The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: So Far

The song of the day for Thursday, July 28, 2016 is “So Far.”

About This Song

“So Far” is from the 1947 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Allegro, which had big shoes to fill, coming on the heels of Oklahoma and Carousel. It ran for nine months, but received mixed reviews and is seldom performed today. A young college student named Stephen Sondheim worked as a go-fer during rehearsals for $25 a week. The British director Cameron Mackintosh once told Sondheim “You know, Steve, you’ve spent your entire life trying to fix the second act of Allegro.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “So Far” for his 1958 album Long Ago and Far Away. The very nice arrangement is by Frank DeVol. I especially like the orchestration on this recording.

So Far

Tony Bennett · Long Ago And Far Away · Song · 1958


“So Far,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Being Alive

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 22, 2016 is “Being Alive.”

About This Song

“Being Alive” is the closing song in the 1970 Stephen Sondheim musical Company, which ran on Broadway for 705 performances. Company was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards and won six, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Hal Prince), Best Book of a Musical (George Furth), Best Original Music and Best Original Lyrics as well as Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson). D.A. Pennebaker made a documentary of the recording of the original cast album, recorded by Columbia Records at the 30th Street Studio, that was released in 2006.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Being Alive” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. The arrangement is by Lee Musiker.

Being Alive

Listen to Being Alive on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“Being Alive,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today, we wish composer Stephen Sondheim a very happy 86th birthday. Company was the first production I saw on Broadway; I still remember every moment as if it was yesterday. Thank you for all the wonderful productions. I love them all.

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Song of the Day: Being Alive

The song of the day for Sunday, March 22, 2015 is “Being Alive.”

About This Song

Being Alive” is the closing song in the 1970 Stephen Sondheim musical Company, which ran on Broadway for 705 performances (one of which was attended by your author; it was her first ever Broadway musical). Company was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards and won six, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Hal Prince), Best Book of a Musical (George Furth), Best Original Music and Best Original Lyrics as well as Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson). D.A. Pennebaker made a documentary of the recording of the original cast album, recorded by Columbia Records at the 30th Street Studio, that was released in 2006.

About This Version

This version of Being Alive was recorded for the 2004 The Art of Romance. For my money, I think The Art of Romance may be one of Mr. Bennett’s best-conceived albums. When listened to as a whole, it’s a remarkable emotional roller coaster about all aspects of love and romance. “Being Alive” has a similar placement in this album as it does in Company, the next-to-the last song, where the protagonist realizes that in order to be fully and totally alive, he must give himself up to love. In many ways, “Being Alive” is the next step after “The Good Life” in realizing what’s really important in life.

Being Alive was arranged by Lee Musiker and features Phil Woods on saxophone and Candido Camero on conga (Candido was featured on Mr. Bennett’s 1957 Beat of My Heart and also performed with Mr. Bennett at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert).

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Stephen Sondheim a very happy 85th birthday today. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of at least one of his songs from one of his scores. And I carry the last line from Sunday In The Park With George with me every day as well:

White. A blank page or canvas. His favorite. So many possibilities.

Being Alive

Listen to Being Alive on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“Being Alive,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Two By Two

The song of the day for Thursday, February 26, 2015 is “Two By Two.”

About This Song

“Two By Two” was written in 1965 by Richard Rodgers (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) for the musical Do I Hear a Waltz?, although the song was cut before the production opened on Broadway. Do I Hear a Waltz? was a difficult experience for both men. Rodgers long-time partner, Oscar Hammerstein II, had just died; Hammerstein’s dying wish was that Stephen Sondheim, whom Hammerstein had mentored for many years, collaborate with Rodgers on this piece. In addition, Mary Rodgers, Richard’s daughter, was a close friend of Sondheim and encouraged her father to use Sondheim as well. Rodgers and Sondheim were not able to form a trusting relationship; nor was Rodgers happy working with Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book. In spite of the issues, the production had a decent run of 220 performances and was nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, but did not win.

About This Version

With this recording in early 1965, Tony Bennett’s version of “Two By Two” on If I Ruled The World was probably the first recording of this song. It’s a terrific, up-tempo number that was last song on the album, though a bonus track was added for the CD release later.

Two By Two

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“Two By Two,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Take The Moment

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 11, 2015 is “Take The Moment.”

About This Song

“Take The Moment” is from the 1965 Broadway musical Do I Heart a Waltz? and was written by Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim. The production was troubled from the start. Hammerstein passed away as the writing of piece was started. Stephen Sondheim was a protegé of Hammerstein and was asked by Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book, and Mary Rodgers, daughter of Richard Rodgers, to write the lyrics. Richard Rodgers and Sondheim did not mesh and their working relationship was not happy for either artist.

About This Version

This is Tony Bennett only recording of “Take The Moment.” It was recorded in January, 1965 for the February, 2015 album of the month: If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. Like all the songs on this album, it was arranged by Don Costa.

Take The Moment

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“Take The Moment,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.