The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)

The song of the day for Friday, February 12, 2016 is “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road).”

About This Song

“One For The Road” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1943 film The Sky’s The Limit, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Harold Arlen called this song one of his “tapeworms” as at 48 bars, it was longer than the standard 32 bar popular song. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, says that “the honors must go the lyric. … Just imagine having the acuity and courage to start a song, as Mercer does, with “It’s a quarter to three”!

About This Version

Mr. Bennett has recorded this song several times–and they are all great–but today I choose his live recording from his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. Because as great as Tony Bennett records are, and they are great, there’s nothing like Tony Bennett when he’s singing live.

One For My Baby (And One More for the Road) (FROM "The Sky"s the Limit") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to One For My Baby (And One More for the Road) (FROM "The Sky"s the Limit") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962


“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road),” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)

The song of the day for Friday, December 4, 2015 is “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road).”

About This Song

“One For The Road” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in 1943 for the film The Sky’s The Limit, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Harold Arlen called this song one of his “tapeworms” as at 48 bars, it was longer than the standard 32 bar popular song. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, says that “the honors must go the lyric. … Just imagine having the acuity and courage to start a song, as Mercer does, with “It’s a quarter to three!”

About This Version

Today’s version of “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” is from Tony Bennett’s 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall, the album of which is, according to many including me, one of the very best live albums ever made.

One For My Baby (And One More for the Road) (FROM "The Sky"s the Limit") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to One For My Baby (And One More for the Road) (FROM "The Sky"s the Limit") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962


“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road),” as well as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Best wishes to all Tony Bennett fans in Milwaukee, Wisconsin tonight. Hope you have fun at the concert!

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Song of the Day: Firefly

The song of the day for Sunday, October 18, 2015 is “Firefly.”

About This Song

“Firefly” was written in 1958 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. It was written as an audition piece for the musical Gypsy; this was after Ethel Merman rejected the producer’s choice of a relatively young Stephen Sondheim to write the music and lyrics. The composing duties went to the great Jule Styne, who did insist on Sondheim for the lyrics.

About Today

It’s Sunday and hopefully most of us have a little extra time to listen to more than one recording today.

About These Versions

This song must be a favorite of Bennett’s as he’s recorded it six times, from 1958 to 2014!

There are two recordings from 1958: first as a single arranged by Ray Ellis and later that year with Count Basie, which is probably my favorite version of them all. Next up are two live recordings: 1962 at Carnegie Hall and 1964 at The Sahara. Finally are our two duet versions: 1998 with Kermit The Frog and 2014 with Lady Gaga. There’s a lot to choose from today!

1958-1

Firefly

Tony Bennett · The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5 · Song · 2011


“Firefly,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5, is available from iTunes.

1958-2


“Firefly,” as well as In Person!, is available from iTunes.

1962

Firefly - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

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


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

1964

Firefly - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964

Listen to Firefly - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“Firefly,” as well as Tony Bennett Live at The Sahara: From This Moment On, is available from iTunes.

1998

Firefly

Listen to Firefly on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Kermit the Frog · 1998


“Firefly,” as well as The Playground, is available from iTunes.

2014

Firefly

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · Cheek To Cheek (Deluxe) · Song · 2014


“Firefly,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Sing You Sinners

The song of the day for Sunday, October 11, 2015 is “Sing You Sinners.”

About This Song

“Sing You Sinners” was written in 1930 by W. Franke Harling (music) and Sam Coslow (lyrics) for the 1930 film “Honey,” starring Lillian Roth. The song was an early hit in 1950 for Tony Bennett. He sings the song regularly in concerts today.

About These Versions

We have several versions of this song. All of them are great, upbeat versions. The two earliest recordings were singles recorded in 1950 and 1955 by Marty Manning and Percy Faith, respectively. Following that we have two live version: 1962 at Carnegie Hall and 1964 at The Sahara in Las Vegas. We close with a duet from 2006 with John Legend, released on Duets: An American Classic. I like them all but I love this song a lot and don’t think I could ever be disappointed when Tony Bennett sings it: no matter when, no matter where, it swings like hell.

1950

Sing You Sinners

Listen to Sing You Sinners on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011


“Sing You Sinners,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

1955

Sing You Sinners

Listen to Sing You Sinners on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011


“Sing You Sinners,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 4, is available from iTunes.

1962

Sing You Sinners (From "Honey") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Sing You Sinners (From "Honey") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“Sing You Sinners,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

1964

Sing You Sinners - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964

Listen to Sing You Sinners - Live at the Sahara Hotel, Las Vegas, NV - April 1964 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“Sing You Sinners,” as well as Live at The Sahara – Las Vegas 1964, is available from iTunes.

2006

Sing You Sinners (with John Legend)

Listen to Sing You Sinners (with John Legend) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, John Legend · 2006


“Sing You Sinners,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Sunday, September 27, 2015 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 These Versions

I completely fell in love with this song the first time I listened to Tony Bennett sing it on the 1962 Carnegie Hall Concert album. I always thought it was such a great song for him and wondered why he never recorded it again. On Friday, my hopes came true: “All The Things You Are” is the first song on the new Tony Bennett – Bill Charlap album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

Once again, we have the lovely contrast of a love song from the same singer, decades apart. I’ll leave you to your own conclusions. I dearly love both of these versions.

1962

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

Listen to All The Things You Are (From "Very Warm For May") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


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

date unknown

All The Things You Are

Tony Bennett, Bill Charlap · The Silver Lining - The Songs of Jerome Kern · Song · 2015


“All The Things You Are,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available from iTunes.