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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

April 27, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 28, 2021, is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, with lyrics by John LaTouche. Acknowledged to have been written solely by Strayhorn, “Day Dream” is a lovely song with a strong Strayhorn touch, enhanced by the thoughtful lyrics by John LaTouche. The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this one by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Day Dream” in 1964 with Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sex), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums).

Day Dream

Listen to Day Dream on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2012.

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

Here’s the original 1941 recording with Johnny Hodges and Strayhorn on piano:

Day Dream

Listen to Day Dream on Spotify. Johnny Hodges · Song · 1961.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Strayhorn, Duke Ellington, Duke Ellington Week, Elvin Jones, Herbie Hancock, John Latouche, Ron Carter, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett

March 3, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Out Of This World

The song of the day for Thursday, March 4, 2021, is “Out Of This World.”

About This Song

“Out Of This World” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer 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” with a superb jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). It’s just as great a recording as you can imagine with all that talent. This song, as well as a few others with the quartet, are on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

Out of This World

Listen to Out of This World on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2012.

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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Elvin Jones, Harold Arlen, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Mercer, Ron Carter, Stan Getz

November 17, 2020 By Suzanne 3 Comments

Song of the Day: Out Of This World

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 18, 2020, is “Out Of This World.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the birthday of one of the great songwriters — John Herndon Mercer, born on November 18, 1909, in Savannah, Georgia. I think the Great American Songbook might not have been as great if Johnny Mercer hadn’t become a songwriter. We’ll be featuring songs written by Johnny Mercer for the next week or so.

About This Song

“Out Of This World” was written in 1944 by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the film 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 this version of “Out Of This World” in 1964 with a world-class jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). This recording, as well as others recorded with this quartet, was not released on an album. However, these songs were included in the 2011 Complete Collection box set on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

Out of This World

Listen to Out of This World on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2012.

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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Elvin Jones, Happy Birthday Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Herbie Hancock, Johnny Mercer, Johnny Mercer Week, Ron Carter, Stan Getz, Tony Bennett

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