The Good Life
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | Sacha Distel |
| Lyricist | Jack Reardon |
| Year Written | 1962 |
| ABOUT The Good Life | |
| Originally titled “La Belle Vie,” “The Good Life” was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life;” other good recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal. | |
Lyrics
Oh, the good life
Full of fun seems to be the ideal
Mmm, the good life
Lets you hide all the sadness you feel
You won’t really fall in love
For you can’t take the chance
So please be honest with yourself
Don’t try to fake romance
It’s the good life
To be free and explore the unknown
Like the heartaches
When you learn you must face them alone
Please remember I still want you
And in case you wonder why
Well, just wake up
Kiss the good life
Good… bye
Session / Album Information
1962
“The Good Life” was recorded on December 19, 1962 and released in 1963 on the album I Wanna Be Around. It was arranged by Marty Manning.
This recording released on:
- 1963: CBS 45: AAG 153
- 1963: Columbia 45: 4-42779
- 1963: Columbia LP 12″: P 13575 — I Wanna Be Around
- 1963: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 2000 — I Wanna Be Around
- 1963: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62149 — I Wanna Be Around (UK)
- 1963: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8800 — I Wanna Be Around
- 1963: CBS EP: AGG 320037 — The Good Life (UK)
- 1965: Columbia 45: 4-33080
- 1965: Columbia LP 12″: CL 2373 — Tony’s Greatest Hits, Vol. III
- 1965: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9173 — Tony’s Greatest Hits, Vol. III
- 1966: CBS 45: S CBS 1143
- 1967: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62821 — Tony’s Greatest Hits [UK]
- 1976: Warwick LP 12″: PR 5021 — The Very Best Of Tony Bennett: 20 Greatest Hits [UK]
- 1976: Warwick/CBS LP 12″: CBS 5021 — The Very Best Of Tony Bennett: 20 Greatest Hits [UK]
- 1986: Columbia CD: — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1986: CBS/Sony CD: 32DP-558 — 16 Most Requested Songs [Japan]
- 1990: Columbia CD: SOY21552 — The Good Life
- 1990: Columbia/Legacy CD: CK-40215 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1990: Columbia/Legacy CD: 40215 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1990: Columbia CD: 40215 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1991: Columbia CD: C4K 46843 — Forty Years – The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 1992: Cema CD: S22X-57734 — The Look of Love
- 1992: Sony Mid-Price CD: 4724182 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 1993: CBS/Sony CD: SRCS-6641 — Forty Years: The Artistry Of Tony Bennett
- 1995: Columbia CD: CK 66504 — I Wanna Be Around
- 1999: Sony International CD: 91207 — The Essential Tony Bennett: A Retrospective
- 2000: Columbia/Legacy CD: CK 63570 — The Ultimate Tony Bennett
- 2000: Sony Music CD: 63570 — The Ultimate Tony Bennett
- 2001: Sony Music CD: SRCS-9093 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 2002: Columbia/Legacy CD: 86634 — The Essential Tony Bennett
- 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
- 2005: Sony Music CD: 4721952 — 16 Most Requested Songs
- 2005: Collectables CD: CCL8053 — The Good Life
- 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 82876 87234 — I Wanna Be Around
- 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
- 2011: Disc #26 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK25) I Wanna Be Around
1970
“The Good Life” was recorded on June 24, 1970 and features John Bunch on piano.
This recording released on:
- 1970: Columbia LP 12″: C 30240 — Sings His All-Time Hall Of Fame Hits
- 1997: Columbia CD: CK 65405 — Sings His All-Time Hall of Fame Hits
- 2011: Disc #1 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK1) Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1
1994
“The Good Life” was recorded and televised live on April 12, 1994 on MTV. It was sung as part of a medley with I Wanna Be Around. The MTV Unplugged album was released in June of that year. The songs from the televised concert were arranged by Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio.
This recording released on:
- 1993: Columbia CD: CK 66214 — MTV Unplugged
- 2011: Discs #60/61 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK59) MTV Unplugged
2006
“The Good Life” was recorded was recorded on February 18, 2006 with Billy Joel and was released that same year on Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.
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
2012
“The Good Life” was recorded in 2012 with Franco De Vita and released on Viva Duets.
This recording released on:
- 2012: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 88725473102 – Viva Duets
- 2012: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 88765400972 – Viva Duets (Target Release)
- 2012: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 88765402412 – Viva Duets (Deluxe edition)