Tony Bennett - The Good Life '2021

Tracks list

Tracklist:

01. Over the Rainbow
02. The Good Life
03. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
04. Rags to Riches
05. Because of You
06. Stranger in Paradise
07. I Wanna Be Around
08. Its Magic
09. While Were Young
10. The Boulevard of Broken Dreams
11. Ive Grown Accustomed to Her Face
12. Jeepers Creepers
13. Fools Rush In
14. There Will Never Be Another You
15. Laura
16. I Wanna Be Loved
17. Chicago
18. This Time the Dreams On Me
19. I Fall In Love Too Easily
20. September Song
21. Old Devil Moon
22. It Amazes Me
23. Without A Song
24. Love Letters
25. Solitude
26. Just One of Those Things
27. I Cant Give You Anything but Love
28. Taking A Chance On Love
29. Love Walked In
30. Lets Face the Music and Dance
31. The Partys Over
32. My Reverie
33. Im Thru with Love
34. Tenderly
35. Lullaby of Broadway
36. Love for Sale
37. Blue Moon
38. Give Me the Simple Life
39. This is All I Ask
40. I Cover the Waterfront
41. Lazy Afternoon
42. The Way You Look Tonight
43. In the Middle of an Island
44. Dancing in the Dark
45. After Youve Gone
46. These Foolish Things
47. Here in My Heart
48. Time after Time
49. Lets Fall In Love
50. Evrytime We Say Goodbye
51. Ca, Cest LAmour
52. Lost in the Stars
53. Till
54. April in Paris
55. Ive Got the World on a String
56. Last Night When We Were Young
57. Im Always Chasing Rainbows
58. My Baby Just Cares For Me
59. Come Rain or Come Shine
60. Gone with the Wind
61. Life is a Song
62. Just in Time
63. Ol Man River
64. Blues in the Night
65. Pennies from Heaven
66. Always
67. I Cant Believe That Youre in Love with Me
68. Let There Be Love
69. Crazy Rhythm
70. Cold Cold Heart
71. A Cottage for Sale
72. Ill Be Seeing You

 Biography:Through Tony Bennetts long, remarkable career, its possible to
trace the evolution and endurance of vocal pop and jazz in the 20th century.
Unlike his idol Frank Sinatra, Bennett was too young to be part of the first
wave of the Great American Songbook in the years before World War II. He
achieved his national breakthrough in 1951, when the charts were dominated by
soft-focused orchestral pop and novelties, music that Bennett himself would
often sing during his early years. Occasionally, he was given the opportunity to
sing jazz while recording for Columbia in the 50s, but it was a pop song that
turned him into a superstar in 1962: I Left My Heart in San Francisco, a song
styled after the classic pop of the pre-war era. I Left My Heart in San
Francisco turned into an enduring standard of the 20th century but, for a while,
its popularity eclipsed that of the singer who popularized the tune. Bennett
didnt weather the 60s well, thanks to record companies who attempted to
modernize his sound, and while he had an artistically fruitfully 70s on his
short-lived independent label Improv, he recorded albums with pianist Bill Evans
that established his jazz bona fides -- he suffered a series of personal
problems that left him at rock bottom at the dawn of the 80s. It was then he
achieved one of the greatest comebacks in pop music history. Hiring his son
Danny as his manager, he reunited with his music director/pianist Ralph Sharon
and began targeting younger audiences without shedding his longtime fans. This
strategy paid off in the 90s, when 1992s Perfectly Frank topped Billboards jazz
charts and went Gold. Bennetts crossover to the pop mainstream seemed to
culminate with 1994s MTV Unplugged, an unexpected hit that took home the Grammy
for Album of the Year, but it turned out his revival was no flash in the pan.
Bennett stayed in the spotlight until the 90s, not only maintaining his audience
but building it through a series of duets with stars as diverse as Lady Gaga and
Diana Krall. His partners may have changed along with the times, but through it
all, Bennett remained a skilled, charismatic practitioner -- and vocal advocate
-- for classic American pop.

The son of a grocer, Tony Bennett was born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August
3, 1926. Raised in Astoria, Queens by Italian emigrates -- his father John was a
recent arrival from Reggio Calabria, his mother Anna was born to natives of the
Calabria region who headed to the States in 1899 -- Bennett suffered from
poverty and ill fortune as a child, yet he also cultivated an interest in art
and music. By the time his father died when Tony was ten, he was already singing
professionally, notably performing alongside Mayor Fiorello La Guardia at the
opening of the Triborough Bridge in 1936. As a teenager, Bennett had several
gigs as a singing waiter and he enrolled in New Yorks School of Industrial Art,
studying music and painting. When times got tight in his family, he dropped out
of school to support his mother and siblings, making money once again as a
singing waiter.

Bennett was drafted into the Army in 1944, during the final year of World War
II. Stationed in Europe, he saw combat in France and Germany; he was also part
of the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp outside of Landsberg. Staying in
Germany as part of the occupying force, he sang in a Special Services band
before his discharge in 1966. Upon returning home, he attended the American
Theatre Wing under the G.I. Bill, all the while working as a singing waiter.

During 1949, Bennetts career began to take off. While working under the stage
name Joe Bari, he recorded a version of George & Ira Gershwins Fascinating
Rhythm for Leslie, a single that didnt go anywhere but did coincide with the
singer catching the attention of Pearl Bailey. She hired him to open for her at
a Greenwich Village concert, which was attended by comedian Bob Hope. Taken by
the singer then known as Joe Bari, Hope invited the vocalist on tour on the
provision he change his name. Deeming Anthony Bendedetto too long for a marquee,
Hope shortened the singers name to Tony Bennett.

Things began to happen quickly for Bennett after this point. In 1950, he
recorded a demo of The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, on the basis of which Mitch
Miller signed him to Columbia Records. The label was steeling itself for the
departure of Frank Sinatra, who feuded often with Miller. Bennett eased into his
vacancy by singing chart-friendly pop tunes, starting with Because of You, which
was buttressed by an arrangement by Percy Faith. It reached number one in
September 1951, followed quickly by a cover of Hank Williams Cold, Cold Heart.
This single also reached number one, its success often cited as elevating Hank
Williams reputation outside of the South and country music circles. Cold Cold
Heart also proved Bennett wasnt a one-hit wonder, either. During 1952, he racked
up three hit singles, the biggest of which was Here in My Heart, which peaked at
15, and he reached the top of the charts again in 1953 with Rags to Riches,
which was followed quickly by the number two single Stranger in Paradise, a song
taken from the Broadway musical Kismet. Bennett charted regularly over the next
two years, with a handful of songs breaking into the Top 10 -- Therell Be No
Teardrops Tonight and Cinnamon Sinner, both from 1954 -- before the pop charts
were changed irrevocably in 1956 by the rise of rock & roll.

The Beat of My HeartWhile Bennett didnt disappear from the single charts in the
second half of the 50s -- Can You Find It in Your Heart? went to 16 in 1956, the
same year that From the Candy Store on the Corner to the Chapel on the Hill
peaked at 11; he cracked the Top Ten in 1957 with In the Middle of the Island --
but shifted his attention to adult-oriented formats, such as albums and
nightclubs, which allowed him to indulge in his love of jazz. On 1957s The Beat
of My Heart, he collaborated with arranger Ralph Sharon -- a pianist who would
become Bennetts accompanist and musical director -- on an album that featured
saxophonist Nat Adderley and emphasized percussionists Chico Hamilton, Art
Blakey, Sabu, and Jo Jones. In 1959, he released In Person!, a live album where
he was backed by the Count Basie Orchestra; Bennett returned the favor by
recording Strike Up the Band with Basies Orchestra. As the 50s gave way to the
60s, Bennett increasingly specialized in swinging and soft versions of the Great
American Songbook, mining territory pioneered by Frank Sinatra.

Sharon brought I Left My Heart in San Francisco, a song written by recent New
York city transplants George Cory and Douglass Cross, to Bennett in late 1961.
Tennessee Ernie Ford previously passed on the song but Bennett recorded it in
early 1962, with Columbia placing it on the B-side of Once Upon a Time. DJs
preferred I Left My Heart in San Francisco to its flip and the ballad started
its steady climb up the charts, peaking at number 19 but staying on the charts
for the lions share of 1962. An album named after the hit was rushed onto the
market, reaching number five on Billboards Top 200, and the song garnered Grammy
awards for Record of the Year and Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male. The success
of I Left My Heart in San Francisco wasnt limited to 1962: it turned into an
enduring standard, earning an induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame and
selected for preservation in the National Recording Registry by the Library of
Congress.

I Left My Heart in San Francisco may have turned Bennett into a superstar but he
didnt remain at the top of the charts for much longer. Immediately after its
success, he had Top 20 hits in 1963 with I Wanna Be Around and The Good Life,
but the following year saw the British Invasion sweeping America, dramatically
decreasing the space for adult-oriented pop in the Top 40. Bennett continued to
record easy listening material through the 60s, sometimes scraping the bottom of
the Top 40, usually placing high on Billboards Easy Listening charts between
1964 and 1966. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me) reached three on Easy
Listening in 1964, with If I Ruled the World and The Shadow of the Smile making
it to eight on the same chart the following year, and A Time for Love reached
three in 1966.

Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today!In 1967, Bennett dipped his toe into
contemporary pop with a cover of Stevie Wonders For Once in My Life. This shift
was instigated by the new president of Columbia, Clive Davis, who was intent on
modernizing his easy listening singers. Bennett reluctantly agreed to pursue
this path, releasing covers of Jimmy Webbs MacArthur Park and George Harrisons
Something in 1969 and 1970. Both singles were modest easy listening hits and
were featured on the 1970 LP Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today!, an album
Bennett would later claim made him physically ill to record. Neither the album
nor its swift sequel Tony Bennetts Something (which once again featured the
Beatles song on record) revitalized the singers commercial fortunes, so Columbia
rode out his contract over the next year, parting ways with Bennett after 1972s
With Love.

The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans AlbumBennetts departure from Columbia kick-started a
turbulent decade for the singer, one where he bounced between labels as he
struggled with a variety of personal problems. Verve signed him in 1972,
releasing The Good Things in Life that fall, but the association was
short-lived: one more album, Listen Easy, followed in 1973 before they parted
ways. During his brief stint with the label, Bennett also hosted a British
television show called Tony Bennett at the Talk of the Town. He next moved to
Los Angeles, where he founded his own label, Improv, with the assistance of Bill
Hassett in 1975. Improv was hobbled with distribution problems that would lead
to its early dissolution in 1977, but the five albums Bennett recorded for the
imprint were instrumental in raising his reputation as a jazz singer,
particularly the pair of albums he cut with pianist Bill Evans: 1975s The Tony
Bennett/Bill Evans Album -- which reached 31 on Billboards Jazz albums chart --
and its 1976 sequel Together Again. Left without a label, Bennett wound up
performing regularly in Las Vegas, suffering through drug addiction, financial
problems, and the dissolution of his second marriage.

The Art of ExcellenceBennett turned his career around by hiring his son Danny as
his manager. Danny Bennett moved his father back to New York City and off the
Vegas circuit, lining up a series of shows in intimate venues instead. The
singer also reunited with pianist Ralph Sharon, whod served as his musical
director in the early 60s. Bennett worked steadily as a live performer but made
his comeback as a recording artist in 1986 when he released The Art of
Excellence, his first album for Columbia in 14 years. The Art of Excellence
began a renaissance period for Tony Bennett, one that proved to last for
decades. While his son cannily booked his father on television shows appealing
to younger demographics, Bennett maintained his allegiance to pre-war vocal pop
and jazz, becoming the torch bearer for the Great American Songbook.

Astoria: Portrait of the ArtistAstoria: Portrait of the Artist, a 1990 album
where Bennett gazed back at his past, consolidated the artistic gains of The Art
of Excellence, and the 1991 box set Forty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
made a case for his enduring legacy but it was his 1992 Sinatra tribute
Perfectly Frank that was the catalyst for his remarkable crossover success in
the 90s. Perfectly Frank topped the Billboard Jazz chart -- it made it to 102 on
the Top 200, his best placement since 1971 -- on its way to winning the Grammy
for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, a category Bennett would dominate
over the next decade; it also became his first album to be certified Gold since
1967s Tonys Greatest Hits, Vol. 3. Steppin Out, its 1993 sequel, saluted Fred
Astaire, and along with replicating its predecessors success -- it took home the
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance Grammy, topped the Jazz albums chart, and
went Gold -- it also received some play on MTV for its title track. This opened
the door for Bennetts appearance on MTV Unplugged in 1994, a performance that
was released as an album in April 1994. Featuring guest appearances by k.d. lang
and Elvis Costello, MTV Unplugged turned into smash hit, reaching 48 on
Billboards Top 200 (it also topped their Jazz chart), achieving Platinum
certification and winning the Grammy not just for Best Traditional Pop Vocal,
but Album of the Year.

Heres to the LadiesAfter MTV Unplugged, Bennett rode a hot streak that lasted
well into the 21st century. He remained a popular concert attraction and
recorded regularly, often alternating thematic tribute records with duet albums.
Heres to the Ladies, the 1995 set which was his first studio album since Steppin
Out, found him singing songs usually associated with female vocalists, while
1997s On Holiday was a salute to Billie Holiday; both took home Grammys for Best
Traditional Pop Vocal Performance, as did 1999s Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot &
Cool. Peaking at 50 on the Top 200 and going Gold, Playin with My Friends:
Bennett Sings the Blues, a 2001 collection, was his biggest hit since MTV
Unplugged, but it was eclipsed by 2002s duet album with k.d. lang, A Wonderful
World, which reached 41 and went Gold; both records won the Grammy for Best
Traditional Pop Vocal Album, as did 2004s The Art of Romance.

Duets: An American ClassicBennett celebrated his 80th birthday in 2006 with the
release of Duets: An American Classic. Featuring guest appearances by a host of
pop stars including Elton John, Paul McCartney, and George Michael, the album
rivaled MTV Unplugged in popularity, peaking at three on the Billboard Top 200
and earning a Platinum certification. Its 2011 sequel, Duets II, bested its
predecessor by entering the charts at number one; both albums took home the
Grammy for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Viva Duets, a collection of duets
with Latino singers, peaked at five in 2012.

Cheek to CheekTony Bennetts next big hit was Cheek to Cheek, a collection of
jazz standards recorded with Lady Gaga. Released in September 2014, Cheek to
Cheek debuted at number one on the Billboard Top 200 and wound up winning the
Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album Grammy. In 2015, Bennett teamed up with pianist
Bill Charlap for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, a jazz-oriented
effort that was another Traditional Pop Vocal Album Grammy winner. Bennett
marked his 90th birthday in 2016 with an all-star concert held at Radio City
Music Hall. Featuring k.d. lang, Lady Gaga, Michael Bublé, and Andrea
Bocelli, the concert was released as the live album Tony Bennett Celebrates 90.
In September of 2018, Bennett released Love Is Here to Stay, a duet album with
Diana Krall that doubled as a tribute to George Gershwin. ~ Stephen Thomas
Erlewine

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