Tony Bennett - Duets: An American Classic
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Free Music Notes for Duets: An American Classic
Free Music Review: There aren't enough stars for this one ...
Hit: 5 Stars
In celebration of his 80th birthday and seventh decade of singing American's most beloved music, Tony Bennett released a CD last year. "Duets: An American Classic" belongs in rotation for anyone who loves the great standards done by the best in the business, along with a few very carefully selected friends.
Frank Sinatra once said Bennett was his favorite singer, and for good reason. No one delivers a song like Bennett. No one. He's the pinnacle other singers try to emulate.
At first glance, it might seem odd to put Elvis Costello, James Taylor, Bono, Sting, or Sir Paul McCartney with Bennett, but the pairings work. For the most part.
"Smile" finds Bennett with Barbra Streisand. Streisand seems to know she can't out-style Bennett, so she keeps to the notes. Not my favorite tune, but done expertly well here.
Sweet Baby James Taylor, he of the 1970s pop scene, brings a brightness to "Put on A Happy Face." Taylor doesn't have Bennett's vocal pedigree, but his contribution makes you smile. The banter between the two is charming.
Columbian crooner Juanes adds some Latin heat to the lovely "The Shadow of Your Smile." Although his attempt at the English lyrics is stiff, he turns steamy the moment he slides into his native language. Bennett does a turn in Spanish, too. He's remarkably good.
"Rags to Riches" takes Bennett back where he began. The song was a #1 hit for him in 1953. Elton John joins the happiness and the two have a great time.
Hooking up with Billy Joel for "The Good Life" was sheer genius. It works for a lot of reasons. Both singers are city boys. Both understand lyrics and how to phrase them. Joel doesn't have a set of pipes like Bennett, but he "gets" the tune. It's one of the more pleasant surprises on the CD.
For me, the most exquisite moments happen when Bennett sits down with Diana Krall to romp through "The Best is Yet to Come." Krall is the premiere girl singer on the jazz scene these days. You can't anyone better at interpretation and phrasing. Her smoky, world-weary pipes are a perfect match for Bennett. They sound like they've been singing together for ages. And, in a way, they have. Krall cut her teeth on songs from the soundtrack of Bennett's life. Of course, the fabulous orchestra playing behind them doesn't hurt. If you listen with headphones or a really good sound system, you can even hear them giggle during the first thirty seconds and right before the band lets loose on the bridge.
Krall's husband, Elvis Costello, is another surprise guest. "Are You Havin' Any Fun?" is a great track and the the two seem to be having a ball.
Canadian Michael Buble, the future of big band singers, joins Bennett for "Just in Time." Some critics don't care for Buble, but I'm glad he's touring and promoting the greatness of the great American standards. Imagine being there for that recording session.
Another Canadian, k.d. lang, along Chris Botti on the trumpet, contribute to the CD's most true-to-the-mood number. It just doesn't get any better than "Because of You," for lyrics, music and romance. The two are the most perfect match ... they know this music inside out and they have the pipes to deliver the songwriter's message.
The jaw-dropper here is "How Do You Keep the Music Playing?" with George Michael. Everyone knows George Micheal - he of WHAM fame - but who knew he had such pipes! This is not my favorite song, but it is one of my favorite cuts on the CD. The ending is large and lush and leaves you wanting to hear more.
Other memorable moments come with Sting, Bono and R&B singer John Legend. Bennett does these boys a favor and gives them a lesson in how to deliver a song. The melancholy flowing through "The Boulevard of Broken Dreams" is palpable and Sting plays it close to the vest. Impressive. And, who would have thought Bono, U2's iconic lead singer would be matched with the legend on "I Wanna Be Around," one of Bennett's most signature tunes?
Bennett's not to blame for the misses on the CD. Stevie Wonder does his best to hang with Bennett on "For Once in My Life," but he falls short. His vocal gymnastics are distracting against Bennett's pure delivery. Celine Dion can't sing a song as written to save her life. I wish she would use the incredible God-given talent she possesses and sing the notes. Her voice is crystal clear and right on pitch, but her delivery is so affected, who can enjoy the notes when they're all over the room? The Dixie Chicks provide some nice harmony on "Lullaby of Broadway," but that's about all they brought to the table. Paul McCartney is way out of his league on "The Very Thought of You." Bennett had a hit with Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart" in 1951. Tim McGraw revisits the song with Bennett, but it just does not work. The pared-down arrangement left McGraw no where to hide.
"I Left My Heart in San Francisco" is the last cut on the CD, as it should be. Just Bennett, a piano and one of the most beautiful tunes ever put down on paper. Perfection. Enough said.
Note: Tony Bennett has a reputation throughout the music business for being a really nice guy. You'll be hard pressed to find any negative press about him.
I had the chance to meet him when my mom and I caught his show at the Venetian Room in Dallas' Fairmont Hotel in the mid 1980s. I ran smack into him as he waited to go on stage. He couldn't have been more gracious. He stuck his hand out to shake mine, saying, "Hello, I'm Tony Bennett." He asked his assistant for a piece of paper so he could give me an autograph. I acted like the star-struck kid I was. I told him that my parents' first date had been to see him at the Adolphus Hotel back in the mid-50's and that his 1962 recording of "I Left My Heart in San Fransisco" was my mom's favorite song. As he closed the show that night, he said, "This one is for Terry and her mom," and pointed to our table. He didn't have to do that ... but he did ... and it made my mother's evening very special. Yes, indeed. Tony Bennett is one of the nice guys.
Free Music Review: An American Classic
Hit: 5 Stars
So you think you've heard it before - and you have. Great collaborations, most famously delivered by Frank Sinatra with his incredibly successful Duets album from 1993, to his follow-up a year later, appropriately titled Duets II. They were some cleverly orchestrated collaborative inventions that sold millions of copies around the world. The reason I use the term "inventions" is because as great as some of those songs were, they weren't sung with nearly the heart and soul of these recordings that were all sung with a live orchestra, the way singers used to cut albums up until the 1970's. The great artists of past generations that are still recording in that fashion do this. Tony Bennett is one of them. The fact that the duets were also recorded together, and not edited together in a room full of gadgets at Capitol Records, adds even more charm to these lively and sometimes spontaneous renditions. Listening to this album is like going to a great restaurant that serves everything from the best pancakes to the most delicious pasta - there's something for everyone. The demographics show no prejudice serving up collaborations from 27 year-old Grammy winner John Legend, who compliments Tony enormously on "Sing, You Sinners," to the rock and roll legend Bono, offering up a delicious serving of "I Wanna Be Around" as if the two have been together as long as he has with The Edge. Another young crooner that deserves mention is the man with the big band sound, Michael Bublé, who records a swinging rendition of "Just In Time" with Bennett. Who'd of thought that one would hear the dynamic Dixie Chicks singing "Lullaby Of Broadway" so well? It makes you realize just how versatile these "country" songbirds really are. Latin singer Juanes adds shimmer, samba style, to "The Shadow Of Your Smile." Other rock veterans include Paul McCartney's touching collaboration with Mr. Bennett on "The Very Thought Of You" and Sting's smashing interpretative styling on "The Boulevard Of Broken Dreams," while James Taylor never sounded so jazzed on a great rendition of "Put On A Happy Face." Elvis Costello really delivers his pop sensibilities on a fabulous version of "Are You Havin' Any Fun?" and Stevie Wonder is on hand with his fabulous vocals and his ever-ready harmonica for a slower-paced but searing spin on "For Once In My Life," while Celine Dion sings her lungs out with Tony on "If I Ruled The World." Tony has never shown any prejudice to race, creed or color as he has sung with all of the greats from Ella to Count Basie, but you can also add his support to great gay artists such as k.d. lang, who he has shared many a song with in the past, including an entire album. This time around the two pair up for a sentimental take on "Because Of You" while Sir Elton John's vocals never sounded better on "Rags To Riches" and the vocals of George Michael proves to be first-rate on the heartbreaking ode to love affairs' realism "How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" You want class? This album reeks of it, but it never sounded as stunning as when Streisand and Bennett team up (for the first time) on an exquisite performance of Charlie Chaplin's "Smile," complimented by Pinchas Zuckerman's violin solo. Other artists rounding out this superb set include Tim McGraw on "Cold, Cold Heart," the sensational Diana Krall on "The Best Is Yet To Come" and Billy Joel's wonderful contribution to "The Good Life." Perhaps the best duet comes from Tony and a simple piano, reinventing his signature song "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." Bennett first recorded this song 44 years ago, and at 80 he offers a melancholy look back at a song and a career that is as famous as "that city by the bay." For those looking for an extra treat, I suggest picking up the special edition at Target retailers for the four additional historic duets; with Frank Sinatra for "The Lady Is A Tramp," recorded in 1988 live in Atlantic City, Judy Garland's legendary performance with Tony from her 1963 TV variety series, singing with Bennett on his most famous "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," Diana Krall and Tony teamed up back in 2000 for their exciting version of "I've Got The World On A String" and Michael Bublé's recent offering of "Steppin' Out With My Baby." For an extra bang for a few more bucks, a CD/DVD set is available at Target that includes a 21 minute "Making of Duets: An American Classic" featuring Bublé, Joel, Costello, Wonder, Dixie Chicks, James Taylor, Elton John, Bono, John Legend, and the man that produced this project so brilliantly, the legendary Phil Ramone. If you are a fan of the Great American Songbook, Tony Bennett and/or any of the artists featured on this CD, this is an absolute must for your collection. By the time this column goes to press, I predict Bennett will have the highest charting debut and best selling album of his career. Not bad for a man that just set out to be a saloon singer and wound up becoming one of the finest and most respected singers of all time. Just like the man and the title of this album, this CD is already a classic.Free Music Review: At 80, Tony Bennett Still Shines!
Hit: 5 Stars
"I've introduced some wonderful songs that now have become part of the American Musical Landscape." ~ Tony Bennett ~
At eighty, Tony Bennett still shines and this recording is a testament plain and simple! With an impressive line-up of guests and their awesome performances, this 80th birthday offering is a blast and truly a magnificent musical landscape. According to Mr. Bennett, this is a brainchild of his son who came up with the most wonderful concept of singing with all these contemporary artists.
This recording has the backing of two of the finest arrangers/conductors, Jorge Calandrelli (Orchestra) and Torrie Zito (Brass Section), and Tony Bennett Quartet: Lee Musiker (piano), Paul Langosch (bass), Harold Jones (drums) and Gray Sargent (guitar). There's a dazzling attraction in each of the tracks and all his guest artists contributed their par excellence performances to make this album truly remarkable and probably the best gift for him on his 80th birthday.
It's hard to choose my personal favorites - each performance has something wonderful to offer and I LOVE THEM ALL but I have to select somehow. So here are my top choices.
"Smile" - a fabulous duet with Barbra Streisand highlighting its stunning and emotive violin solo. I'm so moved by the stellar interpretation and awe-inspiring arrangement of this gem of a song. This is probably the most uplifting song ever written.
"Light up your face with gladness
Hide every trace of sadness
Although a tear maybe ever so near"
"Because Of You" - This is one of many great songs he recorded with k.d. lang. Do you hear that familiar ear-catching sound of trumpet? None other than the trumpeter-extraordinaire, Chris Botti.
"Lullaby Of Broadway" - he sings with the Dixie Chicks in a swinging fashion so full of zest and heartiness. I just love this version and the Dixie Chicks have really impressed me on this.
"You rock-a-bye your baby 'round to Ellington and Basie
When a Broadway baby said Goodnight, it's early in the morning
Manhattan babies don't sleep tight until the dawn
Goodnight baby, sleep tight baby, the milkman's on his way."
"The Very Thought Of You" - With Paul McCartney. They both sparkle as they exchange a charming musical conversation. Listen to that hauntingly beautiful bridge.
"How Do You Keep The Music Playing?" - I'll always remember George Michael for his hit song and my favorite "Careless Whisper." They sing with an aching tenderness that makes it so faithful to the lyrics and melody as well.
"If we can try with every day
To make it better as it grows
With any luck then I suppose
The music never ends"
"Just In Time" - An exuberant and swingy duet with Michael Bublé. Both are in high spirits now that they've "found love just in time and changed their lonely lives that lovely day."
"Put On A Happy Face" - I've heard that familiar heartwarming whistle again from James Taylor just like he did in "My Romance." They surely showed an infectious cheerfulness all throughout the song.
"Cold, Cold Heart" - a great duet with Tim McGraw. Isn't it amazing how some songs that we didn't care about in the past become relatively significant to us just because these songs speak of our experiences in life?
"In anger unkind words are said
That make the teardrops start
Why can't I free your doubtful mind
And melt your cold, cold heart"
"For Once In My Life" - the genius of harmonica, Stevie Wonder, shows off his artistry. In my opinion, he shares the trophy with Toots Thielemans for the best harmonica players of all-time.
"The Shadow Of Your Smile" - I've never heard of Juanes until now. I'm so impressed with their gorgeous duet that is almost like a serenade and with Spanish lyrics at that! "La sombra de tuamo en mi soña."
"The shadow of your smile
When you are gone
Will color all my dreams
And light the dawn"
"I Wanna Be Around" - a wonderful pairing with Bono, a singer with a remarkable voice whom Tony Bennett described as "a beautiful human being who's doing much to the world."
This recording will really delight you with the outstanding conversations-set-to-music between the birthday celebrant, Tony Bennett, and his impressive line-up of guest artists. So listen now and experience a beautiful and an enjoyable musical landscape.
Wholeheartedly recommended.
Free Music Review: Stellar Duet Partners Offer Vocal Diversity As Bennett Stays True to His Classic Erudite Self
Hit: 5 Stars
There are several top-selling singers who mine the Great American Songbook without having an innate understanding of its musical context. The results can consequently amount to contrived posturing as much as singing. Tony Bennett is not one of them as he so completely understands what music works with his sturdy, mellifluous voice that he makes almost everyone else featured on this disc sound vocally compatible even if several are out of their comfort zones. What makes this a better listen than Frank Sinatra's similar efforts in the early nineties is that Bennett recorded all the duets in person with his partners and has figured out how to retro-fit their musical sensibilities with his own. Intriguingly, industry veteran Phil Ramone produced both the Sinatra and Bennett projects.
Things start energetically with a big-band arrangement of "Lullaby of Broadway". The Dixie Chicks' Natalie Maines sings with surprising aplomb but only on the first verse, and as a group, they spend the rest of the track mimicking the Andrews Sisters with their WWII-era girl-group background vocals. The cheery "Put on a Happy Face" from "Bye, Bye Birdie" has the normally taciturn James Taylor sounding very Gene Kelly-like and bantering quite easily with Bennett. A melancholy tone seeps into "Because of You", Bennett's first major hit in 1951, with Chris Botti's sad-eyed trumpet and a sonorous K.D. Lang sounding most assured given her previous experience as his partner.
A surprisingly confident Bono extracts the usual gruffness from his arena-rock voice and dexterously matches with Bennett on a sauntering version of "I Wanna Be Around". Elton John provides an unforced swing on the brief "Rags to Riches", while Elvis Costello loosens up considerably with the jazzy arrangement and Hope-Crosby-style bantering of "Are You Havin' Fun Yet?". A smoky-voiced Billy Joel is the ideal partner for the reflective "The Good Life" which soars with their intertwining voices, just as Sting is for a highly dramatic, Weill-style rendition of "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" featuring some nice guitar work. As Bennett's youngest partner, John Legend provides energy to spare on an Ella-style "Sing You Sinners", though I wish there was more scatting during the interlude.
The comparatively weaker tracks just miss the mark by mere inches, not miles. As expected, Celine Dion overdoes her part on "If I Ruled the World", and a slightly Latin-tinged "The Shadow of Your Smile" has a lush sound save for Columbian rock singer Juanes' somewhat tinny tone. Stevie Wonder sounds a tad resistant to Bennett's nightclub-style arrangement of his own composition, "For Once In My Life" since he still applies his familiar melisma. Hank Williams' "Cold, Cold Heart" looks to drop its country roots for a more generic treatment until Tim McGraw starts to dip his notes like Williams. And one of the most beautiful love songs on the disc, Ray Noble's "The Very Thought of You", has Bennett sounding velvety smooth in a swooning arrangement but Paul McCartney comparatively stiff with his phrasing a bit off.
The best tracks produce the magic you expect from Bennett when coupled with partners with perfectly complementary styles. Crooner Michael Bublé shows a great affinity for "Just in Time", while the jazzy sass of "The Best Is Yet to Come" benefits considerably from Diana Krall's dusky voice. George Michael makes a welcome return to the pop mainstream on the silky smooth "How Do You Keep the Music From Playing?". Not too surprisingly, the best duet is the lushly orchestrated "Smile" with Bennett and Barbra Streisand alternating verses as if on gossamer wings. Along with Pinchas Zukerman's masterful violin, they make stunning magic together, and the praise they sing to each other at the end seems most justified. Bennett includes a valedictory "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" by himself, beautiful as always and a subtly ironic choice for a duets album.
Free Music Review: The Grammy -- 40 years later!
Hit: 5 Stars
Last night at the "Grammy's" something wonderful happened - Tony Bennett and Stevie Wonder shared an award for their duet of a song each had recorded in 1967 - "For Once in My Life."
On the same night, 40 years earlier, more popular hit songs ("Up, Up and Away," "Respect" and "Gentle on My Mind") had edged out Tony's and Stevie's versions of "For Once in My Life." Almost the only one of his hits Stevie DIDN'T write, the song was co-written by Ronald Miller (a nephew of pianist Bill Miller, Frank Sinatra's career accompanist, who died last summer on tour with Sinatra Junior, in Montreal).
When Tony Bennett introduced the song, in 1967 "For Once in My Life" was underappreciated, while Stevie's rendition became his then-biggest hit, to date.
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For months I've been telling friends that "track eleven on Tony's latest album - his duet with Stevie Wonder -- is the `pick of the litter.'" And while popular music's elder statesman -- now in his 81st year - would never have admitted it on stage last night, I believe that he and Stevie, in their heart-of-hearts would agree with the folks at the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences -- that this was the Grammy winner, among the 23 terrific duets on this album. [I have the `Target' version with its four bonus tracks including "live" duets with Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Michael Buble and Diana Krall.]
As the definitive version of this song draws to a lovely close - after Stevie delivers a joyful (27 second) harmonica solo (surely one of the most beautiful in the history of popular music) -- you can actually `hear' the smiles of these two musical giants - in their spontaneous words of praise.
Tony defers to Stevie for the musical `last word' - an amazing display of chromatic dexterity that is simply breathtaking - as Stevie impersonates EXACTLY how he'd play those same notes on the harmonica.
Then, as the final notes of the lush, orchestral arrangement (by Jorge Calendrelli) begin to fade, Tony speaks for us all -- even (prophetically) for the wise men and women at NARAS who had the good sense last night to award Tony and Stevie the Grammy for this one.
TONY: "Wow . . . . Stevie Wonder . . full (chuckle!)
STEVIE: "The GREAT Tony Bennett . . . . Happy Birthday! (chuckle)
TONY: "Thank you!"
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Footnotes: So . . . which songs edged out Tony's and Stevie's versions of "For Once in My Life" for the Grammy's in 1967? "Song of the Year" went to composer Jim Webb for "Up, Up and Away" (and to the "Fifth Dimension" for performing it). The R&B Song of the year was "Respect" -- the Grammy went to Otis Redding for writing the words and music (not to Aretha Franklin who had a Number 1 hit with it). And the C&W song award that year went to John Hartford, for "Gentle on My Mind."]
Ronald Miller, who wrote the words to "For Once in My Life" and composer Orlando Murden never had another hit (but if each of us could only have written one great song from the Sixties . . . why not that one?)
"Great song!" Frank Sinatra used to say to audiences, when performing his own swinging version of "For Once In My Life" (to a great arrangement by the late Don Costa). Sinatra's best-recorded "live" performance of the tune may be found on the CD "Sinatra in Vegas" (2005).
Mark Blackburn
Winnipeg Canada