The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Album of the Week: Tony

The album of the week starting on January 9, 2022, is Tony.

 

Tony is Tony Bennett’s second full-length studio album.  In Tony, we see first-hand Tony Bennett’s love of the American Songbook. This album features many great songs from composers including Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Jimmy McHugh, Harry Warren, Kurt Weill, and the Gershwins. Most of the songs from this album, such as It Had To Be You, These Foolish Things, I’ll Be Seeing You and Always are songs that he still sings today in concert. Tony has two distinct sound profiles: the numbers arranged by Ray Conniff (mostly Side One, plus Always from Side Two) feature a big band sound, while the Percy Faith numbers have a lusher sound with more strings. He is joined on this album by guitarist Chuck Wayne, whom he worked with on Cloud 7; on Tony, Wayne provides a wonderful guitar accompaniment to Lost in the Stars.

Release Date January 14, 1957
Label Columbia
Producer Mitch Miller
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements Ray Conniff, Percy Faith

Listen to Tony

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Song of the Day: Maybe September

The song of the day for Monday, September 12, 2021, is “Maybe September.”

About This Song

“Maybe September” was written by Percy Faith, with lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, in 1965 for the movie The Oscar. This movie was Tony’s first (and only) role in a movie, where he played the good guy, an agent named Hymie Kelly. While the film received mixed reviews, the song is very nice.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Maybe September” in 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

Maybe September

Listen to Maybe September on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1977.

“Maybe September,” as well as Together Again is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Rags to Riches

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 31, 2021, is “Rags to Riches.”

About This Song

“Rags to Riches” was written in 1953 by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. When Tony Bennett first heard “Rags to Riches,” he hated the song and was forced by Mitch Miller to record it. With a very nice arrangement by Percy Faith, the recording was a huge hit for Bennett and earned him a gold record. Thankfully, Bennett grew to enjoy singing the song. Martin Scorcese used the 1953 recording in the opening of Goodfellas, which helped find a new audience for this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Rags to Riches” at his 1962 concert in Washington, DC. Bennett’s set, are more, were captured on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Rags To Riches - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Rags To Riches - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2013.

“Rags to Riches,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Just In Time

The song of the day for Sunday, August 15, 2021, is “Just In Time.”

About This Song

“Just In Time” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, for the 1956 musical Bells Are Ringing, where it was introduced by Judy Holliday and Sidney Chaplin. Holliday and Dean Martin sang it in the 1960 film version of Bells Are Ringing.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just In Time” in 1956, with an arrangement by Percy Faith, and it was released as a single that year. It was included on Bennett’s 1962 album Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Great Broadway Hits.

Just in Time

Listen to Just in Time on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1962.

“Just In Time,” as well as Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Blue Velvet

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 21, 2021, is “Blue Velvet.”

About This Song

“Blue Velvet” was written in 1950 by Bernie Wayne and Lee Morris. Bennett’s 1951 recording was the first recording of the song and was one of his early hits for Columbia.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Velvet” in 1951; it was released as a single that year. Percy Faith wrote the arrangement.

Blue Velvet

Listen to Blue Velvet on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“Blue Velvet,” as well as all of the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Volume 1, is available from Apple Music.

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