The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Thursday, September 12, 2013 is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written in 1931 by the songwriting team of Arthur Schwartz (music) and Howard Dietz (lyrics) for the Broadway musical revue The Band Wagon, which featured Fred and Adele Astaire and Frank Morgan. The song was introduced by John Barker and featured dancing on a raked, lighted mirror stage. A recording was made of the show with the Leo Reisman Orchestra in a two-sided 33 1/3 recording. It was the very first commercially released recorded at this speed. Unfortunately, this new speed required new record players and as the Depression was well under way, the expense proved too much for most people and so the new format didn’t really take off for another 20+ years.

“Dancing in the Dark” is one of Schwartz’ and Dietz’ most enduring songs, with recordings by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Bill Evans and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s 1961 album My Heart Sings, which featured big band arrangements by Ralph Burns.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4up57sk978q1DVJ4NYZuxE
“Dancing In The Dark,” as well as the album My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.

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Song of the Day: Penthouse Serenade

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 10, 2013 is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

“Penthouse Serenade” is one the classic Depression-era songs with the yearning for the glamorous Manhattan apartment by the poor, yet romantic, couple. It was written in 1931 by Val Burton and Will Jason. The first known use of “Penthouse Serenade” was for the 1933 animated short Betty Boop’s Penthouse, where it was sung by Mae Questel. Nat “King” Cole recorded “Penthouse Serenade” in 1952.

About This Version

“Penthouse Serenade” is from one of Tony Bennett’s finest, and yet relatively obscure albums: Hometown, My Town. Released in 1959, it was one of the early concept albums, with a series of six songs that tell the story a young man living in Manhattan who finds a girl and then loses her. The arc of these six albums are masterful.

The entire album was arranged by Ralph Burns, a noted jazz arranger who worked with Bennett on several albums including This Is All I Ask and Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool.

Hometown, My Town is one my very favorite Tony Bennett albums, and “Penthouse Serenade” is one of the best songs on this album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4fqH8vY5L35o48z2H5RAHm
“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as the album Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 30, 2013 is Mood Indigo, as we continue Duke Ellington Week here at the Year of Tony Bennett.

About This Song

Ellington wrote Mood Indigo in 1930, though the composition credits of the song is shared with Barney Bigard, who learned the tune from his clarinet teacher from New Orleans. The lyrics, attributed to Irving Mills, were likely written by Mitchell Parish.

In spite of this, there is no mistaking this as a classic Ellington song with unmistakable Ellington orchestrations. Mood Indigo was a big hit for Ellington, as well as a critical success. Compared at the time to Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue, the song was named by NPR as one the top 100 American musical works of the 20th century and was also inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame (Al Gioia, Jazz Standards, page 272).

About This Version

Today’s version comes from Tony Bennett’s 1999 album, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The big band arrangement is by Ralph Burns and in addition to the fine work by the Ralph Sharon Quartet (with Paul Langosch [bass], Clayton Cameron [drums] and Gray Sargent [guitar]), this cut also features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone. This album is one of Bennett’s purest jazz recordings and this particular cut is certainly a great example of the nuanced jazz that Ellington was known for.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2oju59yiJ8sGsjxL1p29VS
Mood Indigo, as well as the full Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

Michael Bublé, Tony Bennett collaborator, was born on this day in 1975. To help celebrate Mr. Bublé’s birthday, the Song of the Day is their duet Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.

About Don’t Get Around Much Anymore

This song was written by Duke Ellington in 1940, with lyrics by Bob Russell added in 1942. In 1943, two different versions of the song reached #1 on the R&B chart: one by Duke’s band and another by the Ink Spots. Both versions also charted on the top ten pop charts the same year.

The song was, and remains, a popular jazz standard, sung by the royalty of jazz and popular singers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Natalie Wood. It’s been a crossover hit for B.B. King, Willie Nelson, Cliff Richard, and Sam Cooke.

About This Version

Mr. Bennett first recorded this song (to the best of my knowledge) in 1967 for Tony Makes It Happen!  The same recording also appeared on the 1973 album Sunrise Sunset. He re-recorded the song, with a new arrangement by Ralph Burns on his 1999 tribute album to Duke Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington Hot & Cool.

Today’s version is the Tony Bennett – Michael Bublé duet from the 2011 Duets II. The arrangement is by Marion Evans, who also arranged the 1967 version.

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In A Sentimental Mood

I’ve been in a Duke Ellington mood all day and so the Song of the Day for August 9, 2012 is In A Sentimental Mood, written by Edward Kennedy Ellington in 1935. Lyrics were written later Irving Mills and Manny Kurtz. It may be one his most-recorded songs; it certainly is one his most-loved songs. In fact, I can’t remember not ever knowing and loving this song.

This is from Tony’s 1999 album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot and Cold. The personnel on this album is staggering. The Ralph Sharon Quartet (Ralph Sharon, Gray Sargent, Paul Langosch, and Clayton Cameron) are featured, as well as an orchestral charts arranged and conducted Jorge Calandrelli, the Argentinian composer, conductor, and arranger and big band charts arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns (though the big band wasn’t used on this particular song). The album is definitely worth careful listening.