The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Where Or When

The song of the day for Saturday, September 28, 2013 is “Where Or When.”

About This Song

“Where Or When” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1937 for the Broadway musical Babes In Arms. Note that the Broadway musical bears little, if any, resemblance to the 1938 film that starred Judy Garland and Mickey Rooney. Only two songs of the Rodgers and Hart songs were used in the film; thankfully “Where Or When” was one of those songs, though only a brief portion of the song is heard.

In the Broadway production, the song was sung by a young couple (played by Ray Heatherton and Mitzi Green) who had just met, fallen in love on sight and sing this song about how they seem to recognize each other, but cannot remember where, or when.

The song has been widely recorded since it was written from Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Mel Tormé, Ella Fitzgerald and Dinah Shore to Dave Brubeck, Art Tatum, Gene Krupa and Duke Ellington.

About This Version

Today’s song is from the superb album Tony Sings For Two. The entire album was recorded in a single day with just Bennett and Ralph Sharon at the CBS 30th Street Studio. While recorded in October, 1959, it wasn’t released until 1961. Tony tells this story in his autobiography, The Good Life:

I always wanted to be unpredictable, and so for my next project, I decided to go in the opposite direction from the big orchestral albums I’d been doing lately and cut an intimate album piano-vocal album with Ralph Sharon. We booked time in the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes–which must be some kind of record–twelve of which made it into the album, which became the 1961’s Tony Sings For Two. Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw that 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 my finest albums ever.

In addition to “Where Or When,” this album contains my favorite recording of one of my favorite songs: “The Man That Got Away.” There really isn’t a false moment on the entire album: it’s a brilliant album by two great musicians.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1jKAs45clerby224GYvA7H
“Where Or When,” as well as the album Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 27, 2013 is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “I Could Write a Book” for the 1940 Broadway musical Pal Joey. Based on the novel by John O’Hara, Pal Joey was one of the first musicals with an anti-hero. Joey is a charming, but is manipulative and ambitious.

About This Version

“I Could Write a Book” is from Tony Bennett’s sublime Improv recordings of the Rodgers and Hart songbook in 1973. Originally released on two separate albums, all 26 songs are available on a combined set: Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook.

For all of these songs, Bennett sings with the Ruby Braff – George Barnes Quartet, with Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, Ruby Braff on cornet and John Guiffrida on bass. The quartet and Bennett’s voice are perfect. A brilliant collection of songs, Bennett in very fine voice and the unusual, but very effective quartet add up to a splendid set.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7MxaMByk7vzys1FjVGGSo7
“I Could Write a Book,” as well as the Tony Bennett Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.

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Song of the Day: Isn’t It Romantic?

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 30, 2013 is “Isn’t It Romantic?”

About This Song

“isn’t It Romantic?” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1932 for the film Love Me Tonight. It was introduced in the film by Jeanette MacDonald and Maurice Chevalier. In his book American Popular Song, Alec Wilder describes this song as perfect. And indeed it is.

About This Version

Today’s song is from Bennett’s first album on his Improv label: Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1973. This album, along with Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart is now available together Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook.

I am big, big fan of these albums. Of course, I can never resist Rodgers and Hart — it’s some of the greatest music written in 20th century and their music is always a joy.

But equally impressive is Bennett’s choice of the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet. In addition to Braff on cornet and Braff on guitar, the quartet rounds out with Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. No drums, no piano, no strings. Just this remarkable quartet and the results are outstanding.

Whitney Balliet, in a profile piece for The New Yorker magazine 1974 wrote:

The concert at Alice Tully the next evening was billed as “An Evening with Rodgers and Hart,” and it was a smooth and engaging success. The hall was sold out and the audience was hip. Bennett sang the verses of most of the songs, and by the time he got a note or two into the chorus there was the applause of recognition. He was in a dinner jacket, and stage manner was startingly old-fashioned: he used a hand make, and he whipped the cord around as though it was a lariat. … He sang twenty-one Rodger and Hart tunes, and many were memorable. … The ovation was long and standing.

I only wish I could have been there. But we have these exquisite recordings. Thankfully.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1ueC3LYUbZKlzkGf7rtnMb
“Isn’t It Romantic?” as well as the Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You Took Advantage of Me

The song of the day for Friday, July 5, 2013 is “You Took Advantage of Me.”

About This Song

“You Took Advantage of Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1928 for the Broadway musical Present Arms. The song was introduced by Joyce Barbour and Busby Berkley (who also choreographed the show.)

About This Version

Today’s version is from Tony Bennett’s 1973 album More Great Rodgers & Hart and was released on Bennett’s Improv label. Like the preceding Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, this album features the wonderful Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, with Barnes on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6D459cKyMvku3Rf92s9Ldh
“You Took Advantage of Me,” as well the entire Tony Bennett Sings Rodgers and Hart Songbook, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Lady Is a Tramp

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 25, 2013 is “The Lady Is a Tramp.”

About This Song

“The Lady Is a Tramp” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1937 musical Babes in Arms. It’s one of their most popular songs and has been widely recorded.

About This Version

The Year of Tony Bennett is very, very happy that Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga are in the studio, recording songs for their upcoming album. In case any needs any reminding of how wonderfully these two artists perform together, we feature their duet “The Lady is a Tramp.” I hope they have as much fun this time around as they had doing this song.

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

I love this video. I don’t think I’m the only one that loves it, as it’s had 11,358,754 views.