• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Tony Live!
  • Music and Art
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

January 13, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Thursday, January 14, 2021, is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

“Blue Moon” was written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart. The song first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Blue Moon” with The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet for the first of their two Rodgers and Hart albums: Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1976 on Bennett’s Improv Label.

Blue Moon

Listen to Blue Moon on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“Blue Moon,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook , is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Larry Hart, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, The Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet, Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Song

December 9, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Manhattan

The song of the day for Thursday, December 10, 2020, is “Manhattan.”

About This Song

Written for the 1925 Garrick Gaieties, “Manhattan” is an early song by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart. The song was introduced by Sterling Holloway. The song made its first film appearance the following year in a short entitled Makers of Melody. The song has remained popular up to today and is frequently recorded by jazz and popular singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, “Manhattan” has been recorded by Blossom Dearie, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Dinah Washington. It is often used in films, including Silent Movie, Mighty Aphrodite, and The English Patient.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Manhattan” for the 1976 album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. He was accompanied by The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, consisting of Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a lovely sound for these Rodgers and Hart songs.

Manhattan

Listen to Manhattan on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“Manhattan,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: John Guiffrida, Larry Hart, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, The Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet, Wayne Wright

October 31, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Sunday, November 1, 2020, is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Blue Moon” in 1933. Although written in 1933, “Blue Moon” first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Blue Moon” in 1973 with The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which featured Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It was released on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs in 1976 on Bennett’s Improv label.

Blue Moon

Listen to Blue Moon on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1973.

“Blue Moon,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: George Barnes, John Guiffrida, Larry Hart, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, Ruby Braff, The Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet, Wayne Wright

March 4, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Thursday, March 5, 2020, is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Blue Moon” in 1933. Although written in 1933, “Blue Moon” first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric. I can’t imagine any lyric other than the one we all know; it’s quite perfect.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Moon” in July 1973, and released it in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. He’s accompanied by The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, featuring Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. With neither piano or drums, the sound is perfect for the Rodgers and Hart songs.

“Blue Moon,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: George Barnes, John Guiffrida, Larry Hart, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, Ruby Braff, The Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet, Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, Wayne Wright

October 15, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 16, 2019, is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote this song for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse. It is one of their most joyous and least ironic love songs. Both Benny Goodman and Eddy Duchin recorded the song in the late 1930s. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording here, “This Can’t Be Love” has also been recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “This Can’t Be Love” for his first album of Rodgers and Hart songs, Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. He recorded his Rodgers and Hart songs with the The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, wiht Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass.

“This Can’t Be Love,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Heart Songbook, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: John Guiffrida, Larry Hart, Richard Rodgers, The Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet, Wayne Wright

  • 1
  • 2
  • Next Page »

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites

  • Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance
  • Song of the Day: The Right To Love
  • Song of the Day: Look For The Silver Lining
  • Song of the Day: Dream a Little Dream of Me
  • Song of the Day: I Used To Be Color Blind
  • Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Tony Live!
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2021 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress