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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

February 14, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Monday, February 15, 2021, is “The Man That Got Away.”

About Today

Today The Year of Tony Bennett begins a week dedicated to songwriter Harold Arlen, who was born as Hyman Arluck on February 15, 1905. The song of a cantor, Harold Arlen quickly became one of America’s best songwriters. We’ll spending this week exploring some of his songs.

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin was written for Judy Garland for the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” on October 28, 1959, with Ralph Sharon. The singer and the pianist booked the studio for themselves–no other musicians. Sharon brought in a briefcase full of sheet music. They’d look at a song and decide if they wanted to record it. After finding the right key with Bennett, Sharon would work out an arrangement in just a few minutes and then they’d record the song.They recorded 16 songs in that session, 12 of which made it to the album Tony Sings For Two, which Columbia didn’t release until February 1961.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

How can I play “The Man That Got Away” with also including this video?

The Man That Got Away - A Star Is Born (1954)

Of course this is the original version that was written for Judy by Harold Arlen for the film A Star Is Born in 1954. Judy Garland is 32 years old here.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: A Star Is Born, Harold Arlen, Harold Arlen birthday, Harold Arlen Week, Ira Gershwin, Judy Garland, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett, Tony Songs For Two

November 2, 2020 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Song of the Day: Happiness is a Thing Called Joe

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 3, 2020, is “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe.”

About This Song

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky, starring Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song was introduced by Ethel Waters, sung to her husband Joe, played by Dooley Wilson. The 1943 film version of Cabin in the Sky also featured Miss Waters with the role of Joe played by Eddie Anderson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon for their landmark album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1962.

Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe

Listen to Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cabin in the Sky, Harold Arlen, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett, Tony Songs For Two, Yip Harburg

March 10, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Tuesday, Match 10, 2015 is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” is, of course, from the 1954 film A Star Is Born, starring Judy Garland and James Mason and directed by George Cukor. Originally 181 minutes long, the film was brutally cut at the insistence of the movie theater owners. It’s widely thought that the cut version cost Judy Garland the Oscar for Best Performance by an Actress, which instead went to Grace Kelly for A Country Girl.

The song was written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin and its performance in the film is extraordinary. It was filmed dozens of times, with several different sets and costumes. That said, the final result is legendary and remains one of the greatest musical performances in film.

I agree with Alec Wilder regarding this song: “This is a true Arlen song. If you are good rememberer, try to think of anyone else who might have written it. I don’t see who it could have been but Arlen.”

About This Version

Today’s version of “The Man That Got Away” is the sixth song from our album of the month, Tony Sings For Two. While many male singers changed the man to the girl or the gal that got away, Bennett records the lyrics as written, which we really appreciate. Other than Judy Garland, I think that Bennett’s recording is the finest of this iconic song.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

And even though it’s definitely not Saturday, I have a video of Judy Garland from A Star Is Born. Because, why not?

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: A Star Is Born, Harold Arlen, Ira Gershwin, Tony Songs For Two

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