The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Whatever Lola Wants

The song of the day for Saturday, June 8, 2024, is “Whatever Lola Wants.”

About This Song

“Whatever Lola Wants” was written in 1955 by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross for the smash musical Damn Yankees. Based on the Faust legend, the musical is set in the 1950s in Washington, D.C., where, as usual, the New York Yankees dominated their division. A fan of the competing Washington Senators sells his soul to the devil for a long ball hitter that could help the Senators beat the Yankees. It starred Ray Walston and a young Gwen Verdon as Lola. The choreographer was Bob Fosse. Fosse and Verdon would later marry and work together for many years.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Whatever Lola Wants” on June 9, 1955, for Columbia Records All Star Pops. featuring an arrangement by Sid Feller. This recording was added to Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 for the 2011 Complete Collection release.

“Whatever Lola Wants,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Something’s Gotta Give

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 22, 2024, is “Something’s Gotta Give.”

About This Song

“Something’s Gotta Give” was written by Johnny Mercer in 1954 for the 1955 movie Daddy Long Legs for Fred Astaire to sing. Other recordings include those by Sammy Davis, Jr., The McGuire Sisters, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Something’s Gotta Give” on June 9, 1955, for a Columbia compilation called All Star Pops. It was arranged by Sid Feller.

“Something’s Gotta Give,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes, and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got a video from Daddy Long Legs with Fred Astaire and Leslie Caron singing and dancing “Something’s Gotta Give.”

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Song of the Day: Something’s Gotta Give

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.