The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got the World on a String

The song of the day for Thursday, October 2, 2014 is “I’ve Got the World on a String.”

About This Song

Today’s song was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1932 Cotton Club Parade, where it was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, considers it one of Arlen’s loveliest songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song several times. The first was in 1960 for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. He also sang it for his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. Today’s recording of “I’ve Got the World on a String” is from 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank.

I"ve Got the World On a String

Listen to I"ve Got the World On a String on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992


“I’ve Got the World on a String,” as well as the album Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Let’s Fall In Love

The song of the day for Friday, August 15, 2014 is “Let’s Fall In Love.”

About This Song

Harold Arlen wrote “Let’s Fall In Love” in 1933, with lyrics by Ted Koehler. It was written for a movie of the same name, which starred Edmund Lowe and Ann Sothern (I love her!) and was written by Herbert Fields, brother of the great lyricist Dorothy Fields.

Eddie Duchin made one of the first popular recordings of this song. Other significant versions include those by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall and Annette Hanshaw.

About This Version

Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen was Tony Bennett’s first album to focus on the work of a single artist. All of the songs on the album were arranged by Glenn Osser, noted arranged and composer, who passed away on April 29, 2014 at the age of 99. The album was produced by Mitch Miller; it was the last album that Miller produced for Bennett.

About Today

“Let’s Fall In Love,” “House Of Flowers,” “Come Rain or Come Shine” and “Over The Rainbow” were all recorded on August 15, 1960, exactly 54 years ago today. You can click the date to read more about the session at our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography. As always, we are amazed and grateful at the depth and integrity of Tony Bennett’s recording career, from 1950 up to today, as we look forward to the release of Cheek to Cheek.

Let"s Fall In Love

Tony Bennett · Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen · Song · 1960

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Song of the Day: Get Happy

The song of the day for Monday, April 22, 2014 is “Get Happy.”

About This Song

“Get Happy” was written in 1930 by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Ted Koehler. It was the songwriters’ first collaboration. The song was introduced by Ruth Etting in The Nine-Fifteen Revue. This song was a favorite of Judy Garland; she sang it at most, if not all, of her concerts. She sang and danced the hell out this number in her 1950 movie Summer Stock.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Get Happy” is from his 1971 concert with The London Philharmonic Orchestra. Robert Farnon conducted the orchestra; it was produced by Teo Macero. It is a great live concert and this album is a real favorite of mine.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1iYwifo1cfzNxgMHnxW8ln
“Get Happy,” as well as the album Get Happy with London Philharmonic Orchestra, is available from iTunes.

And why did I choose this song?

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Song of the Day: Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea

The song of the day for Friday, April 18, 2014 is “Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.”

About This Song

“Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1931 for the Cotton Club revue RhythMania. Both Cab Calloway and Louis Armstrong recorded it at the time it was written.

About This Version

Today’s version of this song is from Tony Bennett’s 1964 album Who Can I Turn To. The song was arranged and conducted by George Siravo and features the Ralph Sharon Trio.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0w2zSgxWS1fwSkA4dNwWnq
“Between The Devil and The Deep Blue Sea,” as well as Who Can I Turn To, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Ill Wind (You’re Blowin’ Me No Good)

The song of the day for Sunday, March 2, 2014 is “Ill Wind (You’re Blowin’ Me No Good).”

About This Song

“Ill Wind was composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Ted Koehler. This song was written for the 1934 Cotton Club Parade, their last show at the famed Cotton Club. The song was used in the 1984 movie The Cotton Club, where it was sung by Lonette McKee. Notable recordings of this song include today’s version by Tony Bennett, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Maxine Sullivan, Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ill Wind” for his 1997 album On Holiday, which features songs sung by the great Billie Holiday. The song was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli and features Ralph Sharon on piano.

http://open.spotify.com/track/6R5zx6937yNXi8jqasrT9D
“Ill Wind,” as well as the album On Holiday, is available from iTunes.

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