The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 16, 2015 is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, for Judy Garland to sing in the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” with Ralph Sharon on October 28, 1959 for the album Tony Sings For Two, which wasn’t released until 1961. Remarkably, Bennett and Sharon recorded sixteen songs in a single day-long session. Sharon came in with case full of sheet music; they would pick a song, try it out, choose a key and then record in one or two takes, with no instruments except Sharon’s piano, and then move on to the next. The result, Tony Sings For Two, is one of his finest albums with an extraordinary selection of songs from the American Songbook.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: It’s So Peaceful In The Country

The song of the day for Monday, September 14, 2015 is “It’s So Peaceful In The Country.”

About This Song

Alec Wilder
Alec Wilder

Alec Wilder wrote “It’s So Peaceful in the Country” for the singer Mildred Bailey, who recorded it in 1941. Wilder was a great friend to singers Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. He was an admirer of jazz musicians for their ability to improvise. In addition to writing popular songs, Wilder was also a noted classical composer. His book, American Popular Song, is a masterpiece on the body of work that we call The Great American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded It’s So Peaceful In The Country on June 27, 1957. It was originally slated for Bennett’s 1957 album The Beat of My Heart, but was not included on the original LP release. The recording was released as a 45 RPM single in 1957 (Columbia 45: 4-41341) and also on the compilation LP Blue Velvet (CL 1292), also released in 1957. This recording was included on the 1997 CD re-release of The Beat of My Heart (CK 66502).

“It’s So Peaceful In The Country” was arranged by Ralph Sharon, who also plays a lovely piano for this song. The Beat of My Heart was the first album that Ralph Sharon did with Tony Bennett.

It"s So Peacefull In the Country

Listen to It"s So Peacefull In the Country on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1957


“It’s So Peaceful In The Country,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Friday, August 28, 2015 is “A Sleeping’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleepin’ Bee” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics from Truman Capote, for the 1954 musical House of Flowers, based on the Truman Capote novella. Set in Haiti, the production featured a trio of steel drummers (more precisely known as pannists) from Trinidad.

About This Version

I fell in love with Tony Bennett’s performance of this song the very first time I heard it. And, of course, it’s from one of his finest albums: Tony Sings For Two, with just Bennett and Ralph Sharon on piano. The album is as close to perfect as an album can be and this song is a shining example.

A Sleepin" Bee

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“A Sleeping’ Bee,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Thursday, April 2, 2015 is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

This song was written 1954 by two somewhat homesick songwriters from San Francisco: George Cory and Douglass Cross.

Knowing that Ralph Sharon played with Tony Bennett, the songwriters gave a copy of the music to Mr. Sharon, who promptly put it in a drawer and forgot about it. Some time later, as he was packing for a tour with Mr. Bennett that would take them to San Francisco, he came across the song and put it in his suitcase, thinking that the locals in San Francisco might enjoy hearing it. After a performance at a nightclub in Hot Springs, Arkansas (a concert where underage saxophone player and future President Bill Clinton famously stood outside the club and watched the entire performance through the window), Bennett and Sharon found a piano in the bar at their hotel and started to work on the song. The first fan of the song was the bartender, who said “If you guys record that song, I’ll buy the first copy.” (Tony Bennett, The Good Life, page 164).

About This Version

Today’s version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” is from Bennett’s 1962 legendary performance at Carnegie Hall. This song, as well as the entire concert, was arranged and conducted by Ralph Sharon.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett dedicates today’s song of the day to the late Ralph Sharon, who luckily had the great good sense to grab this song out the drawer that day. Fans all over the world will always be grateful for that very happy accident.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (with Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra) - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (with Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra) - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Rest in Peace, Ralph Sharon

With great sadness and much respect, we note the death of Ralph Sharon, the long-time pianist and musical director for Tony Bennett.

young-ralph-sharon

Mr. Sharon passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2015 at the age of 91.

I will follow up with more news as it becomes available. We offer our sincere condolences to his family, friends and colleagues.

Here is The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Paul Langosch and Joe LaBarbera, and Tony Bennett performing “Solitude” at London’s Prince Edward Theatre in 1991.

Related Topics

Ralph Sharon Week from 2012
Happy Birthday to Ralph Sharon from 2013

Update

Ralph Sharon obituary from the Buffalo News
Denver Post Obituary
New York Times
Washington Post