The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Autumn In New York

The song of the day for Sunday, October 20, 2013 is “Autumn In New York.”

About This Song

“Autumn In New York” was written by Vernon Duke for the 1934 musical Thumbs Up! The song is unusual, as it’s one of the few songs that Duke wrote both the music and lyrics for. It’s a wonderful love song as well as a tribute to the city of New York and has been very popular over the years. It has been widely recorded by both jazz and popular singers including Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Recording

Today’s version of “Autumn In New York” is an outtake from Tony Bennett’s 1992 album Perfectly Frank. It is performed with the Ralph Sharon Trio, including Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

http://open.spotify.com/track/0bgkwrCa0LzqjyqpcfMfmX
“Autumn In New York,” as well as all the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Volume 2, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Taking A Chance On Love

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 23, 2013 is Taking A Chance On Love.

About This Song

Today we feature another song from Cabin In The Sky, Taking A Chance On Love. This song was written for the original 1940 Broadway production by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter.  Taking A Chance on Love has been a favorite of jazz and popular performers since it was written, including recordings by Dizzy Gillespie, Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Gerry Mulligan, Zoot Sims, Jane Monheit and even Rod Stewart.

About This Version

I can’t get Cabin In The Sky out my mind and have found myself humming this song a lot since I watched the movie on Saturday. I felt like a Count Basie song for today and so here’s Taking A Chance on Love from In Person! Bennett and Basie really swing this version.

http://open.spotify.com/track/7eZGFUxQlMDkDPzJAuGYQm
Taking A Chance On Love, as well the full In Person! album, is available from iTunes.

And again the amazing Ethel Waters, singing our song of the day, with dancing by the amazing Bill Bailey. And you thought Michael Jackson invented the Moonwalk.

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Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 13, 2013 is Taking a Chance on Love.

About This Song

Taking a Chance on Love was written by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter. It was introduced in the 1940 Broadway show Cabin in the Sky and was sung by Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song was recorded by Benny Goodman with vocals by Helen Forrest and reached #1 on the charts in 1943. The song has remained popular and has been performed by many jazz and popular singers, ranging from Ruby Braff to Dave Brubeck to Nat King Cole and many, many more singers and instrumentalists.

About This Version

Today’s version comes from Tony Bennett’s second album, Tony, released in 1957. This version was arranged and conducted by Ray Conniff. I’ve been listening to Tony Bennett’s albums recorded in the 1950s this week. There are some wonderful recordings there and this number is definitely one of my favorites.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4mXklW7Ibzp1qetGMq1Uw3
Taking a Chance on Love, as well as the full Tony album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Taking A Chance on Love

The Song of the Day for October 22, 2012 is Taking A Chance on Love.

About Taking A Chance on Love

Taking A Chance on Love was written by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter. It was introduced in the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin In the Sky, featuring Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. It was made into a film in 1943, with Ethel Waters repeating her role and Eddie Anderson. Louis Armstrong was also featured in the film and Duke Ellington and his Orchestra performed in the film.

About This Version

This version of Taking a Chance on Love was recorded in 1958 with Count Basie. It was released on the 1959 In Person! with Count Basie and His Orchestra and again on the 1962 I Left My Heart in San Francisco.