The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Jeepers Creepers

The song of the day for Thursday, February 11, 2021, is “Jeepers Creepers.”

About This Song

“Jeepers Creepers” was written by Harry Warren and Johnny Mercer for the 1938 movie Going Places, which featured Louis Armstrong as a trumpet-playing horse trainer. It has been recorded by Bing Crosby and, of course, Louis Armstrong.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Jeepers Creepers” in 1959 for his album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, Basie/Bennett. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Jeepers Creepers - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Jeepers Creepers - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959

“Jeepers Creepers,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Until I Met You

The song of the day for Sunday, February 7, 2021, is “Until I Met You.”

About This Song

“Until I Met You” was written in 1956 by Freddie Green and Donald E. Wolf. This song is also known as “Corner Pocket.” Freddie Green played rhythm guitar for the Count Basie Orchestra for fifty years. This song has also been recorded by Duke Ellington, Count Basie, and Sarah Vaughan, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Until I Met You” in 1962 for the album On The Glory Road, which was to be released in 1962, but was cancelled. This recording was included on the 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. The song was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

Fortunately, On The Glory Road was finally released in 2011 Complete Collection box set of Tony Bennett albums.

Until I Met You

Listen to Until I Met You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962

“Until I Met You,” as well as On The Glory Road, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Thursday, January 28, 2021, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “All The Things You Are” in 1962 at his concert at Carnegie Hall, an abbreviated version of which was released on a 4-LP set as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. The 1997 reissue on 2 CDs included the full concert. Ralph Sharon arranged and conducted the orchestra.

All The Things You Are (From "Very Warm For May") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to All The Things You Are (From "Very Warm For May") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962

“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 27, 2021, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

Composer Jerome Kern was born on January 27, 1885. As I write this, I am listening to the version of today’s songs and am struck by the timeless quality of this song. It’s just as relevant now as when it was written 85 years ago and will be relevant for generations to come.

We’ll be celebrating Jerome Kern for the rest of the week.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year; Dorothy Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting.

Fields remarked

The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.

It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “The Way You Look Tonight” in 1977 for the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding; the exquisite piano is from Ralph Sharon.

I had several choices of versions of today’s song to feature, but the version Bennett recorded for My Best Friend’s Wedding is the most beautiful song I’ve ever heard and so I feature it today.

The Way You Look Tonight

Listen to The Way You Look Tonight on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2012

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as the song collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Happiness is a Thing Called Joe

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 20, 2021, is “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe.”

We are pleased to present today’s song in honor of the inauguration of the 46th president of the United States, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.

About This Song

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” was written in 1940 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. It’s from the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky, starring Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song was introduced by Ethel Waters, sung to her husband Joe, played by Dooley Wilson. The 1943 film version of Cabin in the Sky also featured Miss Waters with the role of Joe played by Eddie Anderson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon. The two booked the CBS 30th Street Studio to record. Sharon brought in a briefcase of sheet music and they chose a song, found a good key, and recorded the songs in one or two takes. In a single session, they recorded 16 songs. Twelve of those songs were released, finally, in the 1961 album Tony Sings For Two.

Bennett tells this story in his autobiography The Good Life:

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 the my finest records ever.

Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe

Listen to Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.