The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Goes to the Movies

The playlist of the week for May 19, 2019, is Tony Goes to the Movies.

Tony Bennett has recorded many songs from films. These are some of my favorites.

Tony Goes to the Movies

Tony has recorded many songs from films.

If I Only Had a Brain by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg from The Wizard of Oz
The Shadow of Your Smile by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster from The Sandpiper
Steppin’ Out With My Baby by Irving Berlin from Easter Parade
Days of Wine and Roses by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer from Days of Wine and Roses
Samba De Orfeo by Luiz Bonfá from Black Orpheus
Emily by Johnny Mandel and Johnny Mercer from The Americanization of Emily
Top Hat, White Tie and Tails by Irving Berlin from Top Hat
Smile by Charlie Chaplin, John Turner, and Geoffrey Parsons from Modern Times
Maybe September by Percy Faith, Jay Livingston, and Ray Evans from The Oscar
Watch What Happens by Michel Legrand, Jacques Demy, and Norman Gimbel from The Umbrellas of Cherbourg
The Way You Look Tonight by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields from Swing Time

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Song of the Day: A Time For Love

The song of the day for Sunday, November 27, 2016 is “A Time For Love.”

About This Song

“A Time For Love” by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster was written for the 1966 movie An American Dream. The song has proven to be a jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Shirley Horn, Bill Evans, Bill Watrous and Stan Getz.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Time For Love” in 1966 for his album of the same name: A Time For Love. This recording was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

A Time For Love – 2011 Remaster

A Time For Love – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“A Time For Love,” as well as A Time For Love, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 1, 2016 is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About This Song

Johnny Mandel wrote “The Shadow of Your Smile” with Paul Francis Webster in 1965 for the Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor film The Sandpiper. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” in 1965 for his album The Movie Song Album, which was released in January 1996. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. Bennett often sings this song in concert; in fact, I had the great pleasure of hearing him sing this song last week in Portland.

The Shadow of Your Smile (Love Theme from “The Sandpiper”)

The Shadow of Your Smile (Love Theme from “The Sandpiper”), a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“The Shadow of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

The song of the day for is “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good).”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote this song in 1941; the lyrics are by Paul Francis Webster. This song’s actual title is “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)’. It was written for Ivie Anderson, who sang it in a revue called Jump For Joy. Anderson also recorded the song in 1941 with saxophonist Johnny Hodges that was well-received. The song has been widely recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song as “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” for his 1999 album Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli.

She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good), a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

As an extra treat, here’s the 1941 recording of “I’ve Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) featuring Ivie Anderson:

I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) – 1999 Remastered – Take 1

I Got It Bad (and That Ain’t Good) – 1999 Remastered – Take 1, a song by Duke Ellington on Spotify

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Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Thursday, September 24, 2015 is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “The Shadow of Your Smile,” was composed by Johnny Mandel (music) and Paul Francis Webster (lyrics) for the 1965 film The Sandpiper, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was filmed, beautifully, in Big Sur on the California coastline. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. To this day, Tony Bennett sings this song in his concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” on September 26, 1965 for the album The Movie Song Album. It was arranged and conducted by the composer, the great Johnny Mandel.

While researching today’s song, I found a very nice and well-written 2010 review of The Movie Song Album by Mark Myers on jazzwax. Highly recommended.

https://open.spotify.com/track/66YI4JFp7BcMcepibGprsN
“The Shadow of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from iTunes.

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