The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Friday, May 30, 2014 is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

If I were forced to pick a single Tony Bennett album to take to my desert island, it would have to be Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. For one thing, as wonderful as his studio recordings are, his live performances are even more wonderful. Also, in my opinion, he hit a peak in 1962 was really phenomenal, with great success with both this concert as well as his other recordings released that year. Everything I’ve heard from 1962 sounds absolutely wonderful. Oh yes, and it was the year of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” The orchestra that he and Ralph Sharon put together for the concert was great, as were all of Ralph’s arrangements. It’s a gorgeous album and is consistently ranked as one of the best concert recordings ever made.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4XohhDSDnbIMP8kIbESsuv
“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Remembering Jerome Kern

Jerome Kern was born on this day, January 27, in 1885 in New York City. He died in New York on November 11, 1945.

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Kern stands as one of the most important American composers of stage and film music. His memorable songs include “Long Ago (And Far Away,” “The Last Time I Saw Paris,” “The Way You Look Tonight,” and our featured song, as recorded by Tony Bennett, “All The Things You Are.”

Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern
Oscar Hammerstein, Jerome Kern

Show Boat, written in 1927 with Oscar Hammerstein II, is perhaps his most important and long-lasting work. The score is memorable, with great songs including “Ol’ Man River,” “Bill,” “Can’t Help Lovin’ Dat Man.” From an historical standpoint, Show Boat is one of the earliest examples of the so-called “integrated” musicals, where the songs serve to advance the plot.

In 1935, when musical films became more popular, Kern relocated to Hollywood. Some of his film work included music for Music in the Air, I Dream Too Much, Roberta and Swing Time. Swing Time, starring Fred Astaire, included the song “The Way You Look Tonight,” which won the Academy Award for best song.

Kern and Hammerstein also wrote the song that we are featuring today: “All The Things You Are,” from the 1939 Very Warm For May. Bennett’s recording is from his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert.

All The Things You Are (From "Very Warm For May") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to All The Things You Are (From "Very Warm For May") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Sunday, December 29, 2013 is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

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About This Version

Tony Bennett has only recorded this song once: in 1962 at his legendary concert at Carnegie Hall. Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall is widely considered to be one of the greatest live albums ever made. “All The Things You Are” is just one example of the superb songs from this concert.

http://open.spotify.com/track/4XohhDSDnbIMP8kIbESsuv
“All The Things You Are,” as well as the entire Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall album, is available from iTunes.

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