart recordings were made with the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which featured Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a lovely sound for these songs, even though without piano or drums.

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

The song of the day for Friday, December 27, 2019, is “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”

About This Song

“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, was one of the hit songs from the 1940 musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Vivienne Segal. Notable recordings are by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” with Ralph Sharon on October 28, 1959, for their groundbreaking album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.

“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Bewitched

The song of the day for Monday, April 22, 2019, is “Bewitched.”

About This Song

“Bewitched” which often goes by its full name”Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart and was one of the hit songs from the 1940 musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Vivienne Segal. Notable recordings are by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon recorded “Bewitched” as well as fifteen additional songs in a single recording session at the CBS 30th Street Studio on October 28, 1959, for the album Tony Sings For Two, which wasn’t released until early 1961.

Bewitched – Remastered

Bewitched – Remastered, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Bewitched,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 25, 2018 is “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”

About This Song

“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, was one of the hit songs from the 1940 musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Vivienne Segal. Notable recordings are by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook. And a song your author fell in love with at the tender age of eight after hearing her parents playing it on the stereo when they thought the kids were asleep.

About This Version

I so enjoyed listening to parts of When Lights Are Low yesterday that I had to also take in one of Tony Bennett’s best albums: Tony Sings For Two. Bennett and Ralph Sharon held a legendary recording session at the Columbia 30th Street Studio–they went in with a briefcase of sheet music and recorded sixteen songs in a single session, many of them on the first take. Just Bennett, Ralph Sharon and Frank Laico as engineer. Even though the album was recorded in October, 1959, it wasn’t released until early 1961. This album is quite close to perfect.

Bewitched

Listen to Bewitched on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.


“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites