The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: When Joanna Loved Me

The song of the day for Saturday, May 17, 2014 is “When Joanna Loved Me.”

About This Song

“When Joanna Loved Me” was written in 1964, with music by Jack Segal and lyrics by Robert Wells. While this song is strongly associated with Tony Bennett, it has also been recorded by Frank Sinatra and Paul Desmond, among others. Bennett mentions in concert, as he also does on today’s video, that he loves singing the song so much that he named his first daughter Johanna. For his 1990 album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, he asked Wells and Segal to write a song for his other daughter, Antonia, which can be heard here. Antonia Bennett is a wonderful singer and often opens for her father in concert.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “When Joanna Loved Me” in 1964 for the album The Many Moods of Tony; the song was arranged and conducted by Marty Manning. It is also collected on his box set: 40/50/60 Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett.

http://open.spotify.com/track/09YTaXc5Sk0rOQ6ighuEaV
“When Joanna Loved Me,” as well as the album The Many Moods of Tony, is available from iTunes.

Because it’s YouTube Saturday, The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to present Mr. Bennett singing this same song at the 1994 MTV Unplugged telecast. A DVD of the telecast is available from Amazon.

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Song of the Day: So Long Big Time

The song of the day for Saturday, February 15, 2014 is “So Long, Big Time.” We are pleased to honor the memory of great Harold Arlen, who was born on this day in 1905.

About This Song

Harold Arlen wrote “So Long, Big Time!” in 1963, with lyrics by Dory Langdon Previn. It’s one Arlen’s later songs, but it’s unmistakably written by Harold Arlen. Today’s version by Tony Bennett appears to be the first recording of “So Long, Big Time!” Bill Evans recorded it with Swedish jazz singer Monica Zetterlund and his trio in 1964 for his album Waltz For Debby, which you can listen to on Spotify.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “So Long, Big Time” in September, 1963 for his 1964 album The Many Moods Of Tony. This song was arranged by Marty Manning and conducted by Arlen himself.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3KjtHoSOKmduvJYnYnhoW3
“So Long, Big Time,” as well as the album The Many Moods of Tony, is available from iTunes.

We’re also pleased to include this video segment from the 1999 Harold Arlen documentary Somewhere Over the Rainbow, that shows the recording session in the CBS 30th Street Studio when today’s song was recorded. And yes, that’s Harold Arlen conducting. Keep your eyes peeled for the glorious smile from Arlen at about 2:08 through 2:20. Arlen’s joy in the song is wonderful.

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Song of the Day: I’ll Be Around

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 6, 2013 is “I’ll Be Around.”

About This Song

“I’ll Be Around” was written in 1942 by Alec Wilder. Alec Wilder, who lived from 1907 until 1980, was one of America’s most noted composers and critics in the 20th century. His compositions ranged from popular music, including today’s song, to classical music and opera. He wrote the definitive book on the American songbook — American Popular Song: The Great Innovators 1900-1950. Tony Bennett has recorded several of his popular songs including “It’s So Peaceful in the Country” and “While We’re Young.”

You can read more about I’ll Be Around at our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography.

About This Version

Exactly fifty years ago today, on November 6, 1963, Tony Bennett recorded three songs for his upcoming album The Many Moods Of Tony: “The Little Boy,” “The Kid’s a Dreamer” and today’s song, “I’ll Be Around.” Backed by an orchestra and the Ralph Sharon Trio, the album also featured the work of the great cornet player, Bobby Hackett. Dick Hyman did the arrangements and conducted.

The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography contains information about the November 6, 1963 session and the album The Many Moods of Tony.

http://open.spotify.com/track/1fxX97MNGLCba2BbEZVFeL
“I’ll Be Around,” as well as the album The Many Moods of Tony, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I’ll Be Around

The song of the day for Sunday, July 7, 2013 is “I’ll Be Around.”

About This Song

This lovely ballad was written by Alec Wilder in 1942. Not only is “I’ll Be Around” a wonderful musical composition, but Wilder’s music and lyrics work extraordinarily well together. The song does a wonderful job of the describing the feelings of the admirer who has been cast aside  and waits still, no matter how badly he’s treated and no matter how long he has to wait.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1963 for the album The Many Moods of Tony. He also included the recording on the Forty/Fifty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett box sets. In the liner notes, he says:

Many intelligent musicians whose opinions I respect taught me to sing only the best songs in the American songbook. I know I couldn’t go wrong with this one: Alec Wilder always tried to give America the best in music and built a catalog of the finest popular songs that were never an insult to the public. “I’ll Be Around” also marked the beginning of my musical and human relationship with Bobby Hackett. Louis Armstrong once described him to me in these words: “I’m the coffee, but Bobby is the cream.”

http://open.spotify.com/track/1fxX97MNGLCba2BbEZVFeL
“I’ll Be Around,” as well as The Many Moods of Tony album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: So Long, Big Time!

The song of the day for Friday, April 26, 2013 is So Long, Big Time!

About This Song

So Long, Big Time! was written in 1963 by Harold Arlen and Dory Langdon, who may be better known by her married name Dory Langdon Previn.

About This Version

While researching information about the late Frank Laico this week, I came across a marvelous video of Tony Bennett’s recording session on September 17, 1963 of So Long, Big Time! at the CBS 30th Street Studio, with Harold Arlen himself conducting the orchestra. I was completely captivated and knew I had to feature this Arlen song as the song of the day. It’s one of Arlen’s later songs and it’s a darn good one. To the best of my knowledge, Bennett’s is the first recording of this song.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3KjtHoSOKmduvJYnYnhoW3
So Long, Big Time!, as well as the full remastered The Many Moods of Tony album, is available from iTunes.

And, as promised, here’s the video of Tony Bennett recording this cut at the famed CBS 30th Street Studio, with Harold Arlen conducting the orchestra. The smile on Harold Arlen’s face is beautiful. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

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