The song of the day for Wednesday, May 22, 2013, is That Old Black Magic.
About This Song
Written by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, That Old Black Magic was written in 1942 and used in the 1943 film Star Spangled Rhythm, where it was introduced by Vera Zorina and Johnnie Johnston.
This song has been very popular since it was first written, starting with the 1942 version by the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Other significant recordings are by Margaret Whiting, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Marilyn Monroe sang the song in the 1956 Bus Stop.
About This Version
Today’s version is from upcoming release of em>Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, which will be available on May 28, 2013. The concert began with a set by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (Brubeck, Paul Desmond on alto sax, Joe Morello on drums and Eugene Wright on bass), followed by a set of Tony Bennett with the Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon, Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass). The last part of the concert featured the Dave Brubeck Trio (minus Desmond) and Tony Bennett in a unrehearsed set of improvisations, including this great recording of That Old Black Magic.
That Old Black Magic, as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 is available for pre-ordering from Amazon and Barnes & Noble.
