The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: That Ole Devil Called Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 7, 2021, is “That Ole Devil Called Love.”

About Today

We are remembering singer Billie Holiday, who was born on April 7, 1915, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

About This Song

“That Ole Devil Called Love” was written in 1945 by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Ole Devil Called Love” in 1996 for his tribute album Tony Bennett On Holiday.

That Ole Devil Called Love

Listen to That Ole Devil Called Love on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.

“That Ole Devil Called Love,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s Lady Day singing today’s song, recorded in 1944:

That Ole Devil Called Love

Listen to That Ole Devil Called Love on Spotify. Billie Holiday · Song · 2017.

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Song of the Day: All Of Me

The song of the day for Sunday, February 28, 2021, is “All Of Me.”

About This Song

“All Of Me” ws written in 1931 by Gerald Marks and Seymour Simons. It’s the only song by Marks and Simons to become popular in the jazz repertoire. Early recordings included those by Louis Armstrong, Mildred Bailey and Ruth Etting. In his masterful book The Jazz Standards, Al Gioia writes

The definitive version of “All Of Me” wouldn’t appear for another decade, but when Billie Holiday recorded the song, with tenor saxophonist Lester Young on hand, she staked a claim of ownership that no one has managed to dislodge in subsequent years.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All Of Me” in 1996 for Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1977. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Tony Bennett won the 1998 Grammy Award For Best Traditional Pop Performance for Tony Bennett On Holiday.

All Of Me

Listen to All Of Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.

“All Of Me,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s “All Of Me,” recorded in 1941 by Billie Holiday with Eddie Heywood and His Orchestra. Lester Young has a sweet solo.

All of Me

Listen to All of Me on Spotify. Billie Holiday · Song · 1996.

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Song of the Day: That Ole Devil Called Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 24, 2021, is “That Ole Devil Called Love.”

About This Song

“That Ole Devil Called Love” was written in 1945 by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts. Fisher, daughter of songwriter Fred Fisher, was so popular in the 1940s that she was called ‘Queen of the Jukebox.’ She often wrote with Allan Roberts. She was also a talented singer and performer. Other of her songs include “You Always Hurt The One You Love.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Ole Devil Called Love” for his 1997 album Tony Bennett On Holiday, a tribute to the singer Billie Holiday.

That Ole Devil Called Love

Listen to That Ole Devil Called Love on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.

“That Ole Devil Called Love,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s Billie Holiday’s 1945 recording:

That Ole Devil Called Love

Listen to That Ole Devil Called Love on Spotify. Billie Holiday · Song · 2017.

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Song of the Day: Good Morning Heartache

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 6, 2021, is “Good Morning Heartache.”

About This Song

“Good Morning, Heartache” was written in 1946 by Irene Higginbotham, Ervin Drake, and Dan Fisher. The song is strongly associated with Billie Holiday, who recorded the song in 1946. The popularity of the song was revived when Diana Ross recorded it for the Billie Holiday biographical film Lady Sings The Blues, released in 1972.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Good Morning Heartache” in 1996 for the album Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1977. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

Good Morning, Heartache

Listen to Good Morning, Heartache on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.

“Good Morning Heartache,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s Billie Holiday’s 1946 recording.

Good Morning Heartache

Listen to Good Morning Heartache on Spotify. Billie Holiday · Song · 2017.

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Song of the Day: That Ole Devil Called Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 9, 2020, is “That Ole Devil Called Love.”

About This Song

“That Ole Devil Called Love” was written in 1945 by Doris Fisher and Allan Roberts. Composer Doris Fisher, daughter of songwriter Fred Fisher, was so popular in the 1940s that she was called “Queen of the Jukebox.” She was also a talented singer and performer. Other of her songs include “You Always Hurt The One You Love.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Ole Devil Called Love” in 1996 for his album of songs associated with Billie Holiday, Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. Jorge Caledrelli wrote the arrangement.

That Ole Devil Called Love

Listen to That Ole Devil Called Love on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.

“That Ole Devil Called Love,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s Lady Day’s version:

That Ole Devil Called Love

Listen to That Ole Devil Called Love on Spotify. Billie Holiday · Song · 2017.

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