The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Ain’t Misbehaving

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 22, 2014 is “Ain’t Misbehaving.”

About This Song

“Ain’t Misbehaving” was written in 1929 by Thomas “Fats” Waller and Harry Brooks, with lyrics by Andy Razaf. Waller recorded the original version, released by the Victor label on August 2, 1929. This recording received the Grammy Hall of Fame Award in 1984; the song was named as one of the 365 Songs of the (20th) Century, as selected by the Recording Industry Association of America.

There were six other versions recorded in 1929, including those by Ruth Etting, Louis Armstrong and Leo Reisman and His Orchestra. The song has remained vastly popular over the years, with recordings by the greats of jazz: Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Eartha Kitt, Ella Fitzgerald, Kay Starr, Sidney Bechet and many, many more. The song found new popularity in 1978 with the musical revue of the same name with a book by Murray Horwitz and Richard Maltby, Jr. Your author had the great fortune to see the production with the original cast and it was one of the most exciting and happiest evenings I have ever spent in a theatre.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Bennett’s live appearance at the Sahara in Las Vegas in 1964, recently released on the album Live At The Sahara: From This Moment On, recorded in April, 1964. In that same time frame, he recorded the song with the Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low.

Both versions feature a slower tempo than one usually hears today. I like this tempo a lot and has a much different feel than the song does when sung at the much faster tempo, such as from the 1978 Ain’t Misbehaving. It’s a great song at about any tempo and today’s version is a joy.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4e7Xq3O7WJC9TcJOdOcPEb
“Ain’t Misbehaving,” as well as the album Live At The Sahara: From This Moment On, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Song Is Ended

The song of the day for Sunday, July 6, 2014 is “The Song Is Ended.”

About This Song

“The Song Is Ended” was written in 1927 by Irving Berlin, with lyrics by Beda Leohner, for the Broadway musical Will o’ The Whispers. Ruth Etting recorded it in 1927 as did Annette Hanshaw. Other recordings include those by Louis Armstrong with The Mills Brothers, Nat King Cole, Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Sinatra and Jeri Southern.

The song is referenced by Ira Gershwin in the verse to “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” with this line:

the song is ended, but as the songwriter wrote, the melody lingers on

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1987 for his album of Irving Berlin songs, Bennett/Berlin. All of the songs on the album were arranged by Tony Bennett. Dizzy Gillespie plays a nice trumpet on this song; Bennett is accompanied by The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3YudPLcZLV79R1j2WaS4xU
“The Song Is Ended,” as well as the album Bennett/Berlin, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Sunday, April 20, 2014 is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

While Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh are best-known for their scores for Broadway musicals, such as Little Me and Wildcat, “The Rules of the Road” was not written for a show. The song was written in 1961. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney. But as far as I’m concerned, Tony Bennett completely owns this song.

About This Version

Yes, this may very well be my favorite Tony Bennett song. A few months ago, I featured the version from I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Today’s version is from When Lights Are Low. No big orchestra, no big brassy open. Just Ralph Sharon, Billy Exiner and Hal Gaylord. It’s intimate and personal. And kind of wonderful.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3Ym1D0K9Qk4PTK2Iw2Z6It
“The Rules of the Road,” as well as the album When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: When Lights Are Low

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 11, 2014 is “When Lights Are Low.”

About This Song

“When Lights Are Low” was written in 1936 by Benny Carter, the noted bandleader and musician, with lyrics by Spencer Williams. Carter and Williams were both living in Europe at the time; Carter was the staff arranger for the BBC dance arrangements as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When Lights Are Low” in 1964 for the album of the same name. The album is Bennett singing with just the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums. It’s one of Bennett’s great jazz albums and is definitely worth a listen.

http://open.spotify.com/track/68QorBXufCVCBxzgpAd2Uc
“When Lights Are Low,” as well as the album of the same name, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 20, 2013 is “It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie.”

About This Song

“It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie” was written in 1936 by Billy Mayhew. Fats Waller made the first recording of this song and it has remained identified with him (it was featured in the 1978 musical revue Ain’t Misbehavin’). It was also recorded by Slim Whitman. (I promise that I have not, on purpose, chosen two jazz songs in a row that were also recorded by Slim Whitman.) More traditional recordings include those by Billie Holiday, Patti Page and The Ink Spots.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie” in 1964 for the album When Lights Are Low. Bennett recorded this album with just the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums. I like this album very much, perhaps because it brings to mind Bennett’s live performances with his current quartet. His voice with these small jazz combos is really quite wonderful. There are many fine songs on this album in addition to to today’s song: “Speak Low,” “I’ve Got Just About Everything” and my personal favorite song of Tony’s — “The Rules of the Road.”

http://open.spotify.com/track/3cFPZOvrPdyjmZSoXh09Db
“It’s A Sin To Tell A Lie,” as well as the album When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes and Amazon.