The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Manhattan

The song of the day for Thursday, July 13, 2023, is “Manhattan.”

About This Song

“Manhattan” was written in 1925 by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Garrick Gaieties. The song made its first film appearance the following year in a short entitled Makers of Melody. It has remained popular up to today and is frequently recorded by jazz and popular singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, “Manhattan” has been recorded by Blossom Dearie, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Dinah Washington. It is often used in films, including Silent Movie, Mighty Aphrodite, and The English Patient.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Manhattan” in July 1973. The recording was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“Manhattan,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Lady is a Tramp

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 12, 2023, is “The Lady is a Tramp.”

About July 12/16

On July 12 and July 16, 1973, Tony Bennett and The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded 24 Rodgers and Hart songs on Tony Bennett’s Improv label. Two weeks prior to these sessions, Bennett had appeared in concert with the quartet at Alice Tully Hall in New York. So, from the 12th to the 16th of July 2023, we’ll be featuring some of those recordings.

The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet consisted of Braff on trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass.

About This Song

“The Lady is a Tramp” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 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. It was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

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

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 11, 2023, 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 July 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released on Bennett’s Improv label in 1976.

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Manhattan

The song of the day for Thursday, March 16, 2023, is “Manhattan.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the birth of Ruby Braff, one of the leaders of the quartet that played with Tony Bennett for his recordings of Rodgers and Hart in 1970s. You can read more about Braff, who was born on March 16, 1927, on Wikipedia.

About This Song

“Manhattan” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart in 1925 for the Garrick Gaieties. The song has remained popular up to today and is frequently recorded by jazz and popular singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, “Manhattan” has been recorded by Blossom Dearie, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé, and Dinah Washington. It is often used in films, including Silent Movie, Mighty Aphrodite, and The English Patient.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Manhattan” with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet in July 1973. The quartet featured Braff on cornet and trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The first album of the recordings with the quartet was released in 1976 as Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“Manhattan,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rogers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Saturday, October 22, 2022, is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “This Can’t Be Love” in 1938 for the 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 the album Tony Bennet Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1976.

For the Rodgers and Hart recordings, Bennett worked with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, featuring Graff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass.

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

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