The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Friday, September 26, 2021, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Harold Lang and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in 1973 with The George Barnes-Ruby Braff Quartet. The recording was released in 1976 on the album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs.

I Could Write A Book

Listen to I Could Write A Book on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 27, 2019, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

Composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, “I Could Write a Book” was written for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” for the 1976 album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs. Readers of this site will know how much I love these recordings. Instead of a traditional band to accompany him, Bennett used a novel sound that does a great job in invoking the period for many of the songs. The band, The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, consisted of Ruby Braff (cornet), George Barnes and Wayne Wright (guitar), and John Guiffrida (bass). No piano, no drums … it’s an exquisite sound, at least for this listener.

I Could Write A Book

I Could Write A Book, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes the wonderful Harold Jones a very happy birthday! Mr. Jones has played drums for Tony Bennett for some time now and your author never ceases to be amazed at his talent.

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Song of the Day: The Lady Is A Tramp

The song of the day for Saturday, June 28, 2014 is “The Lady Is A Tramp.”

About This Song

In tribute to anniversary of the birth of the great Richard Rodgers, our song today is from his collaboration with Lorenz Hart. “The Lady Is A Tramp” is from their 1937 musical Babes In Arms (which bears little, if none, resemblance to the Mickey Rooney / Judy Garland movie of the same name). The song has been widely recorded from the beginning, with notable recordings by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, Sophie Tucker, Lena Horne, Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald. And, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Today’s version is from Bennett’s 1973 album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released on his own Improv label. He is accompanied by Ruby Braff – George Barnes Quartet, featuring Braff on cornet, George Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a wonderful sound for these Rodgers and Hart songs.

http://open.spotify.com/track/65CVsuBhiGb31BMMO5iM3w
“The Lady Is A Tramp,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

Our video today features Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga, who have a really great time singing this song. And, speaking for just myself, I’m really looking forward to the release of their album Cheek To Cheek in September.