The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Sunday, December 6, 2020, is “Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by Burton Lane, with lyrics by Yip Harburg, for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Old Devil Moon” in 1967 for the album Tony Makes It Happen! It features a wonderful arrangement by our good friend Marion Evans.

Old Devil Moon – 2011 Remaster

Listen to Old Devil Moon – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1967.

“Old Devil Moon,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen!, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Happiness is a Thing Called Joe

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 3, 2020, is “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe.”

About This Song

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky, starring Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song was introduced by Ethel Waters, sung to her husband Joe, played by Dooley Wilson. The 1943 film version of Cabin in the Sky also featured Miss Waters with the role of Joe played by Eddie Anderson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon for their landmark album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1962.

Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe – Remastered

Listen to Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe – Remastered on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, July 11, 2020, is “Old Devil Moon.”

About Today

Tony Live moves to 1994 and one of Tony Bennett’s greatest triumphs: His live appearance on MTV Unplugged on April 12, 1994. The performance was a huge hit, for both MTV and Bennett. The concert album MTV Unplugged not only won Bennett the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance but also the coveted award for Album of the Year.

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

“Old Devil Moon,” as well as MTVUnplugged, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, June 20, 2020, is “Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by Burton Lane and Yip Harburg for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this live version of “Old Devil Moon” in 1971 at The Royal Albert Hall in London, backed by the London Philharmonic Orchestra. It uses the Marion Evans arrangement from 1967 for Tony Makes It Happen! The concert was released on the album Get Happy.

“Old Devil Moon,” as well as Get Happy, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 12, 2020, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg.

Harold Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.”

Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, and Carmen McRae.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank, where he sings songs associated with his friend Frank Sinatra. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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