The song of the day for Tuesday, May 14, 2013 is Something’s Gotta Give.

About This Song

Both the music and lyrics for Something’s Gotta Give, was written by Johnny Mercer in 1954. It premiered in the 1955 musical Daddy Long Legs, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. It’s a classic Mercer song, with funny and sophisticated lyrics.

About This Version

I hope you don’t mind two days in a row with Johnny Mercer songs, but I do love his work and this song chose me today. This is an early recording from Tony Bennett; it was recorded in June 1955, but for reasons beyond my comprehension it wasn’t released. Thankfully, it was included on one of the Rarities CDs in the recent Complete Collection box set.

The great arrangement is by Sid Feller; if there was ever a song that conjures the mid-1950s, with the sound of the band, Bennett’s great phrasing and Mercer’s tune, it’s gotta be this one.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6pew3Sff2WTusydMb9epXi
Something’s Gotta Give, as well as all of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Volume 1, is available from iTunes.