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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

March 30, 2025 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blues in the Night

The song of the day for Sunday, March 30, 2025, is “Blues in the Night.”

About This Song

“Blues in the Night” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1941 movie of the same name. Arlen wrote the music first and wrote a true blues song. Johnny Mercer, who later wrote the lyrics, drew on his southern heritage to write the exceptional blues lyrics. The song was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song, but lost to “The Last Time I Saw Paris” by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein.

Arlen recalled the writing process of the song:

The whole thing just poured out. And I knew in my guts, without even thinking what Johnny would write for a lyric, that this was strong, strong, strong! When Mercer wrote “Blues in the Night”, I went over his lyric and I started to hum it over his desk. It sounded marvelous once I got to the second stanza but that first twelve was weak tea. On the third or fourth page of his work sheets I saw some lines—one of them was “My momma done tol’ me, when I was in knee pants.” I said, “Why don’t you try that?” It was one of the very few times I’ve ever suggested anything like that to John.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blues in the Night” in May 2001 for his album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

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

Many thanks to YouTube for having the scene in Blues in the Night when the song was sung.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Playing' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, Rob Mathes, Tony Bennett

June 24, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Let The Good Times Roll

The song of the day for Monday, June 24, 2024, is “Let The Good Times Roll.”

About This Song

“Let The Good Times Roll,” known as a “jump blues” song, was written by Sam Theard, a New Orleans singer and songwriter, with his wife, Fleecie Moore. Residents and visitors to New Orleans may be more familiar with the French version of the saying: Laissez le bon temps rouler. The first recording was in 1946 by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. The song charted well on the Billboard R&B chart. Other recordings include those by Ray Charles, George Fame and the Blue Flames, Muddy Waters, and Clifton Chenier. B.B. King recorded “Let The Good Times Roll” in 1999.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and B.B. King recorded “Let The Good Times Roll” in May 2001 for Bennett’s album Playing With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes arranged the vocals.

“Let The Good Times Roll,” as well as Playing With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: B.B. King, Fleecie Moore, Playing' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, Rob Mathes, Sam Theard, Tony Bennett

May 14, 2024 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Alright, Okay, You Win

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 14, 2024, is “Alright, Okay, You Win.”

About This Song

“Alright, Okay, You Win” was written by Maymie Watts and Sid Wyche for The Count Basie Orchestra. It was first recorded in 1955 by the Basie Orchestra with their male vocalist, Joe Williams. In addition to the Bennett/Krall recording, this song has been recorded by Peggy Lee, Elvis Presley, Ella Fitzgerald, and Bette Midler.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “Alright, Okay, You Win” in May 2001 for the album Playin’ With My Friends. This recording marks the first time Diana Krall and Tony Bennett sang a duet together. The vocals were arranged by Rob Mathes.

Playin’ With My Friends won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Alright, Okay, You Win,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Diana Krall, Maymie Watts, Playing' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, Rob Mathes, Sid Wyche, Tony Bennett

May 5, 2016 By Suzanne 3 Comments

Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Friday, May 6, 2016 is “Undecided Blues.”

About This Song

Jimmy Rushing
Jimmy Rushing

“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. Jimmy Rushing died from leukemia in 1972.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Undecided Blues” in 2001 for his album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. While this album may not be one of Bennett’s better known albums, it’s definitely worth your time to listen. The album is a nice mix of duets with various artists (such as Diana Krall, Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt and Kay Starr) and Bennett solos as well. It’s a lot of fun to listen to. And believe me, Bennett can sing the blues.

Undecided Blues

Tony Bennett · Playin" With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues · Song · 2001


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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Jimmy Rushing, Playing' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues

February 6, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Stormy Weather

The song of the day for Saturday, February 6, 2016 is “Stormy Weather.”

About This Song

“Stormy Weather” was written in 1933 by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the Cotton Club, where is was introduced by Ethel Waters. Lena Horne, who sang with Tony Bennett in the 1970s, recorded this song in 1943 and remains strongly associated with it. It has also been recorded by Kay Starr, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Stormy Weather” the duet sung by Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole on Bennett’s 2001 album Playin’ With My Friends. The vocal arrangement is by Rob Mathes.

Stormy Weather

Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole · Playin" With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues · Song · 2001


“Stormy Weather,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today would have been the 66th birthday of Natalie Cole. I am still somewhat in shock over her death last year and miss her voice–she was a wonderful singer. Happy birthday, Natalie.

It’s also video Saturday. Alas, no videos exist of Ethel Waters singing “Stormy Weather,” but there are recordings and before I offer up a video, I wanted to pay tribute to her 1933 recording of this song that she made famous.

Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin" All The Time) - 78rpm Version

Listen to Stormy Weather (Keeps Rainin" All The Time) - 78rpm Version on Spotify. Song · Ethel Waters · 1925

And now … the incomparable Lena Horne from 1943. The featured dancer at the end is Katherine Dunham.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Ethel Waters, Harold Arlen, Lena Horne, Playing' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, Ted Koehler, The Cotton Club

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