The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Wish I Were In Love Again

The song of the day for Saturday, July 15, 2023, is “I Wish I Were In Love Again.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart wrote “I Wish I Were In Love Again” for the 1937 musical Babes in Arms. It was a favorite song of Judy Garland, who recorded it in 1940. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded “I Wish I Were In Love Again” in July 1973. It was. released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

“I Wish I Were In Love Again,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: There’s A Small Hotel

The song of the day for Friday, July 14, 2023, is “There’s A Small Hotel.”

About This Song

“There’s A Small Hotel” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1935. Originally it was written for Jumbo, but wound up be used in the 1936 musical On Your Toes, where it was introduced by Ray Bolger and Doris Carson. The song has been recorded by artists including Chet Baker, Josephine Baker, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Della Reese, in addition to Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’s A Small Hotel” in July 1973; it was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

“There’s A Small Hotel,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Mountain Greenery

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 29, 2021, is “Mountain Greenery.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “Mountain Greenery” in 1926 for one of their earliest musicals, The Garrick Gaieties, where it was introduced by Sterling Holloway. It had two recordings in 1926: one by Roger Wolfe Kahn and the other by Frank Crumit. In later years, this song was recorded by Bing Crosby, Mel Tormé, Ella Fitzgerald, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mountain Greenery” in 1973; the recording was released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart Songs. Accompanying Bennett was The George Barners/Ruby Braff Quartet, with Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, Braff on cornet, and John Guiffrida on bass.

Mountain Greenery

Listen to Mountain Greenery on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

“Mountain Greenery,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 16, 2015 is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1927 musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “Thou Swell” is one of more charming songs from the musical, as the lyrics feature a combination of modern and medieval language: “thine eyes are cute too” and “I’d feel so rich in a hut for two.”

About This Version

Regular readers will know that this song is favorite of this author, due not only to the excellent melody by Rodgers and the clever lyrics by Hart, but also to the charming arrangement and the great joy that Bennett exudes in singing this song. “Thou Swell” is the first cut on Tony Bennett Sings… More Great Rodgers & Hart.

Thine eyes are cute too.

Thou Swell

Listen to Thou Swell on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

“Thou Swell,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

For those that love this song as much I do, here’s an alternate take:

Thou Swell - Album Version - (Alt. Tk1)

Listen to Thou Swell - Album Version - (Alt. Tk1) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004