The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 21, 2021, is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About Today

Today we are remembering the great Kay Starr, who was born on July 21, 1922, and died at the age of 94 on November 3, 2016. She was a remarkably versatile singer who excelled in popular music, jazz, and country music. Over her career, she worked with Glenn Miller, Bob Crosby, Roy Acuff, Count Basie, and many more.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938 by Count Basie, Jerry Livington, and Mack David. Count Basie recorded his song in 1938; other recordings include those by The Mills Brothers, Michel Legrand, The King Cole Trio, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue and Sentimental” with Kay Starr for his 2001 album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. The vocals were arranged by Rob Mathes.

Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr)

Listen to Blue and Sentimental (with Kay Starr) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.

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

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Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 9, 2021, 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” on 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues.

Undecided Blues

Listen to Undecided Blues on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.

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

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Song of the Day: I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues

The song of the day for Monday, November 30, 2020, is “I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues.”

About This Song

Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler wrote “I Got A Right To Sing The Blues” for the 1932 Broadway show Earl Carroll’s Vanities. It has been a blues and jazz standard ever since. Notable recordings include those by Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lean Horne, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bonnie Raitt recorded ” I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues” in 1992 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues.

I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (with Bonnie Raitt)

Listen to I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (with Bonnie Raitt) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.

“I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 27, 2020, 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 a musical family; his father was a 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. This album features duets with singers Bonnie Raitt, B.B. King, k.d. lang, and Kay Starr among others. Bennett also sings several songs solo.

What? You didn’t know that Tony Bennett can sing the blues? Listen up!

“Undecided Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Cry Baby

The song of the day for Monday, February 24, 2020, is “Don’t Cry Baby.”

About This Song

“Don’t Cry Baby” was written in 1929 by James P. Johnson, Saul Bernie, and Stella Unger. Jimmy Johnson was a composer and pianist who, along with Jelly Roll Morton, came into prominence in the era between ragtime and the stride piano techniques in early jazz. Saul Bernie and Stella Unger were both composers who were active in the 1920s. It was first sung by Bessie Smith in 1929. Erskine Hawkins recorded it in 1943; this version reached #1 on the Harlem Hit Parade in 1943 and #15 on the popular charts. Etta James recorded it in 1961 as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Cry Baby” in 2001 for his album Playin’ With My Friends.

“Don’t Cry Baby,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available from iTunes.

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