The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues

The song of the day for Monday, November 30, 2020, is “I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues.”

About This Song

Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler wrote “I Got A Right To Sing The Blues” for the 1932 Broadway show Earl Carroll’s Vanities. It has been a blues and jazz standard ever since. Notable recordings include those by Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lean Horne, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bonnie Raitt recorded ” I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues” in 1992 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues.

I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (with Bonnie Raitt)

Listen to I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues (with Bonnie Raitt) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2001.

“I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Sunday, November 29, 2020, is “Day Dream.”

About Today

Composer, pianist, and collaborator with Duke Ellington, Billy Strayhorn was born on November 15, 1915, in Dayton, Ohio. Upon meeting Elligton backstage after the concert, Ellington invited the young man to come and visit him in Harlem to discuss his future. Strayhorn, using the instructions given to him by Ellington as lyrics, wrote the song Take the A Train. Other notable songs by Strayhorn include Lush Life and Chelsea Bridge. Billy Strayhorn died in 1967 esophageal cancer. After his death, Ellington recorded album in tribute to him: And His Mother Called Him Bill. This exquisite remembrance included song composed by Strayhorn while he was in the hospital and a touching piano solo of Lush Life, played by Ellington while the band was packing up.

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written in 1941 by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn, with lyrics by John LaTouche. Acknowledged to have been written solely by Strayhorn, “Day Dream” is a lovely song with a strong Strayhorn touch, enhanced by the thoughtful lyrics by John LaTouche. The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this one by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool.

Day Dream

Listen to Day Dream on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1999.

“Day Dream,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

The song of the day for Saturday, November 28, 2020, is “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The song was introduced by Mr. Astaire. The film is widely considered to be one of the best of the RKO Astaire and Rogers films; the American Film Institute ranked it 15th on its list of best musicals.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” in 1993 for Steppin’ Out, which featured songs made famous by his good friend, Fred Astaire.

Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

Listen to Top Hat, White Tie and Tails on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1993.

“Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from Apple Music.

And here’s Fred Astaire from Top Hat:

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Song of the Day: Russian Lullaby

The song of the day for Friday, November 27, 2020, is “Russian Lullaby.”

About This Song

Written in 1927, “Russian Lullaby,” Irving Berlin (born Isador Beilin) explores his childhood roots as an Eastern European/Belarusian Jewish immigrant. The song is like a folk melody and the lyrics are lovely. “Russian Lullaby” was first used in vaudeville and gained recognition with the recording by Roger Wolfe Kahn and His Orchestra. It has also been recorded by Bunny Berigan, Guy Lombardo, Bing Crosby, and Dinah Shore, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Russian Lullaby” in 1987 for his album of songs written by Irving Berlin: Bennett/Berlin. Dizzy Gillespie and his trumpet are featured with a great solo.

Russian Lullaby

Listen to Russian Lullaby on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1987.

“Russian Lullaby,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Folks That Live on the Hill

The song of the day for Thursday, November 26, 2020, is “The Folks That Live on the Hill.”

About Today

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our American readers.

About This Song

“The Folks That Live on the Hill” was written in 1937 by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the movie High, Wide, and Handsome, where it was introduced by Irene Dunne. Bing Crosby recorded it that same year. Peggy Lee recorded it in 1957 for her album The Man I Love, conducted by Frank Sinatra. Other recordings include those by Diana Krall, Jo Stafford, and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Folks That Live on the Hill” in 1989 for his autobiographical album Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, released the following year. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

The Folks That Live On The Hill

Listen to The Folks That Live On The Hill on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1990.

“The Folks That Live on the Hill,” as well as Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, is available from Apple Music.

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