The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Have You Met Miss Jones?

The song of the day for Monday, June 18, 2018 is “Have You Met Miss Jones”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “Have You Met Miss Jones?” for the musical revue I’d Rather Be Right. It’s one of their sweetest and most charming love songs, as the young man who is introduced to Miss Jones and falls in love immediately. In addition to Bennett’s recording, other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Have You Met Miss Jones?” in 1964 with a terrific jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). This recording was released on several compilation albums. It’s currently available on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, originally available as part of the Complete Collection box set.

Have You Met Miss Jones?

Listen to Have You Met Miss Jones? on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2012


“Have You Met Miss Jones?,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Out of This World

The song of the day for Friday, December 1, 2017 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. I’m not as eloquent as Mr. Wilder–I think it’s a hell of a song by two great songwriters.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Out of This World” in 1964 with a stellar quartet: Herbie Hancock on piano, Stan Getz on saxophone, Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums.

Out of This World

Tony Bennett · Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 · Song · 2012


“Out of This World,” as well as the other songs collected on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Have You Met Miss Jones?

The song of the day for Monday, July 5, 2016 is “Have You Met Miss Jones?”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “Have You Met Miss Jones?” for the musical revue I’d Rather Be Right. It’s one of their sweetest and most charming love songs, as the young man who is introduced to Miss Jones and falls in love immediately. In addition to Bennett’s recordings, other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song twice. He recorded it in 1973 with the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet for Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. Today I’m featuring his 1964 recording with Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass) and Elvin Jones (drums). This recording, as well as others with this group, were not released until 2011 on the Tony Bennett Complete Collection box set on the Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1.

Have You Met Miss Jones?

Listen to Have You Met Miss Jones? on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2012


“Have You Met Miss Jones?” as well as all the songs on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 6, 2014 is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written in 1941 by Billy Strayhorn with Duke Ellington, with lyrics by John La Touche. The first recording was with Ellington saxophonist Johnny Hodges with Billy Strayhorn on piano. Ellington recorded it several times, including his 1968 tribute album to Strayhorn, And His Mother Called Him Bill (if you can keep from crying while Ellington plays “Lotus Blossom” all by himself for his late friend, as the band is packing up, you must have nerves of steel), Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and Jo Stafford. Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” in 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool.

About This Version

This version of “Day Dream” was recorded in May, 1964 with a superlative group of jazz musicians: Herbie Hancock on piano, Stan Getz on tenor sax, Ron Carter on bass and Elvin Jones on drums. There are six songs from this session on this Rarities collection and they are all worth your time. I’m just glad that they were finally released in 2011 with the complete collection and now available on iTunes for everyone.

http://open.spotify.com/track/66ZCFZIrtAWe2pa1RhicXX
“Day Dream,” as well as all of the treasures on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Just Friends

The song of the day for Thursday, June 12, 2014 is “Just Friends.”

About This Song

“Just Friends” was written in 1931 by John Klenner (music) and Sam M. Lewis (lyrics). The first recording was in 1931 by Red McKenzie, but the song became popular in 1932 when Russ Columbo recorded it. Notable recordings throughout the years include those by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Chet Baker and Charlie Parker. It ranks #85 on jazzstandards.org.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song, as well as several others, in 1964 with an extraordinary group of jazz musicians: Herbie Hancock (piano), Elvin Jones (drums), Ron Carter (bass) and Stan Getz (tenor saxophone). The results were fantastic.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0FKdZzcnDnHfHg0FyNkGCA
“Just Friends,” as well as all of the songs collected on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.