The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: These Foolish Things

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 12, 2023, is “These Foolish Things.”

About Today

Today’s song was recorded 67 years ago today on September 12, 1956.

About This Song

“These Foolish Things” was written in 1936 by Jack Strachey and Eric Maschwitz (writing as Holt Marvell due to recording contract issues). The song was not an immediate hit. In fact, Maschwitz’ agent refused to publish the song and so Maschwitz himself did. There were several fine recordings in the 1930s, including one by Billie Holiday with the Teddy Wilson Orchestra and Benny Goodman. In the 1950s, the song became even more popular, with recordings by Artie Shaw, Nat King Cole, Art Pepper, and Johnny Hartman.” These Foolish Things” ranks #28 on jazzstandards.com and is still widely played and recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “These Foolish Things” on September 12, 1956, for his album Tony, which was released in 1957. Ray Conniff wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“These Foolish Things,” as well as Tony, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Love Walked In

The song of the day for Friday, July 29, 2022, is “Love Walked In.”

About This Song

“Love Walked In” was written in 1930 by George Gershwin; the lyrics by Ira Gershwin weren’t added until 1937 for the movie The Goldwyn Follies, released in 1938. There have been many fine recordings, including those by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby, and Artie Shaw.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Love Walked In” on September 12, 1956, with an arrangement by Ray Conniff. It was released in 1957 on the album Tony.

“Love Walked In,” as well as Tony is available on Apple Music.

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Album of the Week: Tony

The album of the week starting on January 9, 2022, is Tony.

 

Tony is Tony Bennett’s second full-length studio album.  In Tony, we see first-hand Tony Bennett’s love of the American Songbook. This album features many great songs from composers including Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, Jimmy McHugh, Harry Warren, Kurt Weill, and the Gershwins. Most of the songs from this album, such as It Had To Be You, These Foolish Things, I’ll Be Seeing You and Always are songs that he still sings today in concert. Tony has two distinct sound profiles: the numbers arranged by Ray Conniff (mostly Side One, plus Always from Side Two) feature a big band sound, while the Percy Faith numbers have a lusher sound with more strings. He is joined on this album by guitarist Chuck Wayne, whom he worked with on Cloud 7; on Tony, Wayne provides a wonderful guitar accompaniment to Lost in the Stars.

Release Date January 14, 1957
Label Columbia
Producer Mitch Miller
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements Ray Conniff, Percy Faith

Listen to Tony

You can also listen to Tony on:

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Song of the Day: These Foolish Things

The song of the day for Monday, January 4, 2021, is “These Foolish Things.”

About This Song

“These Foolish Things” was written in 1936 by Jack Strachey and Eric Maschwitz (credited as Holt Marvell due to a contract issue). “These Foolish Things” was not an immediate hit. In fact, Maschwitz’s agent refused to publish the song and so Maschwitz himself did. There were several fine recordings in the 1930s, including one by Billie Holiday with the Teddy Wilson Orchestra and Benny Goodman. In the 1950s, the song became even more popular, with recordings by Artie Shaw, Nat King Cole, Art Pepper, and Johnny Hartman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett his first recording of “These Foolish Things” in 1956 for the album Tony. Ray Conniff wrote the orchestration and conducted.

These Foolish Things

Listen to These Foolish Things on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1957.

“These Foolish Things,” as well as Tony, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lost In The Stars

The song of the day for Friday, September 11, 2015 is “Lost In The Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars” was composed in 1949 by Kurt Weill with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. The song is from the 1949 musical of the same name, based on the 1948 novel by Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country. Set in South Africa in an era when apartheid seemed as if it would never end, the plot concerns a black priest whose son, in a robbery attempt, kills a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song many times and all of the versions are wonderful. Today’s version is his first recording of “Lost In the Stars” and was recorded on June 6, 1956. This song was conducted by Ray Conniff. The arrangement is, I believe, from the uncredited Marion Evans. Other songs on the album were arranged by Neal Hefti, Gil Evans and Don Costa. “Lost In The Stars” was released in January 1957 on Bennett’s second full-length album, Tony.

Lost In the Stars

Listen to Lost In the Stars on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1957.


“Lost In The Stars,” as well as Tony, is available from iTunes.

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