The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 29, 2025, is “Mood Indigo.”

About Today

We are remembering Edward Kennedy Ellington on the anniversary of his birth in Washington, D.C. 126 years ago today on April 29, 1899. We’ll be playing songs by Duke Ellington for the next few days.

About This Song

“Mood Indigo” was written in 1930 by Duke Ellington; Irving Mills wrote the lyrics. The song is based on a theme by Barney Bigard, who is said to have learned it from his New Orleans clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio. Ellington wrote the song specifically for “microphone transmission” and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song to “Mood Indigo.” The song has been widely recorded by instrumental and vocal artists, including Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

“Tony Bennett recorded “Mood Indigo” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool, which was released in 1999 for Ellington’s centennial. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement. Wynton Marsalis played trumpet for this recording.

Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool won the 2000 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 24, 2024, is “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good).”

About This Song

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” (originally titled ‘I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)’)was written by Duke Ellington and Paul Francis Webster in 1941. It was written for Ivie Anderson to sing in a revue called Jump For Joy. Anderson also recorded the song in 1941 with Johnny Hodges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement, which features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone.

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the Ivie Anderson 1941 recording with Johnny Hodges:

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Take The A Train

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 30, 2023, is “Take The A Train.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Billy Strayhorn, who was born on November 29, 1915. Born in Ohio, he grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He studied classical music at the Pittsburgh Musical Institute and wrote “Lush Life” during that time. In 1938, he met Duke Ellington, who invited Strayhorn to visit him at his home in the Sugar Hill neighborhood in New York. Ellington wrote down instructions on how to get to his home after arriving in New York, starting with “take the A train.” Strayhorn worked with Ellington for 25 years, until Strayhorn’s death from cancer.

About This Song

“Take The A Train” was written by Billy Strayhorn in 1939, with lyrics by Joya Sherrill (which were added in 1944). It became Ellington’s signature tune and was played at virtually every concert he gave.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Take The A Train” on May 20, 1999, and features the Ralph Sharon Quartet, with Paul Langosch (bass), Gray Sargent (guitar) Clayton Cameron (drums) Also featured are Al Grey on trombone and Wynton Marsalis on trumpet. It was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns. This recording was an unreleased outtake from Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. It was included in Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2, in the 2011 Complete Collection box set.

“Take The A Train,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available on Apple Music.

I’m adding Lady Gaga’s solo recording of “Lush Life, from her album with Tony Cheek to Cheek, released in 2014.

A Note to Readers

I will likely be posting intermittently for a while. I won’t be able to see well for a while (cataract surgery, no big deal) which makes it difficult to post. No fear, The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas will start on December 14, as usual. Thank you all for your support of The Year of Tony Bennett.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Friday, January 27, 2021, is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

“In A Mellow Tone” was written in 1939 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Milt Gabler. It was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald, and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, with an arrangement by Ralph Burns. The recording gives everyone in the quartet a chance to shine: Ralph Sharon, piano; Gray Sargent, guitar; Paul Langosch, bass; and Clayton Cameron, drums. Wynton Marsalis is featured on trumpet.

“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got Ellington’s 1958 instrumental recording of today’s song, from his album Blues In Orbit. Featured musicians include Johnny Hodges, Paul Gonsalves, Harry Carney, and Sam Woodyard.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Mood Indigo

The song of the day for Saturday, May 1, 2021, is “Mood Indigo.”

About This Song

Originally titled “Dreamy Blues,” Duke Ellington wrote this song in 1930, which is based on a theme by Barney Bigard, who is said to have learned it from his New Orleans clarinet teacher, Lorenzo Tio. Ellington wrote the song specifically for “microphone transmission” and it was first played on a 1930 radio broadcast. Audiences loved the song, and so Irving Mills wrote the lyric, changing the name of the song to “Mood Indigo.” The song has been widely recorded by instrumental and vocal artists, including Tony Bennett, Charles Mingus, Ella Fitzgerald, Thelonious Monk, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mood Indigo” in 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool. The arrangement by Jorge Calandrelli features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone.

We hope you have enjoyed Duke Ellington Week on The Year of Tony Bennett. To quote Duke: “We love you madly!”

Mood Indigo

Tony Bennett · Bennett Sings Ellington / Hot And Cool · Song · 1999

“Mood Indigo,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available from Apple Music.