The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Country Girl

The song of the day for Sunday, October 12, 2014 is “Country Girl.”

About This Song

“Country Girl” was written by the Canadian-born composer, conductor, arranger and trumpet player Robert Farnon in 1966. Farnon composed both light classical and popular music, as well as film and television scores. He worked with Tony Bennett on several albums, including the wonderful 1968 Snowfall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Country Girl” in 1966 for the album Tony Makes It Happen! It was arranged and conducted by Marion Evans. In his liner notes for Forty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, in which he included “Country Girl,” Bennett wrote:

Don Costa, Marion Evans, Peter Matz and Quincy Jones all called Robert Farnon “the governor.” I didn’t know why until I had an opportunity to work with him. He also composed this song. When it comes to top quality music, he is at the very top of my list.

Country Girl

Listen to Country Girl on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1967


“Country Girl,” as well as the album Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, July 26, 2014 is “Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by Burton Lane (music) and Yip Harburg (lyrics) for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow. It’s far and away the most popular song from the score, though “How Are Things in Gloccamora?” has also found a home in popular music.

The song has been widely recorded. Significant recordings include those by Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Frank Sinatra, Anita O’Day, Len Horne and trombone player J.J. Johnson.

About This Version

Sometimes your author gets hooked on one of Tony Bennett’s albums; when that happens, you’ll see a lot of songs from the same album in a relatively short period of time. Right now, that album is Tony Makes It Happen! Released in 1967, it’s a powerfully sung album with great arrangements of outstanding material. But how can you possibly go wrong with Marion Evans arranging your album? The album deserves a listen if you haven’t thought about it for a while.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4t3I5khZ6TCaoSYYW1cKms
“Old Devil Moon,” as well as the album Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

For our YouTube Saturday offering, here is Tony Bennett singing today’s song at his legendary 1994 MTV Unplugged television performance. He opened the show with “Old Devil Moon.”

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Song of the Day: Country Girl

The song of the day for Thursday, July 24, 2014 is “Country Girl.”

About This Song

“Country Girl” was written by the Canadian-born composer, conductor, arranger and trumpet player Robert Farnon. Farnon composed both light classical and popular music, as well as film and television scores. Robert Farnon worked with Tony Bennett on several albums, including the wonderful 1968 Snowfall.

Tony Bennett said this about Robert Farnon in his autobiography, The Good Life:

I met Bob Farnon in early 1952, when I was playing the Casino in Toronto. … Even back then, Bob wanted us to record together, but I had such reverence for his work that I told him I wasn’t ready. I just didn’t feel that I had developed enough as an artist to make an album with him. I thought I’d have to wait about twenty years before I sang with Bob, and I was pretty close, because we didn’t work together until 1967.

The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to honor Robert Farnon, who was born on July 24, 1917 in Toronto, Canada and died on April 23, 2005 in Guernsey, England. Farnon first worked with Tony Bennett in 1967 for the album Snowfall, which many, including this author, believe to be the best Christmas-themed album ever made. Tony Bennett continue to work with Farnon when he lived in England for a time after leaving Columbia Records, including Bennett’s television program Talk of the Town and several major concerts, including his 1971 concert with The London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall, captured live on the album Get Happy.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Country Girl” in 1967 for the album Tony Makes It Happen! It has a wonderful arrangement by Marion Evans.

http://open.spotify.com/track/441kwTO21pAs83sCXNZENj
“Country Girl,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Can’t Get Out Of This Mood

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 15, 2014 is “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood.”

About This Song

Today’s song was composed by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Frank Loesser for the 1942 wartime musical, Seven Day’s Leave. This torch song was introduced in the movie by Ginny Simms, with the Freddy Martin Orchestra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song for his 1967 album Tony Makes It Happen!. The album was arranged by the very talented Marion Evans and the orchestrations are excellent; this song is a great example of Evans’ work. The strings are just right and the trombone solo is fantastic. Oh, and Tony Bennett is as good as it gets on this song.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5GqhWBdSSvgPp82stuEh9Z
“Can’t Get Out Of This Mood,” as well Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Lady’s In Love With You

The song of the day for Sunday, June 29, 2014 is “The Lady’s In Love With You.”

About This Song

“The Lady’s In Love With You” was written by Frank Loesser and Burton Lane for the 1939 film Some Like It Hot (not to be confused with the excellent 1959 Billy Wilder film), where it was introduced by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross. It’s been widely recorded, including those by Tony Bennett, Glenn Miller, Margaret Whiting, and Michael Feinstein.

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to remember the great American songwriter Frank Loesser, who was born on this day, June 29, in 1910. Loesser had a remarkable career as the writer of Guys and Dolls, How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying and the remarkable The Most Happy Fella. He also wrote for films, including today’s song and “They’re Either Too Young or Too Old” for Stage Door Canteen.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1967 for his album Tony Makes It Happen! This album also features another Loesser song, “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood.” The album was arranged and conducted by Marion Evans.

http://open.spotify.com/track/196IZPSQKytH80IeAzzT4b
“The Lady’s In Love With You,” as well as the album Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from iTunes.