Thou Swell

ThouSwell
PROFILE
Composer Richard Rodgers
Lyricist Lorenz Hart
Year Written 1927
About Thou Swell
“Thou Swell” was written for the 1927 musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “Thou Swell” is one of more charming songs from the musical, as the lyrics feature a combination of modern and medieval language: “thine eyes are cute too” and “I’d feel so rich in a hut for two.”

Lyrics

Thou swell! Thou witty!
Thou sweet! Thou grand!
Wouldst kiss me pretty?
Wouldst hold my hand?
Both thine eyes are cute too;
What they do to me.
Hear me holler I choose a Sweet lollapaloosa in thee.
I’d feel so rich, a hut for two;
Two rooms and a kitchen I’m sure would do;
Give me just a plot of,
Not a lot of land,
And Thou swell! Thou Witty! Thou Grand!

Session / Album Information

1973-1

“Thou Swell” was recorded in July 1973 and was released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

This recording released on:

  • 1977: Improv LP 12″: 7120 — Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart
  • Disky CD: BX 883552 — As Time Goes By
  • 1990: King CD: KICP-2046 — The Rodgers and Hart Songbook [Japan]
  • 1991: Improv LP 12″: DARC2-2102 — The Rodgers And Hart Songbook
  • 2000: Horatio Nelson CD: HNRCD9001 — The Essential Tony Bennett (UK)
  • 2002: Recall CD: RECA 353 — Have You Met Miss Jones? [UK]
  • 2004: Concord CD: PRO-CJ-0081-2 — The Complete Improv Recordings Sampler
  • 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
  • 2005: Concord CD: 2243 — Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook
  • 2006: Universal CD: 3122432 — Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook (UK)
  • 2011: Concord CRE-32955-02 – The Best of the Improv Recordings
  • 2011: Disc #51 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK50) Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart

1973-2

“Thou Swell” (alternate, take #1) was recorded in July 1973 and was released in 2004 on The Complete Improv Recordings.

Thou Swell - Album Version - (Alt. Tk1)

Listen to Thou Swell - Album Version - (Alt. Tk1) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

This recording released on:

  • 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
  • 2005: Concord CD: 2243 — Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook
  • 2006: Universal CD: 3122432 — Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook (UK)
  • 2011: Disc #51 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK50) Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart

This Funny World

Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers

Lorenz Hart and Richard Rodgers

PROFILE
Composer Richard Rodgers
Lyricist Lorenz Hart
Year Written 1927
About This Funny World
“This Funny World” is one of Rodgers’ and Hart’s early songs; it was written for the 1927 musical Betsy, which only ran for 39 performances.

Lyrics

This funny world
Makes fun of the things that you strive for
This funny world
Can laugh at the dreams you’re alive for.
If you’re beaten, conceal it!
There’s no pity for you
For the world cannot feel it.
Just keep to yourself
Weep to yourself.
This funny world
Can turn right around and forget you.
It’s always sure
To roll right along when you’re through.
If you are broke you Shouldn’t mind.
It’s all a joke, for you will find
This funny world is making fun of you

Session / Album Information

1973-1

“This Funny World” was recorded in July 1973 and was released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

This Funny World

Listen to This Funny World on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

This recording released on:

  • 1977: Improv LP 12″: 7120 — Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart
  • Disky CD: BX 883552 — As Time Goes By
  • 1990: King CD: KICP-2046 — The Rodgers and Hart Songbook [Japan]
  • 1991: Improv LP 12″: DARC2-2102 — The Rodgers And Hart Songbook
  • 1991: DRG CD: CDXP 2102 — The Rodgers And Hart Songbook
  • 2000: Horatio Nelson CD: HNRCD9001 — The Essential Tony Bennett (UK)
  • 2002: Recall CD: RECA 353 — Have You Met Miss Jones? [UK]
  • 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
  • 2005: Concord CD: 2243 — Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook
  • 2006: Universal CD: 3122432 — Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook (UK)
  • 2011: Disc #51 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK50) Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart

1973-2

“This Funny World” alternate take #3, was recorded in July 1973 and was released in 2004 on The Complete Improv Recordings.

This Funny World - Album Version - (Alt. Tk3)

Listen to This Funny World - Album Version - (Alt. Tk3) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

This recording released on:

  • 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
  • 2005: Concord CD: 2243 — Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook
  • 2006: Universal CD: 3122432 — Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook (UK)
  • 2011: Disc #51 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK50) Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart

1975

“This Funny World” was recorded in 1975 and was released on Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful. It was arranged by Torrie Zito.

This Funny World - "Orchestral Version"

Listen to This Funny World - "Orchestral Version" on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

This recording released on:

  • 1975: Improv LP 12″: IMP 7112 — Life Is Beautiful
  • 1979: DRG CD: CDMRS 801 — The Special Magic Of Tony Bennett
  • 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
  • 2011: Disc #49 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK48) Tony Bennett’s Sings Life Is Beautiful

Strike Up The Band

Strike Up The Band
PROFILE
Composer George Gershwin
Lyricist Ira Gershwin
Year Written 1927
About Strike Up The Band
“Strike Up the Band” is from the 1927 musical of the same name. Although Strike Up the Band was not a big hit on Broadway, the song became extremely popular. When Gershwin moved to Los Angeles, he was approached by UCLA to help with a fight song and so he contributed “Strike Up the Band for UCLA”, which is still played at all football and home basketball games at the university.

Lyrics

Let the drums roll out
Let the trumpet call
While the people shout “Strike up the band”

Hear the cymbals ring
Callin’ one and all
To the martial swing, strike up the band

There is work to be done, to be done
Let’s have fun, fun, fun
You son of a gun of a gun, take your stand

Form a line, oh, oh
Come on, let’s go
Hey, leader, strike up the band!

There is work to be done, to be done
Let’s have fun, fun, fun
Come on, son of a gun of a gun, take your stand

Form a line, oh, oh
Come on, let’s go
Hey, Mr. Leader,
Hey, Mr. Leader,
Please strike up the band!

Session / Album Information

1959

“Strike Up The Band” was recorded on January 5, 1959 and was released in 1959 on Basie/Bennett. The song was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

Strike up the Band (Strike up the Band) - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Strike up the Band (Strike up the Band) - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959

This recording  released on:

  • 1959: Emus Records LP 12″: ES-12026 — Strike Up The Band
  • 1961: Roulette LP 12″: R/SR-25072 — Basie Swings, Bennett Sings
  • 1961: Roulette LP 12″: SR 25231 — Bennett & Basie – Strike Up The Band
  • 1963: Roulette LP 12″: R/SR-25231 — Strike Up the Band
  • 1966: Allegro LP 12″: ALLR 799 — A One Night Stand! [UK]
  • 1969: Saga Eros LP 12″: EROS 8076 — Tony Bennett and Count Basie
  • 1981: Reactivation LP 12″: JR 149 — Bennett & Basie [UK]
  • 1987: Roulette CD: RCD 59021 — Strike Up the Band
  • 1990: Roulette Jazz CD: CDP 7 93899 2 — Basie/Bennett
  • 1990: Roulette CD: B2-93899 — Basie Swings, Bennett Sings
  • 1992: Capitol CD: C2-96792 — Capitol Sings George Gershwin: Fascinatin’ Rhythm
  • 1992: Capitol CD: 96792 — Capitol Sings George Gershwin: Fascinatin’ Rhythm
  • 1996: Alliance CD: 96792 — Capitol Sings George Gershwin: Fascinatin’ Rhythm
  • 2008: Jasmine CD: JASCD482 — Together At Last/A Perfect Combination
  • 2011: Disc #13 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK13) Basie/Bennett
  • 2012: Essential Media Group: Bennett & Basie Strike Up The Band (Digitally Remastered) (CD-R on-demand)

Stardust

stardust
PROFILE
Composer Hoagy Carmichael
Lyricist Mitchell Parish
Year Written Music (1927), lyrics (1929)
About Stardust
This early song by Hoagy Carmichael is one of the best and most enduring songs in the American songbook. It is also one of the most widely recorded, with over 1500 different recordings. In 2004, Carmichael’s original 1927 recording was one of fifty recordings chosen by The Library of Congress to be added to the National Recording Registry.

Lyrics

Sometimes I wonder why I spend
The lonely nights dreaming of a song
The melody haunts my reverie
And I am once again with you

When our love was new
And each kiss an inspiration
Ah but that was long ago
Now my consolation is in the stardust of a song

Beside the garden wall
When stars are bright, you are in my arms
The nightingale tells his fairy tale
Of paradise where roses grew

Though I dream in vain
In my heart it will remain
My stardust melody
The memory of love’s refrain

Session / Album Information

ca. 2002

“Stardust” was recorded with Lee Musiker (piano), Gray Sargent (guitar), Paul Langosch (bass) and Clayton Cameron (drums). This recording is a previously unreleased outtake from A Wonderful World. It was arranged by Peter Matz.

Stardust

Tony Bennett · Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2 · Song · 2012

This recording released on:

  • 2011: Disc #2 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK2) Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2

The Song Is Ended (But the Melody Lingers On)

TheSongIsEnded
PROFILE
Composer Irving Berlin
Lyricist Beda Loehner
Year Written 1927
About The Song Is Ended
In his book The Tin Pan Alley Song Encyclopedia, Thomas Hischak calls this song “… an Irving Berlin standard whose title has been called the theme of all popular music, a chilling number in which both the lover and the ballad that was ‘their song’ is gone; yet neither can be forgotten because they remain in one’s memory.” This song was recorded in 1927 by Ruth Etting and has remained popular over the years with recordings by Dick Haymes, Dizzy Gillespie, Jeri Southern, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole and many more.

Lyrics

The song is ended
But the melody lingers on
You and the song are gone
But the melody lingers on

The night was splendid
And the melody seemed to say
“Summer will pass away
Take your happiness while you may”

There ‘neath the light of the moon
We sang a love song that ended too soon

The moon descended
And I found with the break of dawn
You and the song had gone
But the melody lingers on

Session / Album Information

1987

“The Song Is Ended” was recorded in May 1987 and was released that year on Bennett/Berlin. This song was arranged by Tony Bennett and features Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet.

The Song Is Ended

Listen to The Song Is Ended on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dizzy Gillespie · 1987

This recording released on:

  • 1987: Columbia LP 12″: FC 44029 — Bennett/Berlin
  • 1987: Columbia LP 12″: C 44029 — Bennett/Berlin
  • 1987: CBS LP 12″: 4604501 — Bennett/Berlin (Neth.)
  • 1987: CBS LP 12″: 4604501 — Bennett/Berlin (UK)
  • 1987: Columbia CD: CK 44029 — Bennett/Berlin
  • 1988: CBS/Sony CD: 32DP-893 — Bennett/Berlin [Japan]
  • 2011: Disc #56 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK55) Bennett/Berlin

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