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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of 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

October 12, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 13, 2020, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

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

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 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” on October 12, 1962, with an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was released in 1963 on the album I Wanna Be Around.

“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

August 22, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Tony Live! The Good Life/I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Sunday, August 23, 2020, is a medley of “The Good Life” and “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

“The Good Life” was written in 1962 by Sacha Distel and Jack Reardon. Originally titled “La Belle Vie,” “The Good Life” 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.

“I Wanna Be Around” was written in 1959 by Sophie Vimmerstedt and Johnny Mercer. 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 sang this medley at his 1994 live performance on MTV Unplugged.

“The Good Life/I Wanna Be Around,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Jack Reardon, Johnny Mercer, MTV Unplugged, Sacha Distel, Sadie Vimmerstedt, Tony Bennett

April 23, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 24, 2019, 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

Today I’m featuring the original 1962 recording of “I Wanna Be Around,” recorded for the 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning wrote the fine arrangement.

I Wanna Be Around…

I Wanna Be Around…, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

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

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

June 9, 2018 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Saturday, June 9, 2018 is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

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

Today I’m pleased to offer the wonderful 1962 recording, released on the album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning did the arrangement.

I Wanna Be Around…

I Wanna Be Around…, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


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

About Today

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wanna Be Around” with Bono for the 2006 Duets: An American Classic.

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

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