The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Tony Live! Time After Time

The song of the day for Sunday, March 29, 2020, is “Time After Time.”

About This Song

“Time After Time” was written by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn in 1947 for the movie It Happened in Brooklyn. The song was introduced by Frank Sinatra and was a major hit for him.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Time After Time” in 1964 at The Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas. The recording was released in 2011 on Live At The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964.

“Time After Time,” as well as Live at The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! Keep Smiling at Trouble

The song of the day for Saturday, March 28, 2020, is “Keep Smiling at Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling at Trouble” was written in 1924 by Lewis Gensler, with lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. It was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese, and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded his show at The Sahara in Las Vegas in April 1964, including “Keep Smiling at Trouble.” The show was released in 2011 as Live at The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964.

“Keep Smiling at Trouble,” as well as Live at The Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! Ain’t Misbehaving

The song of the day for Sunday, March 22, 2020, is “Ain’t Misbehaving.”

About This Song

Fats Waller introduced “Ain’t Misbehaving” in the 1929 musical revue Hot Chocolates, staged at Connie’s Inn in Harlem. Andy Razaf, the lyricist, says that Waller wrote the entire song in just 45 minutes. It has become one of Waller’s most well-known songs, perhaps due to the wildly successful Broadway musical revue Ain’t Misbehaving, which opened in 1978.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ain’t Misbehaving” live in Las Vegas on April 8, 1964. The album Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964 was finally released in the 2011 Complete Collection box set.

“Ain’t Misbehaving,” as well as Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! This Could Be the Start of Something Big

The song of the day for Saturday, March 21, 2020, is “This Could Be the Start of Something Big.”

About This Song

“This Could Be the Start of Something Big” was written in 1956 by multi-talented Steve Allen. Allen was the first host of The Tonight Show in 1953. He was also an accomplished pianist and singer and, as evidenced by this song, a fine composer as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “This Could Be the Start of Something Big” on April 6, 1964, at The Sahara Hotel in the Congo Room. Frank Laico recorded the show, which was finally released in 2011 as part of the Complete Collection box set as Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas 1964.

“This Could Be the Start of Something Big,” as well as Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Sunday, March 15, 2020, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written in 1942 by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for a Sonja Henie vehicle called Iceland, starring Miss Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and The Dave Brubeck Trio recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” in an unplanned jam session after both artists had finished their sets. The fantastic result was taped and released on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

I hope you’ve enjoyed our examination of Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962. Check in next week as we look at his Vegas show: Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On.

“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available from iTunes.

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