The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Maybe This Time

The song of the day for Thursday, September 16, 2021, is “Maybe This Time.”

About This Song

“Maybe This Time” was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb in 1963. This song appeared in the film version of Cabaret. It was not written for the original Broadway production. Nor was it written especially for the film version; Kander and Ebb had written the song in 1963 for Kaye Ballard. It was therefore not eligible for consideration for an Academy Award. The song is, of course, widely associated with Liza Minnelli, who sang it in the film version of Cabaret. Tony Bennett sang the song regularly at his concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Maybe This Time” in 1972 for the album With Love. It was arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.

Maybe This Time

Listen to Maybe This Time on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1972.

“Maybe This Time,” as well as With Love is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Easy Come, Easy Go

The song of the day for Saturday, September 11, 2021, is “Easy Come, Easy Go.”

About This Song

“Easy Come, Easy Go” was written in 1934 by Johnny Green and Edward Heyman, who also wrote “Body and Soul.” It was first recorded in 1934 by Johnny Green and His Orchestra. It’s also been recorded by Jo Stafford, Bobby Short, Helen Merrill, Anita O’Day, and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Easy Come, Easy Go” in 1972 for his album With Love. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Easy Come, Easy Go

Listen to Easy Come, Easy Go on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1972.

“Easy Come, Easy Go,” as well as With Love is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Twilight World

The song of the day for Saturday, March 20, 2021, is “Twilight World.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is honoring pianist Marian McPartland on the anniversary of her birth on March 20, 1918, in Slough, England. She showed remarkable aptitude on the piano from an early age and received a musical education as a girl. She studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London. But she yearned to play jazz piano and in 1938 left school to join a four-piano vaudeville act, followed by other engagements. When World War II started, she volunteered for the Entertainment National Service Association and played for Allied troops, and later hired on with the USO. She was assigned to a group called the Band Wagon and played throughout the war. In 1944, she met a soldier-cornetist from Chicago named Jimmy McPartland and they were soon wed.

By 1946, the couple was back in the United States, where Jimmy formed a group including Marian on piano. In 1952, she got a gig at the Hickory House in New York, where she played with her trio (Joe Morello on drums and Bill Crow on bass) until the early 1960s. A frequent visitor to the club was Duke Ellington, who told her that she played too many notes and she definitely took his advice.

Many Americans know Marian McPartland from her wildly successful and award-winning public radio program called Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz (which your author seldom missed) from 1979 to 2011.

Tony Bennett was a guest on the show in 1990:

In addition to her career as a jazz pianist, she was also a noted writer. Her book All In Good Time is a favorite of mine, especially the audio version, narrated by the author.

McPartland remained active until her death from natural causes on August 20, 2013, at the age of 95.

About This Song

Marian McPartland wrote “Twilight World” in 1957, with lyrics from Johnny Mercer. This ballad has proven to be one of her most enduring and popular songs. The tune itself is a lovely mid-tempo ballad, sometimes played in a bossa nova style. The lyrics by Johnny Mercer are quite good, and the combination makes for a nearly perfect jazz song. Tony Bennett said “well, that song will last forever. It’s a beautiful song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Twilight World” in 1971 for his album With Love, featuring an arrangement by Robert Farnon.

Twilight World

Listen to Twilight World on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1972.

“Twilight World,” as well as With Love, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Maybe This Time

The song of the day for Thursday, December 3, 2020, is “Maybe This Time.”

About This Song

“Maybe This Time” was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb in 1963. The song appeared in the film version of Cabaret. It was not written for the original Broadway production. Nor was it written especially for the film version; Kander and Ebb had written the song in 1963 for Kaye Ballard. It was therefore not eligible for consideration for an Academy Award. The song is, of course, widely associated with Liza Minnelli, who sang it in the film version of Cabaret. Tony Bennett sings the song regularly at his concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Maybe This Time” in 1972 for the album With Love. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Maybe This Time

Listen to Maybe This Time on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1972.

“Maybe This Time,” as well as With Love, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Maybe This Time

The song of the day for Friday, May 22, 2020, is “Maybe This Time.

About This Song

“Maybe This Time” was written in 1963 by John Kandor and Fred Ebb. It appeared in the film version of was Cabaret. It was not written for the original Broadway production. Nor was it written especially for the film version; Kander and Ebb had written the song in 1963 for Kaye Ballard. It was therefore not eligible for consideration for an Academy Award. The song is, of course, widely associated with Liza Minnelli, who sang it in the film version of Cabaret. Tony Bennett sings this song regularly at his concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Maybe This Time” in 1972 for the album With Love. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement.

“Maybe This Time,” as well as With Love, is available from iTunes.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites