The song of the day for Thursday, January 29, 2015 is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

“The Good Life” was written in 1962 by Sacha Distel, with lyrics by Jack Reardon. Originally titled “La Belle Vie,” the song was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life;” other good recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Good Life” in December, 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. It was arranged and conducted by Marty Manning and produced by Ernie Altschuler.

About Today

Songwriter Sacha Distel was born on this day, January 29, in Paris in the year 1933. His uncle, Ray Ventura, was a jazz promoter in the 1930s and was instrumental in developing swing in France. Thanks to his uncle, he was able to meet and listen to the great swing artists and founded his own band that focused on jazz and bebop. He is probably best known for “The Good Life,” though he wrote many other songs over his career. He performed regularly up to his death in 2004.

“The Good Life,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.