The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: A Child Is Born

The song of the day for Sunday, December 25, 2022, the 12th day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “A Child Is Born.”

About This Song

“A Child Is Born” was written in 1969 by Thad Jones, with lyrics by Alec Wilder. Thad Jones, whose younger brother, Elvin, was a noted jazz drummer. Thad Jones was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra starting in 1954. He left the orchestra in 1963 to pursue a career as an arranger and studio trumpet player and later moved to Denmark. “A Child Is Born” is his best-known composition; the wonderful lyrics are by Alec Wilder.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “A Child Is Born” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977 on Bennett’s Improv Label.

“A Child Is Born,” as well as Together Again is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Two Lonely People

The song of the day for Monday, November 14, 2022, is “The Two Lonely People.”

About This Song

Bills Evans wrote “The Two Lonely People” in 1971; Carol Hall wrote the lyrics. The song first appeared on Evans’ 1971 album The Bill Evans Album. The song was also recorded in 1974 on Evans’ album But Beautiful, recorded live with Stan Getz at Jazz Middelheim in Antwerp, Belgium.

About This Version

Bill Evans and Tony Bennett recorded “The Two Lonely People” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

“The Two Lonely People,” as well as Together Again is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Maybe September

The song of the day for Sunday, November 13, 2022, is “Maybe September.”

About This Song

“Maybe September” was written by Percy Faith, with lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, for the 1965 movie, The Oscar, which is the only movie that Tony Bennett acted in. While the film received mixed reviews, this song is terrific and beautifully sung by Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Maybe September” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

“Maybe September,” as well as Together Again is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You Must Believe In Spring

The song of the day for Saturday, November 12, 2022, is “You Must Believe In Spring.”

About This Song

“You Must Believe In Spring” was written by Michel Legrand, with lyrics by Jacques Demy, for the 1967 French film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort, which starred Catherine Deneuve. Alan and Marilyn Bergman wrote the English lyrics. “You Must Believe In Spring” has been widely recorded by artists including Sylvia Syms, Barbra Streisand, and Bill Evans, in a posthumous release of an album with the same name, featuring sessions with Eddie Gomez and Eliot Zigmund.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Must Believe In Spring” in September 1976 for their second album Together Again, released in 1977.

“You Must Believe In Spring,” as well as Together Again is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Bad and the Beautiful

The song of the day for Friday, November 11, 2022, is “The Bad and the Beautiful.”

About This Song

“The Bad and the Beautiful,” written by David Raksin, was the theme song for the 1952 film of the same name that starred Kirk Douglas, Lana Turner, Walter Pidgeon, and Dick Powell. While the film is considered a melodrama, it’s a well-made melodrama directed by Vincente Minnelli.

About This Version

Bill Evans recorded the theme from “The Bad and the Beautiful” in September 1977 for the second album he made with Tony Bennett, Together Again, released in 1977.

During a break in the recording sessions for Together Again, September 27-30, 1976, Bill Evans started working out a possible arrangement for “The Bad and the Beautiful.” Tony Bennett liked the song so much that he insisted on adding it to the album.

“The Bad and the Beautiful,” as well as Together Again is available on Apple Music.

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