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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

December 1, 2016 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Friday, December 2, 2016 is “Some Other Time.”

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written in 1944, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the musical On The Town, the story of three sailors on leave in New York City and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the end by two of the couples. Inexplicably, this beautiful song was cut from the 1949 film version.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Some Other Time” is an alternate take (take 7) from the recording sessions in 1975 that resulted in The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album. The contents of both their albums, as well as many alternate takes, are available on The Complete Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Recordings on both CD and for downloading on iTunes.

Some Other Time - Take 7

Listen to Some Other Time - Take 7 on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1975.


“Some Other Time,” as well as The Complete Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Adolph Green on the anniversary of his birth on December 2, 1944. He and his partner Betty Comden not only wrote wonderful lyrics for the Broadway stage for composers Leonard Bernstein and Jule Styne, but also wrote screenplays for films including the great Singin’ In The Rain. Adolph, along with Betty Comden, wrote the lyrics for one of Tony Bennett’s most popular songs “Just In Time.”

Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Leonard Bernstein
Adolph Green, Betty Comment, and Leonard Bernstein

I found this clip of Adolph Green and Betty Comden on Art Ford’s Greenwich Village Party from 1957. Also attending the party is Cy Coleman, who plays piano. Adolph and Betty sing a song from On The Town called “Carried Away.”

BETTY COMDON & ADOLPH GREEN 1956

As the unofficial Baby-Boomer( IRA GALLEN )Guru of my Television Collecting Generation I knew it was the right time to create a Video Network for Baby-Boomers Only.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Bill Evans, Leonard Bernstein, On The Town, Remembering Adolph Green, The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album

December 2, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 2, 2014 is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

Today’s song was composed in 1956 by Jule Styne, with lyrics from the great team of Adolph Green and Betty Comden. “The Party’s Over” is one of the hit songs from the 1956 musical Bells Are Ringing. It was introduced by Judy Holliday, who won the Tony award for her performance.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” in 1958 for the album Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. This song, as well as the other songs on the album, was arranged by Ralph Burns. Hometown, My Town is, in this author’s opinion, one of Tony Bennett’s best albums. Though relatively short by later standards with only six songs, each song on the album is outstanding. Hometown, My Town is one of the early “concept” albums, in that it tells a story, beginning with a young man determined to make it in the city (“Skyscraper Blues), meeting a girl and dreaming of life in a fabulous apartment (“Penthouse Serenade”), breaking up (“By Myself), experiencing the gritty parts of the city (“I Cover The Waterfront”), getting back together (“Love Is Here To Stay”), but finally realizing that it’s not going to work (“The Party’s Over”). While today we are used to albums like this, with a distinct arc, this was a new and exciting way for albums to be conceived in the 1950s. I do believe it’s a masterpiece.

I’ve got a playlist on my iPod that starts with Hometown, My Town and ends with Astoria: Portrait of the Artist. Both consider the young man at relatively the same age, though recorded some thirty years apart. From the young singer’s standpoint, life is about making it big and challenging oneself in the great city of New York. From the mature singer’s standpoint, love and wonder found in the memories of his birthplace. The two albums, heard together, are like bookends to a single life.

About Today

Adolph Green, who co-wrote the lyrics for today’s song, was born on this day, December 2, 1914 in The Bronx, New York City. Today would have been his 100th birthday. He passed away in 2002 at the age of 87.

Originally, Adolph wanted to be an actor. In 1938, he met Betty Comden and they formed a performing group to produce and act in revues at the Village Vanguard. Members of that group was a young woman named Judy Tuvim, who changed her name to Judy Holliday, and Leonard Bernstein.

Betty Comden and Adolph Green, 1998
Betty Comden and Adolph Green, 1998

In 1944, their friend Leonard Bernstein asked them to work with him on a new musical to be directed by Jerome Robbins: On The Town. From this production came one of their finest songs: Some Other Time, which Tony Bennett recorded with Bill Evans on The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, released in 1975.

After On The Town, they were welcomed in Hollywood and wrote full scripts for several films, culminating in what is to many the greatest film musical ever made: Singin’ in the Rain. They also continued their work on Broadway, including Bells Are Ringing with Jule Styne and Candide with Leonard Bernstein.

Adolph Green was married three times, the last one to Phyllis Newman. Their two children, Adam and Amanda, are both songwriters.

The legendary 1985 Follies in Concert semi-staged production with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra used Adolph Green and Betty Comden as a singing Vaudeville duo. Their performance, as well as Sondheim’s reasons for casting the pair, can be seen in the documentary of Follies in Concert, available on DVD.

And so, on the centennial of his birth, The Year of Tony Bennett is proud to honor one of America’s greatest songwriters: Adolph Green.

The Party"s Over

Listen to The Party"s Over on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1959.


“The Party’s Over,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: About His Collaborators, Song of the Day Tagged With: Adolph Green, Bells Are Ringing, Betty Comden, Happy Birthday Adolph Green, Hometown My Town, Jule Styne, Ralph Burns, Remembering Adolph Green

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