The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Prelude to a Kiss

The song of the day for Friday, October 18, 2024, is “Prelude to a Kiss.”

About This Song

“Prelude to a Kiss” was written in 1938 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Gordon and Irving Mills. At a time when swing music was popular, Ellington wrote this more ambitious and experimental ballad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Prelude to a Kiss” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement. Joel Smirnoff is the featured violinist.

“Prelude to a Kiss,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s instrumental recording of “Prelude to a Kiss” from 1938:

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Song of the Day: It Don’t Mean a Thing

The song of the day for Monday. April 23, 2023, is “It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing).”

About This Week

We are celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Edward Kennedy (Duke) Ellington, born in Washington, D.C. on April 29, 1899. For more information about Ellington, see Duke Ellington (on Wikipedia) and the Duke Ellington website.

About This Song

“It Don’t Mean a Thing (If It Ain’t Got That Swing) was written in 1931 by Ellington, with lyrics by Irving Mills. This song was one of the first songs to use the word “swing” in the title and this song certainly defined what it meant to swing. Ellington recorded the song with Ivie Anderson on vocals and it was an immediate hit. It has been widely recorded since it was written and the song is a lot of fun to play and listen to. Significant recordings include those by Louis Armstrong, Django Reinhardt, Gigi Gryce, Tony Bennett, and Thelonious Monk.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Done Mean a Thing” on May 1999 for his tribute album to Ellington: Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, released 100 years after Ellington’s birth.

The album won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool

“It Don’t Mean a Thing,” as well as is available on Apple Music.

We have two additional recordings today.

First up is the first recording of today’s song, featuring Ivy Anderson.

Next up is Louis Armstrong who recorded the song with Ellington for The Great Reunion album.

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Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Sunday, April 17, 2016 is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “In A Mellow Tone” in 1939, with lyrics by Milt Gabler.

“In A Mellow Tone” was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” in 1999 for his album Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It’s a terrific rendition.

In A Mellow Tone

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

Here’s Duke playing on a nice instrumental of “In A Mellow Tone.”

In a Mellow Tone

Listen to In a Mellow Tone on Spotify. Song · Duke Ellington · 1927

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Song of the Day: She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

The song of the day for is “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good).”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote this song in 1941; the lyrics are by Paul Francis Webster. This song’s actual title is “I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)’. It was written for Ivie Anderson, who sang it in a revue called Jump For Joy. Anderson also recorded the song in 1941 with saxophonist Johnny Hodges that was well-received. The song has been widely recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song as “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” for his 1999 album Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli.

She"s Got It Bad (And That Ain"t Good)

Listen to She"s Got It Bad (And That Ain"t Good) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1999

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

As an extra treat, here’s the 1941 recording of “I’ve Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good) featuring Ivie Anderson:

I Got It Bad (and That Ain"t Good) - 1986 Remastered

Listen to I Got It Bad (and That Ain"t Good) - 1986 Remastered on Spotify. Song · Duke Ellington, Ivie Anderson · 1941

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Song of the Day: Sophisticated Lady

The song of the day for Saturday, April 9, 2016 is “Sophisticated Lady.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “Sophisticated Lady” in 1932 as an instrumental. Lyrics were added later by Mitchell Parish and Irving Mills. Ellington is said to have been inspired to write this song by two of his grade school teachers, who toured Europe in the summers after teaching all year. “To me that spelled sophistication.” “Sophisticated Lady” was first recorded in 1933 on the flip side with Harold Arlen’s Stormy Weather. It is, of course, one of Ellington’s most popular and often-played songs. In addition to numerous recordings by Ellington over the years, the song has been recorded by Art Tatum, Anita O’Day, Billie Holiday, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hodges, Sarah Vaughan, and Glenn Miller.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded “Sophisticated Lady” several times, but I am quite partial to this recording from his 1999 album Tony Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. Gray Sargent on guitar and Joel Smirnoff on violin provide the brilliant accompaniment.

Sophisticated Lady

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999


“Sophisticated Lady,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our video is the Duke Ellington Orchestra performing “Sophisticated Lady” in Copenhagen, probably in 1971. It features the great Harry Carney.