The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

The song of the day for Sunday, November 30, 2014 is “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”

About This Song

“The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” was written for the 1935 musical Jumbo by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. It has become a jazz and popular standard. The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra had a Top 40 hit with the song in 1953. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded today’s song in 1973 for his second volume of Rodgers and Hart songs: Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart. In addition to today’s song, this volume features favorites of mine like “Thou Swell” and “I Wish I Were In Love Again.” His two albums of Rodgers and Hart songs are really excellent. For both of these albums, Bennett worked with the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, which features Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright also on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. Some might think it odd to record two entire jazz albums without either piano or drums. But this quartet is absolutely perfect, especially for Rodgers and Hart. Note that the all the recordings from Bennett’s own Improv label are now collected on The Complete Improv Recordings, which is available both online and as a 4-CD set (with a great booklet) from retailers including Amazon.

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World

Listen to The Most Beautiful Girl In The World on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.


“The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available on iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Lorenz Hart, who was born on this day in New York in 1895. In honor of Mr. Hart, the song of the day for Friday, May 2, 2014 is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1927 Broadway musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. I’ve always loved “Thou Swell” because of the lyric — the delightful play of modern and medieval terminology: ‘thou swell,’ ‘a hut for two’ and my favorite ‘thine eyes are cute too.’

About This Version

Today’s recording is from Bennett’s Improv album Tony Bennett Sings… More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1973. It features the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes on guitar, Wayne Wright on guitar and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a wonderful sound for the Rodgers and Hart songs that I never tire of.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3QNOMECmFdjw2MeT8AXdKW
“Thou Swell,” as well as all of the songs recorded by Tony Bennett’s Improv label, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 4, 2014 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

Tony Bennett recorded “Thou Swell” for Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1973 on Bennett’s Improv label. Both of the Rodgers and Hart albums use the Ruby Braff / George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. It’s a wonderful sound for these songs. Both of these albums are a complete joy; “Thou Swell” has always been a favorite song of mine and this version is really, really swell.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3QNOMECmFdjw2MeT8AXdKW
“Thou Swell,” as all of the songs in The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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