The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By 1 Comment

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

The song of the day for Saturday, July 6, 2013 is “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

About This Song

This song was written by Bob Dorough, a bebop and cool jazz pianist and composer. This great song has been in my head all day long, so I knew it had to be the song of the day.

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s 1964 album with the Ralph Sharon Trio, When Lights Are Low. This is a sublime jazz album from just these four musicians: Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon (piano), Hal Gaylord (bass) and Billy Exiner (drums). Every song on this album is a winner, but this song especially swings. The arrangement is perfect and the trio gets a chance to shine in the extended instrumental section.

http://open.spotify.com/track/32ne5iCh5B7geOvcX8PQsu
“I’ve Got Just About Everything,” as well as the entire When Lights Are Low album, is available from iTunes.

By 1 Comment

Song of the Day: Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me

The song of the day for Thursday, June 20, 2013 is “Nobody’s Heart Belongs to Me.”

About This Song

This touching song is from the from the 1942 Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart musical By Jupiter, where it was introduced by Constance Moore.

For more information about “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me,”  including the lyrics, please view this song topic at our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography.

About This Version

Today’s song is from one of my favorite Tony Bennett albums: Tony Sings For Two. In what was a very unusual album in 1961, Bennett recorded this album of standards with just the accompaniment of his pianist, Ralph Sharon.  The result was an album of staggering beauty and vocal mastery that showcased Bennett’s voice perfectly.

For more information about Tony Songs For Two, please view this album topic at our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0pNwau3h5Xq9LxwLO58Y9c
“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me,”  as well as the Tony Sings For Two album, is available from iTunes.

By 1 Comment

Song of the Day: Just Friends

The song of the day for Friday, May 24, 2013 is Just Friends.

About This Song

Just Friends was written in 1931 by John Klenner with lyrics by Sam M. Lewis. It’s been a popular jazz standard , including vocal versions by Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Charlie Parker and Chet Baker.  The song, both the music as well as the lyrics, seem more modern that most songs written in the early 1930s and for that reason has received interesting jazz treatments  and found itself quite at home with bebop stylings.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recording this song for his album with Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett Sings For Two, released in 1961 (even though it was recorded in 1959).  With just Bennett accompanied only by Ralph Sharon, it was an unusual album for that time. This outing gave Bennett and Sharon an opportunity to do a very intimate album. In what must have been a remarkable recording session, Bennett and Sharon recorded sixteen songs in one day and  twelve of those songs are on the album. It is one of my favorites of Tony Bennett’s early albums: two great jazz musicians singing some of the best songs ever written.
http://open.spotify.com/track/5fLeV8El2vqaZs7hYwHwCO
Just Friends, as well as Tony Bennett Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 7, 2013, is By Myself.

About This Song

Written by the team of Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwarz, By Myself was written for the 1937 musical Between The Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. The song proved more popular than the production, with recordings by Eileen Farrell, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald and even Leonard Nimoy of Star Trek fame.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s delightful tribute to Fred Astaire, Steppin’ Out. The arrangement is very effective, with just Bennett and Cameron with his famous brushes, as befits a song that ends with “by myself, alone.”

Fred Astaire sung this song in the film Band Wagon.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1mDaRJufal4j8Hgg7PFb6d
By Myself, as well as the full Steppin’ Out album, is available from iTunes.

Here’s a bit of Fred Astaire from Band Wagon, singing By Myself:

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’m Glad There Is You

The song of the day for Monday, May 6, 2013 is I’m Glad There Is You.

About This Song

I’m Glad There Is You was written in 1941 by Jimmy Dorsey with lyrics by Paul Madeira (sometimes credited as Paul Mertz). Dorsey first recorded this song with his orchestra, with vocals by Bob Eberly. The review of the recording in Billboard (March 21, 1942) said that “It’s a love song, with the story seeped in philosophical thoughts rather June-moon wordage.” That complexity of thought, combined with the interesting and relatively unusual melody, makes for a somewhat sad, but evocative love song.

It’s been a very popular jazz love song, with recordings by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, Rosemary Clooney and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this I’m Glad There Is You for his 1992 tribute album to Frank Sinatra, Perfectly Frank. It’s nicely arranged by Robert Farnon and accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

http://open.spotify.com/track/445SF4I1u83hR49ubrukQf
I’m Glad There Is You, as well as the full Perfectly Frank album, 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