The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 4, 2013 is “Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams.”

About This Song

“Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams” was written in 1931 by Harry Barris, with lyrics by Ted Koehler and Billy Moll. Bing Crosby, with the Gus Arnheim Orchestra, first recorded this song in 1931.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this lovely song in 1964 for his album Who Can I Turn To. This version was arranged and conducted by George Siravo and featured the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon, Hal Gaylord (bass) and Billy Exiner (drums). The arrangement has a great evocative feel for the early 1930s.

http://open.spotify.com/track/669cS5WKTDpyMn3A1Tg7EJ
“Wrap Your Troubles in Dreams,” as well as the entire Who Can I Turn To album, is available from iTunes.

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

The song of the day for Friday, March 29, 2013 is Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea.

About This Song

Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea was written in 1932 by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. It’s been a popular standard for many years, with notable recordings by Frank Sinatra, Cab Calloway and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

If you’ve been following the song of the day for any time, you’ll know that I can’t go too long without a song by Harold Arlen. This song is from Tony Bennett’s 1964 album Who Can I Turn To. The album was arranged by George Siravo and played by the Ralph Sharon Trio (Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums) with a not-overused orchestra. The whole album has a nice, easy jazz sound that I like a lot.  This song is a lot of fun and while it may not be one of Arlen’s most famous songs, there’s a lot there. But again, that can be said about all of Arlen’s work.
http://open.spotify.com/track/0w2zSgxWS1fwSkA4dNwWnq
Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea, as well as the full Who Can I Turn To album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Let’s Fall In Love

To kick off Harold Arlen Week at the Year of Tony Bennett, the song of the day for Sunday, February 10, 2013 is Let’s Fall In Love.

About Let’s Fall In Love

Let’s Fall In Love was written in 1933 with lyricist Ted Koehler for the 1933 movie of the same name, starring Ann Sothern. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, says that “The title song, Let’s Fall In Love, was one of Arlen’s loveliest. And so is the gossamer verse.” I cannot disagree.

Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler
Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler

About This Version

Tony Bennett released his Harold Arlen album, Tony Bennett Sings A String of Harold Arlen, in 1960. The album features songs that cover the breadth of Arlen’s career for both Hollywood and Broadway. Let’s Fall In Love is quite lovely and Tony Bennett sings the “gossamer verse.” The fact that Bennett often sings the verse of the songs he performs is one of the many reasons I love him as a singer. The entire album was arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7FUwZF4X4QOdoOTJFXczJu
Let’s Fall In Love, as well as the full Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen album, is available from iTunes.

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Happy Birthday, Natalie Cole

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Natalie Cole a very happy birthday today, February 6.

natalie-cole-tony-bennett

Let’s celebrate by listening to one of her wonderful duets with Tony Bennett: Stormy Weather from Bennett’s delightful Playin’ With My Friends, released in 2001.

Stormy Weather

Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole · Playin" With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues · Song · 2001

Stormy Weather was written by the great Harold Arlen (and keep your ears open for Harold Arlen on the blog next week) and Ted Koehler in 1933. It was originally sung by the great Ethel Waters at the Cotton Club and was recorded by her in the same year. The list of great recordings of this song is long: Sarah Vaughan, Etta James, Django Reinhardt, Judy Garland and, of course, Miss Lena Horne.

Happy Birthday, Natalie!

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

It’s been too long since we’ve featured a Harold Arlen song. Actually, I can’t go for more than a few days without listening to some Harold Arlen songs. For August 26, 2012, the Song of the Day is I’ve Got the World on a String.

About I’ve Got the World on a String

I’ve Got the World on a String was written by Harold Arlen (music) and Ted Koehler (lyrics)  for the 1932 Cotton Club Review and was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby. Like most Arlen songs, it’s been recorded by many great singers including Louis Armstrong, Ella Fitzgerald, Peggy Lee, and Sarah Vaughn. The song is heavily identified with Frank Sinatra, who recorded in 1953.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song three times: on the 1960 Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen,  his 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert, and for the 1992 Perfectly Frank. All three versions are great. Today we feature the Carnegie Hall performance.