The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Monday, May 9, 2022, is “Undecided Blues.”

About This Song

“Undecided Blues” was written in 1941 by blues shouter Jimmy Rushing (also known as Five-by-Five, due to his stature). Rushing was born in Oklahoma City into to a musical family; his father was trumpet player and his mother a singer. He started his career as an itinerant blues singer in the early 1920s. He sang with Jelly Roll Morton and other early jazz orchestras before joining the Bennie Moten band in 1929. When Moten died in 1935, he joined the Count Basie Orchestra, which was his home for many years. Rushing with the Count Basie Orchestra first recorded “Undecided Blues” in 1941.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Undecided Blues” in 2001 for his album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. The Ralph Sharon Quartet (Sharon on piano; Gray Sargent on guitar; Paul Langosch on bass; and Clayton Cameron on drums) backs Bennett on this album. The vocal arrangements are by Rob Mathes. The album won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Undecided Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Monday, February 18, 2022, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Harold Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and led The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Time After Time

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 3, 2021, is “Time After Time.”

About This Song

“Time After Time” was written in 1947 by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn for the 1947 movie It Happened in Brooklyn, featuring Frank Sinatra. It was introduced by Sinatra and was a major hit for him. This song has been widely recorded by many artists.

In his fine book The Jazz Standards, Al Gioia quotes Jule Styne as saying “It’s a man’s song — ‘Time After Time.’ When a woman sings it, it is drained of all its power, so to speak. The girls can’t do it.”

Well, tell that to Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day, and Cyndi Lauper, all of whom made excellent recordings of today’s song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Time After Time” with the Ralph Sharon Trio for his 1992 album Perfectly Frank. With Sharon on piano, the trio rounds out with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“Time After Time,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

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Song of the Day: All Of My Life

The song of the day for Thursday, October 28, 2021, is “All Of My Life.”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “All Of My Life” in 1944. This sweet ballad expresses the yearning for a nice life with the one that you love, a message that was quite poignant for a country towards the end of World War II. This song was introduced (and made famous) by Kate Smith. Other recordings include those by Bing Crosby, Harry James, Sarah Vaughan, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All Of My Life” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin, featuring Dexter Gordon on tenor saxophone. Bennett wrote the arrangement and is accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“All Of My Life,” as well as Bennett/Berlin is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Song Is Ended

The song of the day for Friday, October 22, 2021, is “The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On).”

About This Song

“The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)” was written in 1927 by Irving Berlin, with lyrics by Beda Loehner. In his book The Tin Pan Alley Song Encyclopedia, Thomas Hischak calls this song

An Irving Berlin standard whose title has been called the theme of all popular music, a chilling number in which both the lover and the ballad that was ‘their song’ is gone; yet neither can be forgotten because they remain in one’s memory.

This song was recorded in 1927 by Ruth Etting and has remained popular over the years with recordings by Dick Haymes, Dizzy Gillespie, Jeri Southern, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat Cole, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and features Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet. The Ralph Sharon Trio accompanies Bennett, featuring Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On),” as well as Bennett/Berlin is available on Apple Music.

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