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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

August 24, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Thursday, August 25, 2022, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Around” was written in 1959 by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt. The story of this song is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line “I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody breaks your heart” and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wanna Be Around” on October 19, 1962, and released the recording in 1963 on the album I Wanna Be Around. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Johnny Mercer, Marty Manning, Sadie Vimmerstedt, Tony Bennett

February 2, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Thursday, February 3, 2022, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Around” was written in 1959 by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt.

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody breaks your heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wanna Be Around” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: I Wanna Be Around, Johnny Mercer, Marty Manning, Sadie Vimmerstedt, Tony Bennett

May 9, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Monday, May 10, 2021, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Around” was written in 1950 by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt.

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces, when somebody breaks yours heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wanna Be Around” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

I Wanna Be Around...

Listen to I Wanna Be Around... on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: I Wanna Be Around, Johnny Mercer, Marty Manning, Sadie Vimmerstedt, Tony Bennett

March 26, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Saturday, March 26, 2021, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Around” was written in 1959 by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt.

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody breaks your heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett r3ecorded “I Wanna Be Around” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

I Wanna Be Around...

Listen to I Wanna Be Around... on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: I Wanna Be Around, Johnny Mercer, Marty Manning, Sadie Vimmerstedt, Tony Bennett

November 16, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 17, 2020, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody breaks your heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wanna Be Around” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, which was released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra

I Wanna Be Around...

Listen to I Wanna Be Around... on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as the album of the same name, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: I Wanna Be Around, Johnny Mercer, Marty Manning, Sadie Vimmerstedt, Tony Bennett

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