How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

HowDoYouKeepMusicPlaying
PROFILE
Composer Michel Legrand
Lyricists Alan Bergman, Marilyn Bergman
Year Written 1982
About How Do You Keep the Music Playing?
This song was written for the 1982 movie Best Friends, which starred Burt Reynolds and Goldie Hawn. The initial recording was a duet by Patti Austin and James Ingram, which became a hit single in 1983. It was one of three songs with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman that were nominated that year for an Academy Award for Best Song (though the award went to “Up Where We Belong” from the movie An Officer and a Gentleman). The song has become a popular standard and has had many fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra (who encouraged Bennett to sing this song), Frankie Laine, Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, Tony Bennett and George Michael and, most recently, Tony Bennett and Aretha Franklin.

Lyrics

How do you keep the music playing?
How do you make it last?
How do you keep the song from fading too fast?
How do you lose yourself to someone?
And never lose your ways
How do you not run out of new things to say?
And since we’re always changing
How can it be the same?
And tell me how year after year
You’re sure your heart will fall apart
Each time you hear his name
I know the way I feel for you
It’s now or never
The more I love the more that i’m afraid
That in your eyes I may not see forever..
Forever…

If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with everyday to make it better as it grows
With any luck, then I suppose
The music never ends

I know the way I feel for you
It’s now or never!
(How do you keep the music playing?)
The more I love the more that I’m afraid
(How do you make it last)
That in your eyes I may not see forever
Forever…
(How do you keep the song from fading, keep the song from fading too fast)
If we can be the best of lovers
Yet be the best of friends
If we can try with everyday to make it better as it grows
With any luck, then I suppose
The music never ends

Session / Album Information

1986

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was recorded on January 10, 1986 and was released that year on The Art of Excellence. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing?

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing? on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1986.

This recording released on:

  • 1986: Columbia LP 12″: FC 40344 — The Art Of Excellence
  • 1986: CBS LP 12″: 26990 — The Art Of Excellence (UK)
  • 1986: Columbia CD: CK 40344 — The Art Of Excellence
  • 1991: Columbia CD: C4K 46843 — Forty Years – The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
  • 1993: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6641 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
  • 2000: Columbia/Legacy CD: CK 63570 — The Ultimate Tony Bennett
  • 2000: Sony Music CD: 63570 — The Ultimate Tony Bennett
  • 2002: Columbia/Legacy CD: 86634 — The Essential Tony Bennett
  • 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
  • 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
  • 2011: Disc #55 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK54) The Art of Excellence
  • 2013: Sony Music: Sixty Years: The Essential Tony Bennett

2006

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was recorded on February 25, 2006 with George Michael and was released that same year on Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (with George Michael)

Listen to How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (with George Michael) on Spotify. Tony Bennett, George Michael · Song · 2006.

This recording released on:

  • 2006: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 82876809792 — Duets: An American Classic
  • 2006: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 82876887352 — Duets: An American Classic [Target Stores]
  • 2006: Sony BMG CD: 828768858721 — Duets: An American Classic [Australia]
  • 2006: Sony BMG CD: 82876885862 — Duets: An American Classic [UK, Singapore]
  • 2011: Disc #70 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK68) Duets: An American Classic
  • 2013: Columbia/Legacy – Sixty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett

2011

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing” with Aretha Franklin was recorded in 2011 and was released that year on Duets II. It was arranged by xxx.

How Do You Keep The Music Playing

Listen to How Do You Keep The Music Playing on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Aretha Franklin · Song · 2011.

This recording released on:

  • 2011: RPM Sony 88697662532: Duets II
  • 2011: RPM Sony 88697961501: Duets II (LP)
  • 2011: Disc #71 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK69) Duets II

2016

“How Do You Keep The Music Playing?” was recorded on September 15, 2016, live at the Radio City Music Hall and was released that year on Tony Bennett Celebrates 90.

How Do You Keep the Music Playing?

Listen to How Do You Keep the Music Playing? on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2016.

This recording released on:

  • 2016: Columbia/Sony/RPM CD, LP: 88985 39248 2 — Tony Bennett Celebrates 90

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