The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Sunday, March 18, 2018 is “A Sleepin’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleeping’ Bee” was written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote for the 1954 musical House of Flowers, based on the Truman Capote novella. Set in Haiti, the production featured a trio of steel drummers (more precisely known as pannists) from Trinidad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “A Sleepin’ Bee” in 1959 for his album Tony Sings For Two. For his 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall, he signs several Harold Arlen songs; I’m so glad he included this one.

A Sleepin" Bee (From "House Of Flowers") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee (From "House Of Flowers") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“A Sleepin’ Bee,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Lost in the Stars

The song of the day for Thursday, March 15, 2018 is ” Lost in the Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars,” written by Kurt Weill with lyrics by dramatist Maxwell Anderson, is from the 1949 musical of the same name, based on the 1948 novel by Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country. Set in South Africa in an era when apartheid seemed as if it would never end, the plot concerns a black priest whose son kills, in a robbery attempt, a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

“Lost in the Stars” concludes Bennett’s series of songs by Kurt Weill. This song has always been a favorite of Bennett’s: his first recording of this song was made in 1956 for his first LP album Tony. This recording on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall is wonderful.

Lost In The Stars (From "Lost In The Stars") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Lost In The Stars (From "Lost In The Stars") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


” Lost in the Stars,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Speak Low

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 14, 2018 is “Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written by Kurt Weill, with lyrics by poet Ogden Nash, for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus, where it was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Lena Horne.

About This Version

“Speak Low” was the second of three Kurt Weill songs that Tony Bennett sang at his 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall. This recording was not released on the original pared-down LP release in 1962, but was included on the full 1972 release of Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall.

Speak Low (From "One Touch Of Venus") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Speak Low (From "One Touch Of Venus") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


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

About Today

I’m very happy to be back after my move. It all went well and I’m starting to feel settled in. Thanks for putting up with my long absence; I realized with this move that I’m not quite as young as I used to be. I’m happily living in downtown Portland, where I can literally stroll down the street to the theatre where Tony and the quartet will be performing in June.

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Song of the Day: My Ship

The song of the day for Thursday, February 15, 2018 is “My Ship.”

About This Song

“My Ship” was written for the Broadway musical Lady in the Dark by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin in 1941. Miles Davis’ recording in 1957, along with vocal versions by Jeri Southern and Sarah Vaughan, cemented this song as a jazz standard.

About This Version

We return to our examination of Tony Bennett’s legendary concert at Carnegie Hall. Finishing up his selection of songs from musicals, Bennett started a string of songs by Kurt Weill with “My Ship,” which he had recorded the year before on My Heart Sings. Today, we’re listening to the 10th song in the concert, from the 1962 album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall.

My Ship (From "Lady In The Dark") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to My Ship (From "Lady In The Dark") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


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

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Song of the Day: Climb Ev’ry Mountain

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 13, 2018 is “Climb Ev’ry Mountain.”

About This Song

“Climb Ev’ry Mountain” is just one of the many songs from The Sound of Music, written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein. The Sound of Music opened in 1959 and ran for 1,443 performances. It is sung at the end of Act One by the Mother Abbess. The Sound of Music was the last musical written by Rodgers and Hammerstein; Oscar Hammerstein died of cancer nine months after the Broadway premiere.

About This Version

Tony Bennett included “Climb Ev’ry Mountain” in his section of songs from Broadway musicals at his Carnegie Hall concert, recorded on June 9, 1962.

Climb Ev"ry Mountain (From "The Sound Of Music") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Climb Ev"ry Mountain (From "The Sound Of Music") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“Climb Ev’ry Mountain,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.