The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 10, 2024, is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

“This Can’t Be Love” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse.” It is one of their most joyous and least ironic love songs. Both Benny Goodman and Eddy Duchin recorded the song in the late 1930s. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording here, “This Can’t Be Love” has also been recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “This Can’t Be Love” in July 1973 for his album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1976. Accompanying Bennett was The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. Even without either piano or drums, it’s a lovely sound for these Rodgers and Hart songs.

The album was released on Bennett’s Improv label, created after he left Columbia Records.

“This Can’t Be Love,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Have You Met Miss Jones?

The song of the day for Sunday, August 18, 2024, is “Have You Met Miss Jones?.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Have You Met Miss Jones?” for the 1937 musical revue I’d Rather Be Right. It’s one of their sweetest and most charming love songs, as the young man who is introduced to Miss Jones and falls in love immediately. In addition to Bennett’s recording, other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Have You Met Miss Jones?” in July 1973 for his album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs. He was accompanied by The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, consisting of Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass.

“Have You Met Miss Jones?,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Lady is a Tramp

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 26, 2022, is “The Lady is a Tramp.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “The Lady is a Tramp” in 1937 for the Broadway musical Babes In Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. The song was meant as a spoof on the high society of New York, where the singer is clear about what she likes to do, no matter what everyone else is doing. “The Lady Is A Tramp” has been sung by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne. More recently, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sang a duet of this song on their 2011 album “Duets II.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Lady is a Tramp” in July 1973 for the album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1976.

“The Lady is a Tramp,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Monday, April 25, 2022, 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 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” in 1973 with the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which feature Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The recording was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

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

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Thursday, January 14, 2021, is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

“Blue Moon” was written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart. The song first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Blue Moon” with The Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet for the first of their two Rodgers and Hart albums: Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1976 on Bennett’s Improv Label.

Blue Moon

Listen to Blue Moon on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

“Blue Moon,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook , is available from Apple Music.