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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

January 29, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: They Didn’t Believe Me

The song of the day for Thursday. January 30, 2020, is “They Didn’t Believe Me.”

About This Song

Jerome Kern and Herbert Reynolds wrote “They Didn’t Believe Me” in 1914 for Broadway musical The Girl From Utah. It became Kern’s first major song success.

This song redefined the American love song. Before “They Didn’t Believe Me,” love songs reflected the customary waltz-rhythms of European influence. Kern broke the mold and fitted the new American passion for modern dances such as the fox-trot. The song is also remarkable in its use of ‘everyday’ language in a love song. Theatre historian John Kenrick writes that, until this point, the majority of love songs had relied on flowery vocabulary to express romantic sentiments. The song put Kern in great demand on Broadway and established a pattern for musical theatre love songs that lasted through the 1960s.

“They Didn’t Believe Me” became a standard and was used in several films in the 1930s and 1940s. Significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Dinah Washington, Jeanette MacDonald, Johnny Mercer, Charlie Parker, Elvis Costello, Stan Kenton, Bill Frisell, Bud Powell, Edward Woodward, Harry Belafonte, Leontyne Price, and Marian McPartland.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “They Didn’t Believe Me” with the Bill Charlap Trio for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

I think that Bennett’s recording of “They Didn’t Believe Me” is remarkable. With quiet and subdued accompanimnet from the Bill Charlap Trio, Bennett sings from his heart. It’s sincere, touching, and as real as can be.

“They Didn’t Believe Me,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Herbert Reynolds, Jerome Kern, The Bill Charlap Trio, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett

October 22, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Dearly Beloved

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 23, 2019, is “Dearly Beloved.”

About This Song

“Dearly Beloved” was written in 1942 by Jerome Kern, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, for the film You Were Never Lovelier, starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. The song was nominated for an Academy Award.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dearly Beloved” with The Bill Charlap Trio for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement.

“Dearly Beloved,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Charlap, Jerome Kern, Johnny Mercer, The Bill Charlap Trio, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett

October 6, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Last Time I Saw Paris

The song of the day for Monday, October 7, 2019, is “The Last Time I Saw Paris.”

About This Song

“The Last Time I Saw Paris” was written in 1940 by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein. Unlike many songs by Jerome Kern, wasn’t written specifically for a film or Broadway musical. However, it was used in the 1941 film Lady Be Good, where it was sung by Ann Sothern; the song won the Academy Award for best song that year. the song also inspired the 1954 film of the same name, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson. Significant recordings include those by Kate Smith, Bud Powell, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, and Connie Francis.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Last Time I Saw Paris” for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. He is accompanied by Bill Charlap, who also wrote the arrangement, and Renee Rosnes.

“The Last Time I Saw Paris,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Charlap, Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein, Renee Rosnes, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, Tony Bennett

August 31, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves Jazz

The playlist for the week of September 1, 2019, is Tony Loves Jazz. I’ve picked some of his great jazz recordings, presented in chronological order, beginning with Cloud 7 and ending with Love is Here to Stay. We got a lot of songs, but as it’s a holiday weekend in the US, I hope you can find some time to give these a listen.

Did I miss one your favorites? Leave a comment and I promise to make it a song of the day within two weeks.

Tony Loves Jazz

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From Cloud 7, released in 1955
Old Devil Moon
Darn That Dream

From The Beat of My Heart, released in 1957
Lullaby of Broadway
Crazy Rhythm

From Basie/Bennett, released in 1959
With Plenty of Money and You
Poor Little Rich Girl

From In Person!, released in 1959
Taking a Chance on Love
Fascinatin’ Rhythm

From My Heart Sings, released in 1961
Dancing in the Dark
Stella By Starlight

From Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, released in 1962
Solitude

From Bennett & Brubeck: The White Sessions, Live 1962, released in 2013, recorded in 1962
Lullaby of Broadway
There Will Never Be Another You

From Tony Makes It Happen!, released in 1967
Don’t Get Around Much Anymore
Old Devil Moon

From The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, released in 1975
Days of Wine and Roses
Some Other Time

From Together Again, released in 1977
Dream Dancing
Make Someone Happy

From Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997
That Ole Devil Called Love
All Of Me

From Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released in 1999
Do Nothin’ Till You Hear From Me
Sophisticated Lady

From Duets II, released in 2011
The Lady is a Tramp
Body and Soul

From The Silver Lining: Songs of Jerome Kern, released in 2015
I Won’t Dance
I’m Old Fashioned

From Love Is Here To Stay, released in 2018
I Got Rhythm
Who Cares?

Filed Under: Playlist of the Week Tagged With: 12 Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Basie/Bennett, Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, Bennett/Brubeck The White House Sessions Live 1962, Cloud 7, Duets II, In Person!, Love is Here to Stay, My Heart Sings, The Beat of My Heart, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album, Together Again, Tony Bennett On Holiday, Tony Makes It Happen!

May 17, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: They Didn’t Believe Me

The song of the day for Saturday, May 18, 2019, is “They Didn’t Believe Me.”

About This Song

“They Didn’t Believe Me” was written by Jerome Kern and Herbert Reynolds for the 1914 musical The Girl From Utah.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “They Didn’t Believe Me” with The Bill Charlap Trio for the 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. It amazes me that this song is over 100 years old, but with Bennett and Charlap, it doesn’t really show its age at all.

They Didn’t Believe Me

They Didn’t Believe Me, a song by Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap on Spotify

“They Didn’t Believe Me,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Herbert Reynolds, Jerome Kern, The Bill Charlap Trio, The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern

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