The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Hi-Ho

The song of the day for Saturday, March 26, 2022, is “Hi-Ho.”

About This Song

“Hi-Ho” was written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1936. It was one of the first songs the Gershwin brothers wrote when they first came to Hollywood and slated for the movie Shall We Dance featuring Fred Astaire dancing in the streets of Paris. The song was cut due to concerns over the costs of filming the sequence. The song faded from then and was only published in 1967. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Hi-Ho” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

“Hi-Ho,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Home is the Place

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 8, 2022, is “Home is the Place.”

About This Song

“Home is the Place” was written in 1960 by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Styne and Sondheim wrote the score for the brilliant musical Gypsy, which opened in 1959. After that collaboration, Styne expressed an interest in their continuing to work together, resulting in “Home is the Place” and “Come Over Here.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Home is the Place” in 1968 for Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

“Home is the Place,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Get Happy

The song of the day for Saturday, September 18, 2021, is “Get Happy.”

About This Song

“Get Happy” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1930 The Nine-Fifteen Revue, where it was introduced by Ruth Etting. Most people today are more familiar with Judy Garland’s wonderful performance of the in the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Get Happy” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Get Happy

Listen to Get Happy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Get Happy,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain is available on Apple Music.

And here’s that wonderful performance by Judy Garland from Summer Stock:

Get Happy - Judy Garland | Summer Stock | Warner Archive

Summer Stock (1950) #WarnerArchive #WarnerBros #SummerStock To save Jane Falbury"s (Judy Garland) Connecticut farm, Jane"s sister, Abigail (Gloria DeHaven), convinces Herb Blake (Phil Silvers), the producer of a new Broadway show to rehearse on her farm. Although Abigail is set to star with her current beau, Joe Ross (Gene Kelly), Jane and Joe are instantly attracted to each other.

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Song of the Day: Hi-Ho

The song of the day for Saturday, May 15, 2021, is “Hi-Ho.”

About This Song

“Hi-Ho” was written in 1936 by George and Ira Gershwin. “Hi-Ho” has been called ‘Gershwin’s least known great song’ by blogger Walter Rimler. It was one of the first songs the Gershwin brothers wrote when they first came to Hollywood and slated for the movie Shall We Dance featuring Fred Astaire dancing in the streets of Paris. The song was cut due to concerns over the costs for filming the sequence. The song faded from then and was only published in 1967. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Hi-Ho” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Hi-Ho

Listen to Hi-Ho on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Hi-Ho,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Georgie Fame

The song of the day for Saturday, April 17, 2021, is “Sweet Georgie Fame.”

About This Song

“Sweet Georgie Fame” was written in 1967 Blossom Dearie and Sandra Harris. Dearie told The New York Times in 1981 “I was in London in 1966, when a bass player told me I should go hear the skiffle, rock, blues and jazz singer Georgie Fame, He said I’d like him, and I did – very much. Then I was visiting a friend, where Georgie Fame’s records were on, and her kids were dancing to them. I got a melody from that, and my friend’s sister, Sandra Black (Harris) wrote words to it.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Georgie Fame” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Sweet Georgie Fame

Listen to Sweet Georgie Fame on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Sweet Georgie Fame,” as well as Yesterday I Heard Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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