The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Close Your Eyes

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 13, 2023, is “Close Your Eyes.”

About This Song

“Close Your Eyes” was written by Bernice Petkere in 1933. Petkere was named by Irving Berlin as the “Queen of Tin Pan Alley.” A vaudeville performer as a child, she sold her first song in 1931, “Starlight,” recorded by Bing Crosby. “Close Your Eyes” is her most well-known song. The song started getting jazz treatments in the 1950s, starting with a great duet from Coleman Hawkins and Milt Jackson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Close Your Eyes” on April 5, 1961, for his album My Heart Sings. It was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns. Burns put together a very fine band, including Milt Hinton and Zoot Sims.

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Take The A Train

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 30, 2023, is “Take The A Train.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Billy Strayhorn, who was born on November 29, 1915. Born in Ohio, he grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied classical music at the Pittsburgh Musical Institute and wrote “Lush Life” during that time. In 1938, he met Duke Ellington, who invited Strayhorn to visit him at his home in the Sugar Hill neighborhood in New York. Ellington wrote down instructions on how to get to his home after arriving in New York, starting with “take the A train.” Strayhorn worked with Ellington for 25 years, until Strayhorn’s death from cancer.

About This Song

“Take The A Train” was written by Billy Strayhorn in 1939, with lyrics by Joya Sherrill (which were added in 1944). It became Ellington’s signature tune and was played at virtually every concert he gave.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Take The A Train” on May 20, 1999, and features the Ralph Sharon Quartet, with Paul Langosch (bass), Gray Sargent (guitar) Clayton Cameron (drums) Also featured are Al Grey on trombone and Wynton Marsalis on trumpet. It was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns. This recording was an unreleased outtake from Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It was included in Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2, in the 2011 Complete Collection box set.

“Take The A Train,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available on Apple Music.

I’m adding Lady Gaga’s solo recording of “Lush Life, from her album with Tony Cheek to Cheek, released in 2014.

A Note to Readers

I will likely be posting intermittently for a while. I won’t be able to see well for a while (cataract surgery, no big deal) which makes it difficult to post. No fear, The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas will start on December 14, as usual. Thank you all for your support of The Year of Tony Bennett.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Georgia Rose

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 21, 2023, is “Georgia Rose.”

About This Song

“Georgia Rose” was written by Harry Rosenthal, Alex Sullivan, and Jimmy Flynn for the 1921 musical revue Put and Take.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Georgia Rose” on June 11, 1966, for his album A Time For Love. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“Georgia Rose,” as well as A Time For Love, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: My Ship

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 18, 2023, is “My Ship.”

About This Song

“My Ship” was written by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin for the 1941 musical Lady in the Dark. Miles Davis’ recording in 1957, along with vocal versions by Jeri Southern and Sarah Vaughan, cemented this song as a jazz standard.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “My Ship” on April 6, 1961, for his album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“My Ship,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Penthouse Serenade

The song of the day for October 16, 2023, is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

“Penthouse Serenade” was written by Will Jason and Val Burton in 1931. It’s one of the classic Depression-era songs with the yearning for the glamorous Manhattan apartment by the poor, yet romantic, couple. The first known use of “Penthouse Serenade” was for the 1933 animated short Betty Boop’s Penthouse, where it was sung by Mae Questel. On a more serious note, “Penthouse Serenade” has had exceptional recordings: Nat King Cole recorded it in 1952 as a piano solo for an album of the same name and Tony Bennett’s recording for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town is really wonderful with a brilliant arrangement by Ralph Burns.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Penthouse Serenade” on November 6, 1958, for his album Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Betty Boop (voiced by May Questal) singing “Penthouse Serenade” from 1933:

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites