The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: If I Ruled The World

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 4, 2024, is “If I Ruled The World.”

About This Song

“If I Ruled The World” was written by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse the 1963 West End musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway. Tony Bennett’s was one of the earliest American recordings and the song reached #34 on the US pop singles charts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled The World” on February 19, 1965, for his album If I Ruled the World: Songs For The Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the very fine arrangement.

“If I Ruled The World,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: If I Ruled The World

The song of the day for Thursday, September 22, 2022, is “If I Ruled The World.”

About This Song

“If I Ruled The World” was written by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse for the 1963 West End musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick, and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway, produced by David Merrick. Tony Bennett’s was one of the earliest American recordings and the song reached #34 on the US pop singles charts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled The World” on February 19, 1965, for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. The arrangement was written by Don Costa.

“If I Ruled The World,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: If I Ruled the World

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 26, 2021, is “If I Ruled the World.”

About This Song

“If I Ruled The World” was written by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse for the 1963 West End musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick, and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway. Tony Bennett’s was one of the earliest American recordings and the song reached #34 on the US pop singles charts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled The World” for his 1965 album “If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set. It was arranged and conducted by Don Costa.

If I Ruled the World

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“If I Ruled the World,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! If I Ruled The World

The song of the day for Saturday, May 30, 2020, is “If I Ruled The World.

About This Song

“If I Ruled The World” was written in 1963 by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse for the 1963 West End musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway. Tony Bennett’s was one of the earliest American recordings and the song reached #34 on the US pop singles charts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled The World” on January 31, 1971, at a concert at the Royal Albert Hall in London, England. The noted composer, conductor, and arranger Robert Farnon led The London Philharmonic Orchestra for the concert, which was released on the album Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra.

“If I Ruled The World,” as well as Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: If I Ruled The World

The song of the day for Saturday, February 7, 2015 is “If I Ruled The World.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “If I Ruled The World, ” was written by Cyril Ornadel and Leslie Bricusse for the 1963 West End musical Pickwick, based on Dicken’s The Pickwick Papers. Harry Secombe, the British actor, originated the role of Pickwick and his version of this song charted at #18 in the UK. The production opened in New York in 1965 on Broadway. Tony Bennett’s was one of the earliest American recordings and the song reached #34 on the US pop singles charts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If I Ruled The World” in 1965 for If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, our album of the month. As the world tour goes, we move from Brazil to London.

In his autobiography The Good Life, Bennett relates:

I had the honor of singing “If I Ruled The World” at a command performance for the Queen Mother of England. After the song, Bobby Hackett, who was playing with me at that time, leaned over to me and whispered, “What do you mean ‘if’?”

Exactly.

If I Ruled the World

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“If I Ruled The World,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Yes, it’s Saturday and it’s our day for a video. I was able to find this video of Tony Bennett singing today’s song on television in 1966. I hope you enjoy it!