The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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On the Eleventh Day of a Tony Bennett Christmas

On the eleventh day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Wednesday, December 24, 2014, our song is “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” was written in 1943, with music by Walter Kent and lyrics by Kim Gannon and Buck Ram. This song, released at the height of World War II, tells the story of a soldier stationed overseas, who yearns to be home with family for Christmas, if only in my dreams. Bing Crosby recorded this song in 1943 and it was a best seller. The War Department issued a V-Disc with Crosby’s versions of this song and “White Christmas” that was sent to soldiers stationed all over the world. One wonders if the young soldier Anthony Benedetto, who was stationed in Germany, might have listened to this V-disc at some point.

Tony Bennett sang today’s version of “I’ll Be Home For Christmas” live on the Jon Stewart Show (now known as The Daily Show with Jon Stewart) in December 1994. This recording was added to the CD re-release of Snowfall, Bennett’s first (and wonderful) Christmas album.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3bn8yvVu6rNiRyf2aXaDBx
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas, as well as Snowfall, is available from iTunes.

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On the Fourth Day of a Tony Bennett Christmas

On the fourth day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Wednesday, December 17, 2014, Tony sings for us “The Christmas Song.”

“The Christmas Song” was written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. Sometimes known by its first line ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” this song was written on a very hot summer day and Tormé and Wells were trying to think cold Christmasy thoughts in an effort to cool off. The entire song was written forty minutes and is one of America’s most classic Christmas songs. The first recording was by Nat King Cole in 1946.

Tony Bennett recorded “The Christmas Song” in 1967 and released it on his 1968 album of Christmas music, Snowfall. This song, as well as all of the Christmas songs on this very fine album, was arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2IncC8fMEs7tY4pFIrS32u
“The Christmas Song,” as well as Snowfall, is available from iTunes.

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Songs of the Day: Christmas Medley from Snowfall

On the eleventh day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Tuesday, December 24, 2013, the songs of the day are the Christmas Medley from the Snowfall album.

About These Songs

Today’s medley contains these Christmas songs:

    We Wish You a Merry Christmas
    Silent Night, Holy Night
    O Come, All Ye Faithful
    Jingle Bells
    Where is Love

About This Version

Today’s songs are from Tony Bennett’s 1968 Snowfall album, which was arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7phl499IAbSfnE3ahTSjlR
The Christmas Medley, as well as all of the songs on the Snowfall album, are available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: White Christmas

On the eighth day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Saturday, December 21, 2013, the song of the day is “White Christmas.”

About This Song

“White Christmas” was written by Irving Berlin in 1940 and is one of America’s most beloved Christmas songs. In the not-often heard verse of the song, we hear that “the sun is shining, the grass is green, the orange and palm trees sway, there’s never been such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A. But it’s December the 24 …” And indeed, Irving Berlin was in Los Angeles when he wrote “White Christmas,” expressing that longing for a traditional back-home Christmas. Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1942 and completely dominated the music charts for weeks. Crosby’s single of “White Christmas” is the biggest-selling single record of all time, worldwide, at over 100-million copies.

About This Version

Today’s version of “White Christmas” is from Tony Bennett’s 1968 album Snowfall.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2XibHihj7YUSB0bMzKndsY
“White Christmas,” as well as the album Snowfall, is available from iTunes.

And, as it’s YouTube Saturday, we hope you enjoy this video as much as we did. This is the jazz version from Tony Bennett’s 1987 album Bennett/Berlin, which features the great Dexter Gordon:

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Song of the Day: I’ll Be Home For Christmas

On the seventh day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Friday, December 20, 2013, the song of the day is “I’ll Be Home For Christmas.”

About This Song

“I’ll Be Home For Christmas” was written in 1943 by Kim Gannon and Buck Ram. This song, released at the height of World War II, tells the story of a soldier stationed overseas, who yearns to be home with family for Christmas, if only in my dreams. Bing Crosby recorded this song in 1943 and it was a best seller. The War Department issued a V-Disc with Crosby’s versions of this song and “White Christmas” that was sent to soldiers stationed all over the world. One wonders if the young soldier Anthony Benedetto, who was stationed in Germany, might have listened to this V-Disc at some point.

Bing_Crosby_V_Disc_441_Christmas

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas, which features The Count Basie Big Band.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7Jb0QNWLdLChGL5RF6TSOq
“I’ll Be Home For Christmas,” as well as the album A Swinging’ Christmas, is available from iTunes and Amazon.

This song is so terrific that we wish to give you another version, recording live in 1994 on the Jon Stewart Show. It appears on the CD re-release of Snowfall.

I"ll Be Home For Christmas - Live

Listen to I"ll Be Home For Christmas - Live on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1968