The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’ve Got Just About Everything

The song of the day for Monday, April 12, 2021, is “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

About This Song

Written by the marvelous jazz pianist and composer Bob Dorough, “I’ve Got Just About Everything” is a true joy to listen to. In his liner notes for Forty/Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennett says that “this one explains how a singer feels when he sings a song everyone likes.” This song has been recorded by composer Dorough, Ann Hampton Calloway, and even Tuck and Patti.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Just About Everything” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low, featuring a Ralph Sharon arrangement. The Ralph Sharon Trio backs Bennett on this album, with Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. Gaylord’s bass is especially good on this cut.

I’ve Got Just About Everything

Listen to I’ve Got Just About Everything on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“I’ve Got Just About Everything,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Speak Low

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 2, 2021, is “Speak Low.”

Today, we are remembering composer Kurt Weill, who was born in Dessau, Germany. His best known work, the 1928 The Threepenny Opera, grew out of his association with German playwright Bertold Brecht, which led to his marriage to Lotte Lenya. They fled Nazi Germany in 1933 and settled in New York. He began writing for Broadway, including scores Street Scene and One Touch of Venus. He died in 1950.

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written in 1943 by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash for the musical One Touch of Venus, where it was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Lena Horne.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Speak Low” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low, featuring the Ralph Sharon Trio.

Speak Low

Listen to Speak Low on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“Speak Low,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Yesterdays

The song of the day for Friday, January 29, 2021, is “Yesterdays.”

About This Song

“Yesterdays” was written by Jerome Kern and Otto Harbach for the 1933 Broadway musical Roberta where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Roberta was made into a film in 1935. The Kern-Harbach score for Roberta also included “Smoke Gets In Your Eyes” and “Let’s Begin,” which Tony Bennett recorded in 1957 for his third album, The Beat of My Heart.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Yesterdays” for his 1966 album A Time For Love. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement and led the Ralph Sharon Trio. It’s an especially fine arrangement and Hal Gaylord’s bass was very good.

Yesterdays – 2011 Remaster

Listen to Yesterdays – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1966.

“Yesterdays,” as well as A Time For Love, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Tony Live! You’re All The World To Me

The song of the day for is “You’re All The World To Me.”

About This Song

“You’re All The World To Me” was written by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner for the 1951 MGM musical Royal Wedding, starring Fred Astaire. Astaire performed this song in one of the most famous shots in all of musical film: the dancing on the ceiling number

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “You’re All The World To Me” at his 1994 live performance on MTV Unplugged with The Ralph Sharon Trio.

“You’re All The World To Me” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

And here’s Fred Astaire, dancing on that ceiling, from Royal Wedding.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Oh! You Crazy Moon

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 13, 2020, is “Oh! You Crazy Moon.”

About This Song

“Oh! You Crazy Moon” was written in 1939 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke. It was the first song that Van Heusen and Burke wrote together in what would be a long and successful partnership. The bouncy, uptempo song gained immediate popularity and was widely recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Oh! You Crazy Moon” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low, recorded with the Ralph Sharon Trio, which featured Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

“Oh! You Crazy Moon,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

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