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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

September 9, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Out Of This World

The song of the day for Saturday, September 10, 2022, is “Out Of This World.”

About This Song

“Out Of This World” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in 1944 for the 1945 movie of the same name. Out Of This World starred Eddie Bracken; however, Bing Crosby dubbed the vocals for Bracken and introduced the song. Alec Wilder was a fan of this song, praising its ethereal quality and the excellent lyrics by Mercer.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Out Of This World” on October 15, 1964, with a terrific jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). Bennett recorded several other songs with this quartet. The recordings were released in 2011 in The Complete Collection box set on disc #1: Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

“Out Of This World,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Elvin Jones, Harold Arlen, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Mercer, Rarities Outtake and Other Delights Vol. 1, Ron Carter, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett

November 28, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Monday, November 29, 2021, is “Day Dream.”

About Today

We are proud to honor Billy Strayhorn on the anniversary of his birth on November 28, 1915. Strayhorn was, of course, a close associate of Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. Strayhorn did it all; he was a composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger. Perhaps his most well-known contribution to Ellington was “Take the ‘A’ Train.” Strayhorn had met Ellington in Pittsburgh, PA and Ellington asked Strayhorn to come to visit him in New York. Ellington wrote instructions for Strayhorn to follow to get to Ellington’s home Harlem’s Sugar Hill and Strayhorn wrote that famous song using those instructions as the lyrics.

Other significant Strayhorn songs include “Lush Life,” “Chelsea Bridge,” “Lotus Blossom,” and ” Something To Live For.”

Billy Strayhorn died on May 31, 1967, from esophageal cancer. A few months after that, Ellington recorded And His Mother Called Him Bill to pay homage to his friend and collaborator. It’s a beautiful and touching album, especially the spontaneous solo by Ellington of “Lotus Blossom,” recorded at the end of the session as the other musicians were packing up to leave.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” on May 25, 1964, with Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, Ron Carter, and Elvin Jones. This song, as well as four others, recorded at the same session, were not released commercially until they were included in the 2011 Complete Collection box set on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

“Day Dream,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes, & Other Delights, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Duke Ellington’s recording of “Lotus Blossom”

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Strayhorn, Billy Strayhorn birthday, Duke Ellington, Elvin Jones, Herbie Hancock, Rarities Outtake and Other Delights Vol. 1, Ron Carter, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett

September 26, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Fascinating Rhythm

The song of the day for Sunday, September 27, 2020, is “Fascinating Rhythm.”

About This Song

Written in 1924 by George and Ira Gershwin for the Broadway musical Lady Be Good, “Fascinating Rhythm” was introduced by Cliff Edwards and Fred and Adele Astaire. The Astaires also recorded the song in 1926 with Gershwin on piano. “Fascinating Rhythm” was and still is, a jazz number. For that reason, it has never been out of favor with jazz artists, both vocal and instrumental.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Fascinating Rhythm” in 1949 as Joe Bari on a 78 rpm record on the Leslie label. “Vieni Qui” was on the flip side. This record was long thought lost, but a copy was found and so it was able to be released in the 2011 Complete Collection on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1.

“Fascinating Rhythm,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: George Gershwin, Ira Gershwin, Rarities Outtake and Other Delights Vol. 1, Tony Bennett

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