The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: It Amazes Me

The song of the day for Saturday, April 13, 2019, is “It Amazes Me.”

About This Song

“It Amazes Me” was written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1958. Liza Minnelli recorded this song when she was only eighteen years old on her first album. It has also been recorded by Bill Evans, George Shearing, and Cleo Laine.

About This Version

Today, we’re featuring Tony Bennett’s version of “It Amazes Me” from his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall, captured on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall.

It Amazes Me – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962

It Amazes Me – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962, a song by Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra on Spotify

“It Amazes Me,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s Video Saturday and today I’ve got two videos today.

First up is Tony Bennett singing today’s song from his MTV Unplugged appearance in 1994.

Tony Bennett – It Amazes Me (from MTV Unplugged)

Music video by Tony Bennett performing It Amazes Me. (C) 1994 Columbia Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment

Next up is a performance at a tribute to Cy Coleman, who passed away in 2004, sung by the great Elaine Stritch. In her introduction to singing this song, she offers one of the funniest quotes I’ve ever heard: “I don’t think people who drink martinis watch The Sound of Music.”

Elaine Stritch, It Amazes Me

It Started With a Dream, Tribute to Cy Coleman

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Song of the Day: Solitude

The song of the day for Thursday, March 7, 2019, is “Solitude.”

About This Song

Written in 1934, Duke Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short (Ted Gioia in Jazz Standards). It’s a very strong song for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ellington made over a hundred recordings of this song. Other great recordings include those by Paul Robeson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine. The lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills were added later.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Solitude” at his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall. The album Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall captures this concert beautifully. Ralph Sharon arranged and conducted the entire concert. By the way, I do not use the word legendary lightly.

Solitude – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962

Solitude – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962, a song by Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra on Spotify

“Solitude,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 20, 2019, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “All the Things You Are” in 1962 at his legendary concert at Carnegie Hall. The recording of that concert is happily captured in full on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. If I really did have to choose only one album for the desert island, it would have to be this one.

All The Things You Are (From “Very Warm For May”) – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962

All The Things You Are (From “Very Warm For May”) – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962, a song by Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra on Spotify

“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Monday, January 7, 2019, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “All The Things You Are” on June 9, 1962 at his concert at Carnegie Hall, which was released as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

All The Things You Are (From “Very Warm For May”) – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962

All The Things You Are (From “Very Warm For May”) – Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY – June 1962, a song by Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra on Spotify

“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: De Glory Road

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 27, 2018 is “De Glory Road.”

About This Song

“De Glory Road began” as a poem written by a white, socialist lawyer and writer from Alabama named Clement Wood, who published the poem in 1928. Wood is also the author of the Clement Wood Rhyming Dictionary, the 1939 edition of which is Stephen Sondheim’s preferred rhyming dictionary. Jacques Wolfe wrote the music.

About This Version

Tony Bennett had recorded songs for an album to be released in 1962 called On The Glory Road. The album was ready to be distributed when, at the last moment and for reasons known only to themselves, Columbia executives decided to hold up release. Bennett so chose to close out his 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall with “De Glory Road,” which was the behind the title of that non-released album. This wonderful performance features the percussionist Candido. This recording can be found on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall.

De Glory Road - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to De Glory Road - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“De Glory Road,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.