The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Night And Day

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 31, 2016 is “Night And Day.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “Night and Day” for the 1932 musical Gay Divorce, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song became and still is quite popular and certainly a standard in the American songbook. Significant recordings include those by Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald and Django Reinhardt.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Night and Day” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon and features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

Night and Day

Listen to Night and Day on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992


“Night And Day,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: With Plenty Of Money And You

The song of the day for Thursday, April 28, 2016 is “With Plenty Of Money And You.”

About This Song

“With Plenty of Money and You” by Harry Warren and Al Dubin was written for the Gold Diggers of 1937, starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Interestingly, the score for the film was to have been written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, but Berkeley didn’t like what they had written and brought in Warren and Dubin for this song and several other songs. Some Arlen and Harburg songs were used in the film as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “With Plenty Of Money And You” in 1959 with The Count Basie Orchestra for Basie/Bennett. It swings like nobody’s business. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

With Plenty of Money and You - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to With Plenty of Money and You - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“With Plenty Of Money And You,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Azure

The song of the day for Thursday, April 21, 2016 is “Azure.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Azure” in 1937; the lyrics by Irving Mills were added later. In his liner notes for Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennett writes of “Azure” that

The composition of this song is the absolute pinnacle of inventiveness and originality as it relates to the art of music composition.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Azure” in 1999 for his centenary tribute to Duke Ellington: Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli. The very fine pianist is Ralph Sharon.

Azure

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


“Azure,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Caravan

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 12, 2016 is “Caravan.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington and Juan Tirol wrote “Caravan” in 1936, with lyrics by Irving Mills. Caravan is one of the most popular Duke Ellington songs and has been recorded steadily over the years. In Jazz Standards, Al Gioia attributes its popularity as a jazz song due to “the composition’s adaptability to a modernistic, modal-based approach.”

About This Version

Today’s recording is from 1962 and was almost lost forever. It’s from Tony Bennett’s album On The Glory Road, which was due to be released in 1962 but was pulled at the last moment. Thankfully, the album was released in the 2011 Complete Collection boxed set and is now also available on iTunes. “Caravan” was arranged and conducted by Ralph Sharon and features percussion by Chico Hamilton.

Caravan

Tony Bennett · On The Glory Road · Song · 1962


“Caravan,” as well as On The Glory Road, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 8m, 2016 is “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written for the 1929 revue The Little Show by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, where it was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant. Even though the original title was “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” it more often sung with Plans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan” in 1959 with The Count Basie Orchestra for the album Basie/Bennett, which was released the same year. The orchestration is by Ralph Sharon.

I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plans - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plans - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.