A Sleepin’ Bee

House of Flowers
PROFILE
Composer Harold Arlen
Lyricist Truman Capote, Harold Arlen
Year Written 1954
About A Sleepin’ Bee
“A Sleepin’ Bee” was written for the 1954 musical House of Flowers, based on the Truman Capote novella. Set in Haiti, the production featured a trio of steel drummers (more precisely known as pannists) from Trinidad.

Lyrics

When you’re in love and you are wonderin’
If he really is the one
There’s an ancient sign sure to tell you
If your search is over and done
Just catch a bee and if he don’t sting you
You’re in a spell that’s just begun
It’s a guarantee ‘til the end of time
Your true love you have won, have won

When a bee lies sleepin’ in the palm of your hand,
You’re bewitched, and deep in love’s long looked-after land.
Where you’ll see a sun-up sky with a mornin’ moon,
and where the days go laughin’ by, as love comes a callin’ on you.

Sleep on bee, don’t waken, I can’t believe what just passed.
She’s mine for the takin’ I’m so happy at last.
Maybe I dreams, but she seems sweet golden as a crown
A sleepin’ bee done told me, that I’ll walk with my feet off the ground
when my one true love, I has found.

Session / Album Information

1959

A Sleepin’ Bee was recorded on October 28, 1959 and released in 1961 on the album Tony Sings For Two. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

A Sleepin" Bee

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

This recording released on:

  • 1961: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8242 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 1961: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1446 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 1961: Philips LP 12″ (Mono): BBL 7479 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 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
  • 1995: Sony Music CD: SMSP A 8242 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 2004: Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
  • 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 82876 87234 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 2011: Disc #19 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK19) Tony Sings For Two

1962

“A Sleepin’ Bee” was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962, but was not released until 1997 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall: Complete Concert. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.

A Sleepin" Bee (From "House Of Flowers") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee (From "House Of Flowers") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962

This recording released on:

  • 1997: Columbia CD: C2K 64609 — At Carnegie Hall June 9, 1962: Complete Concert
  • 2011: Disc #24 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK24) Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall

Shall We Dance

Shall_We_Dance_poster
PROFILE
Composer George Gershwin
Lyricist Ira Gershwin
Year Written 1937
About Shall We Dance
This song is, of course, the title song for the 1937 Astaire and Rogers film Shall We Dance, released in 1937. George Gershwin wrote a series of songs for this film that demonstrated the different styles of dance and choreography, including ballet, waltzes and more. Other great songs from this score include “They Can’t Take Away From Me” and “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off.”

Lyrics

Drop that long face. Come on. Have your fling.
Why keep nursing the blues?

If you want this old world on a string,
Put on your dancing shoes. Stop wasting time.
Put on your dancing shoes. Watch your spirits climb.

Shall we dance, or keep on moping?
Shall we dance and walk on air?
Shall we give in to despair?
Or shall we dance with never a care?

Life is short. We’re growing older.
Don’t you be an also ran.
You’ve got to dance, little lady. Dance, little man.
Dance whenever you can.

Session / Album Information

1993

“Shall We Dance” was recorded in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

Shall We Dance

Listen to Shall We Dance on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1993

This recording released on:

  • 1993: Columbia CD: CK 57424 — Steppin’ Out
  • 2011: Disc #59 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK58) Steppin’ Out

Nice Work If You Can Get It

0604016a
PROFILE
Composer George Gershwin
Lyricist Ira Gershwin
Year Written 1937
About Nice Work If You Can Get It
George and Ira Gershwin wrote this song (and eight others) for the 1937 film Damsel In Distress, starring Fred Astaire, who introduced the song. It has been widely recorded by artists including Astaire, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

Lyrics

Holdin’ hands at midnight
‘neath a starry sky
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Strollin’ with the one girl
Sighin’ sigh after sigh
Nice work if you can get it
And you can get it if you try

Just imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything more?

Loving one who loves you
And then takin’ that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it won’t you tell me how?

Holdin’ hands at midnight
‘neath a starry sky

And strollin’ with the one girl
Sighing sigh after sigh

Just imagine someone
Waiting at the cottage door
Where two hearts become one
Who could ask for anything more?

Loving one who loves you
And then takin’ that vow
Nice work if you can get it
And if you get it won’t you tell me how?

Session / Album Information

1993

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” was recorded in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

Nice Work If You Can Get It

Listen to Nice Work If You Can Get It on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1993

This recording released on:

  • 1993: Columbia CD: CK 57424 — Steppin’ Out
  • 2011: Disc #59 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK58) Steppin’ Out

My Funny Valentine

My Funny Valentine
PROFILE
Composer Richard Rodgers
Lyricist Lorenz Hart
Year Written 1937
About My Funny Valentine
“My Funny Valentine” was written for the 1937 Broadway musical Babes in Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. This ballad is one of the most-loved songs in the American songbook and has been sung by most jazz and cabaret artists. In addition to Tony Bennett’s excellent recordings of this song, others include those by Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis.

Lyrics

My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you’re my favourite work of art

Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But don’t change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day

Is your figure less than greek
Is your mouth a little weak
When you open it to speak
Are you smart?

But don’t you change one hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day

Session / Album Information

1959

My Funny Valentine was recorded on October 28, 1959 and released in 1961 on the album Tony Sings For Two. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

My Funny Valentine

Listen to My Funny Valentine on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

This recording released on:

  • 1961: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8242 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 1961: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1446 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 1961: Philips LP 12″ (Mono): BBL 7479 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 1969: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9891 — Love Story: 20 All-Time Great Recordings
  • 1971: CBS LP 12″: 66297 — Love Songs (UK)
  • 1990: Columbia CD: SOY21552 — The Good Life
  • 1994: Smithsonian Collection CD: A 23654 — American Songbook Series: Rodgers & Hart
  • 1995: Sony Music CD: SMSP A 8242 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 2005: Collectables CD: CCL8053 — The Good Life
  • 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 82876 87234 — Tony Sings For Two
  • 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
  • 2011: Disc #19 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK19) Tony Sings For Two

1964

“My Funny Valentine” was recorded on February 26, 1964; it was released in 1966 on the album A Time For Love. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

My Funny Valentine

Listen to My Funny Valentine on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1966

This recording released on:

  • 1966: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62800 — A Time For Love [UK]
  • 1966: Columbia LP 12″: CL 2560 — A Time For Love
  • 1966: Columbia LP 12″: CS 9360 — A Time For Love
  • 1990: CBS/Sony CD: CSCS-5243 — A Time For Love [Japan]
  • 2011: Disc #33 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK32) A Time For Love

1972

“My Funny Valentine” was recorded in 1972 and released in 1973 on the album Listen Easy. It was arranged by Don Costa.

This recording released on:

  • 1972: Philips LP 12″: 6641297 — Spotlight On Tony Bennett (UK)
  • 1973: Verve LP 12″: V6 5094 — Listen Easy
  • 1973: Philips LP 12″: 6308 157 — Listen Easy [UK]
  • 2011: Disc #46 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK45) Listen Easy

Me Myself and I

TonyBennettOnHoliday
PROFILE
Composer Irving Gordon
Lyricists Allen Roberts, Alvin S. Kaufman
Year Written 1937
About Me, Myself and I
TBD

Lyrics

Me, myself and I
Are all in love with you
We all think you’re wonderful
We do

Me, myself and I
Have just one point of view
We’re convinced
There’s no one else like you

It can’t be denied dear
You brought the sun to us
We’d be satisfied dear
If you’d belong to one of us

So if you pass me by
Three hearts will break in two
Cause me, myself and I
Are all in love with you

Yes, it can’t be denied dear
You brought the sun to us
We’d be satisfied dear
If you’d belong to one of us

So if you pass me by
Three hearts will break in two
Cause me, myself and I
Are all in love with you

Session / Album Information

1996

“Me, Myself and I” was recorded in June 1996 and released in 1997 on the album Tony Bennett On Holiday.

Me, Myself And I(Are All In Love With You)

Listen to Me, Myself And I(Are All In Love With You) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1997

This recording released on:

  • 1997: Columbia CD: CK 67774 — On Holiday
  • 2011: Disc #63 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK61) On Holiday

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