The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Thursday, May 17, 2018 is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

“Blue Moon” was written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. This song first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric. These lyrics by Lorenz Hart seems about perfect to me.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Moon” for the 1976 album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet that plays on the two Rodgers and Hart albums (the other being Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart) that Bennett released in the 1970s. The quartet feature Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a perfect sound for these songs, written in the 1930s and 40s. I don’t miss the piano or drums at all.

Blue Moon

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


“Blue Moon,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Sunday, January 21, 2018 is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz 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” 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs from his own label: Improv. This album, as well as the follow-on album Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart, was recorded with The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which features Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. This quartet–with neither piano nor drums–was perfect for these songs.

This Can"t Be Love

Listen to This Can"t Be Love on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“This Can’t Be Love,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 4, 2014 is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1927 musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “Thou Swell” is one of more charming songs from the musical, as the lyrics feature a combination of modern and medieval language: “thine eyes are cute too” and “I’d feel so rich in a hut for two.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Thou Swell” for Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1973 on Bennett’s Improv label. Both of the Rodgers and Hart albums use the Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a wonderful sound for these songs. Both of these albums are a complete joy; “Thou Swell” has always been a favorite song of mine and this version is really, really swell.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3QNOMECmFdjw2MeT8AXdKW
“Thou Swell,” as all of the songs in The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Lover

The song of the day for Monday, February 17, 2014 is “Lover.”

About This Song

“Lover” was written for the 1932 film Love Me Tonight by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, where it was introduced by Jeanette MacDonald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lover” for his first Rodgers and Hart album, Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. This album, as well as the follow-on album of more Rodgers and Hart songs, feature the brilliant accompaniment from Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, which features Braff on corner, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. This quartet with Bennett’s voice is perfectly wonderful.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5m90v4ojsGYxgTOxnDugna
“Lover,” as well as all of the songs Tony Bennett recorded on his Improv label, is available from iTunes.