The song of the day for Saturday, September 7, 2013 is “Street of Dreams.”

About This Song

“Street of Dreams” was written in 1932, with music by Victor Young and lyrics by Sam M. Lewis. This song has a classic depression-era sensibility, where love is one of the few things that may be impossible for those with money, but “no one is poor as long as love is sure.” Bing Crosby was the first singer to record “Street of Dreams”, though the Russ Columbo recording was also popular.

About This Version

Today’s song is from one of this author’s favorite of Bennett’s albums: Tony Sings For Two. Tony and Ralph Sharon, with no other musicians, went into the studio and recorded sixteen songs in one day. Bennett tells this story in his autobiography The Good Life:

We booked time in the studio and pored over music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes–which must be some kind of record–twelve of which made it into the album, which became 1961′s Tony Sings for Two. Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw there was no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings For Two turned out to be one of my finest albums ever.

It’s a remarkable album and each and every song is excellent. Next to Bennett’s quite extraordinary “The Man That Got Away,” “Street of Dreams” is my favorite on the album. Your opinionated author hopes you like it as well.

http://open.spotify.com/track/70Aa21zmJ1J2q7qaMh5RDY
“Street of Dreams,” as well as the album Tony Sings For Two,” is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.