The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Lorenz Hart, who was born on this day in New York in 1895. In honor of Mr. Hart, the song of the day for Friday, May 2, 2014 is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1927 Broadway musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. I’ve always loved “Thou Swell” because of the lyric — the delightful play of modern and medieval terminology: ‘thou swell,’ ‘a hut for two’ and my favorite ‘thine eyes are cute too.’

About This Version

Today’s recording is from Bennett’s Improv album Tony Bennett Sings… More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1973. It features the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a wonderful sound for the Rodgers and Hart songs that I never tire of.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3QNOMECmFdjw2MeT8AXdKW
“Thou Swell,” as well as all of the songs recorded by Tony Bennett’s Improv label, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Thursday, April 24, 2014 is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “This Can’t Be Love” in 1938 for the Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse, based on William Shakespeare’s A Comedy of Errors. It is one of their most joyous and least ironic love songs. Both Benny Goodman and Eddy Duchin recorded the song in the late 1930s. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording here, “This Can’t Be Love” has also been recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s wonderful album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released on his own Improv label. This album, as well as the follow-on Tony Bennett Sings … More Great Rodgers & Hart, features the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a remarkable sound for the selection of Rodgers and Hart songs as well as Bennett’s voice.

This Can"t Be Love

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“This Can’t Be Love,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered

The song of the day for Monday, March 31, 2014 is “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered.”

About This Song

“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, was one of the hit songs from the 1940 musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Vivienne Segal. Notable recordings are by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook.

About This Version

Today’s version of this wonderful Rodgers and Hart song is from one my favorite of Tony Bennett’s albums: Tony Sings For Two. This album is just Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon on piano giving us a remarkable collection of the finest songs from the American Songbook and no one, and I mean no one, does these songs any better than they are on this album. There’s isn’t a single note on this album that I don’t love. “Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered” is one of the best of the best.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4Re3BBnTFrSppLM2M4iATX
“Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” as well as the album Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Lady Is A Tramp

In honor of Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (otherwise known as Lady Gaga) who is celebrating her birthday today, our song of the day for Friday, March 28, 2014 is The Lady Is A Tramp.

About This Song

The Lady is a Tramp was written in 1937 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the Broadway musical Babes in Arms. It’s been a jazz and popular standard from the beginning, with recordings by Tommy Dorsey and Sophie Tucker. Other notable recordings are by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Lena Horne.

About This Version

The first time I heard Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sing The Lady is a Tramp, I had to jump up and start dancing. As the first song in the album, it’s a great promise on the incredible joys to come. . She’s a natural for jazz and was a great partner for Bennett. It’s a great arrangement of a great song with two great singers. It’s not often that you get hear singers having this much fun while doing an amazing take. As for me, I can hardly wait until the release of Cheek to Cheek later this year.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6ZsKRsnPsdZvXfqqE6bTPy
The Lady is a Tramp, as well as the full Duets II album, is available from iTunes.

And here’s the great video they made when they recorded today’s song:

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Song of the Day: Spring is Here

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 20,2014 is “Spring Is Here.”

About This Song

“Spring Is Here” was written in 1938 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the musical I Married An Angel. Reviewer Brooks Atkinson called it “one of the best musical comedies of many seasons, an imaginative improvisation with a fully orchestrated score and an extraordinarily beautiful production. Musical comedy has met its masters.” Certainly this rather sad but beautiful songs is one of their best.

There have been some great recordings of “Spring Is Here,” including those by Ella Fitzgerald, Bill Evans, Anita O’Day, John Coltrane, Nina Simone, Frank Sinatra and Maxine Sullivan.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Spring Is Here” is from Tony Bennett’s wonderful 1964 album When Lights Are Low. At a time when most albums featured full orchestras, Bennett recorded this jazz album with The Ralph Sharon Trio, including Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums. There’s not a bad song on this album and many fine ones. After you’ve taken a moment to listen to “Spring Is Here,” check out Bob Donough’s terrific “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

http://open.spotify.com/track/1qW9XVcobbxYHjlAh5Kewp
“Spring Is Here,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.