The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Let The Good Times Roll

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 31, 2023, is “Let The Good Times Roll.”

About This Song

“Let The Good Times Roll,” This song, known as a “jump blues” song, was written in 1946 by Sam Theard, a New Orleans singer and songwriter, with his wife, Fleecie Moore. Residents and visitors to New Orleans may be more familiar with the French version of the saying: Laissez le bon temps rouler. The first recording was in 1946 by Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five. The song charted well on the Billboard R&B chart. Other recordings include those by Ray Charles, George Fame and the Blue Flames, Muddy Waters, and Clifton Chenier. B.B. King recorded “Let The Good Times Roll” in 1999.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and B.B. King recorded “Let The Good Times Roll” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues.

“Let The Good Times Roll,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues is available on Apple Music.

I found this terrific video of B.B. King singing “Let The Good Times Roll” at the Montreux Jazz Festival in 1993. Dig that blue jacket!

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Song of the Day: Let The Good Times Roll

The song of the day for Monday, September 16, 2013 is “Let The Good Times Roll.”

About This Song

“Let The Good Times Roll” is a classic jump blues song written by Sam Theard, a New Orleans blues singer and Fleecie Jordan, wife of Louis Jordan, who first recorded the song in 1946 with his group the Tympany Five. This recording charted as #2 on the 1947 Billboard R&B chart; the A-side of the record with “Let the Good Times Roll” was “Ain’t Nobody Here But Us Chickens” which was #1 that year and both songs stayed on the charts for six months. “Let The Good Times Roll” was inducted into the Blues Foundation Hall of Fame in 2013. It’s been widely recorded by many notable artists, including Clifton Chenier, Muddy Waters and B.B. King, who released an album entitled Let The Good Times Roll in 1999 as a tribute album to Louis Jordan.

About This Version

Today’s version is the duet with Tony Bennett and B.B. King from the 2001 album Playin’ With My Friends. We choose this song today not only because it’s a great song but also because it’s the birthday of B.B. King, who was born near Berclair, Mississippi (this is Mississippi Delta blues country) on September 16. 1925. His birth is commemorated by a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail. You can read more about the Mississippi Blues Trail here.

Tony can really sing the blues. If you haven’t explored this album, do yourself a favor — there’s some great music from some great musicians here.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2Pw5vIumO9PGcvtbHXQ3rZ
“Let The Good Times Roll,” as well Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available from iTunes and Amazon.com.