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

On the twelfth day of the Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Friday, December 25, 2015, the song of the day is “A Child Is Born.”

About This Song

“A Child Is Born” was written in 1969 by 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 1976 for their second, and final, album: Together Again.

A Child Is Born - Remastered 2003

Listen to A Child Is Born - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · 1977


“A Child Is Born,” as well as , is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for October 8, 2015 is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” is from the 1960 musical Do Re Mi, by Jule Styne (music) and Betty Comden and Adolph Green (lyrics). Do Re Mi concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the juke box business with some gangster pals. ”Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dassault. While the musical may have faded into memory, the song has remained popular and for good reason: it’s a really fine song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Make Someone Happy” in September 1976 at Columbia Studios in San Francisco, California. It was released on their second album Together Again. This album was released on Tony’s Improv label. Their first album, “The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album,” was released the previous year on the Fantasy Label and was recorded in their Berkeley, California studio.

Make Someone Happy - Remastered 2003

Listen to Make Someone Happy - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · 1977


“Make Someone Happy,” as well as Together Again, is available from iTunes.

Also from the same album is another favorite of mine: Bill Evans’ piano solo of “The Bad and The Beautiful.”

The Bad And The Beautiful - Remastered 2003

Listen to The Bad And The Beautiful - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · 1977

Well, to be honest, the entire album is pretty much perfect. If you don’t have it, consider purchasing it. Yes, it’s really that good.

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Song of the Day: A Child is Born

The song of the day for Thursday, December 25, 2014 is “A Child Is Born.”

About This Song

“A Child Is Born” was written in 1969, with music by Thad Jones and lyrics by Alec Wilder.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans included this song on their second album Together Again, released in 1977.

About Today

It’s Christmas Day. The Year of Tony Bennett wishes you a very Merry Christmas filled with love from friends and family.

A Child Is Born - Remastered 2003

Listen to A Child Is Born - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · 1977


“A Child Is Born,” as well as Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 26, 2014 is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” is from the 1960 musical Do Re Mi, written by Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Do Re Mi concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the juke box business with some gangster pals. ”Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Make Someone Happy” in 1976 for their second album Together Again.

Make Someone Happy - Remastered 2003

Listen to Make Someone Happy - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · 1977


“Make Someone Happy,” as well as the album Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 14, 2014 is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Make Someone Happy” was composed by the great Jule Styne with lyrics from the equally great Adolph Green and Betty Comden. The song is from their 1960 Broadway musical Do, Re, Mi. The original production starred Phil Silvers, who goes into the jukebox business with some gangsters. Finally he realizes that he has all he needs in his marriage. “Make Someone Happy” was sung by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault in the original production. Silvers’ wife was played by Nancy Walker. I’d love to see a cast like that in a Broadway musical again.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang an upbeat version of this song in 1962 at the Bennett and Brubeck concert for the White House interns; this album was recently released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962. Today’s version is from Bennett’s second album with Bill Evans: Together Again. Both versions are great; the second one breaks my heart a little, though. Which I really like once in a while.

Make Someone Happy - Remastered 2003

Listen to Make Someone Happy - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · 2009


“Make Someone Happy,” as well as the album Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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