| PROFILE |
| Composer |
Charles Strouse |
| Lyricist |
Lee Adams |
| Year Written |
1960 |
| About Put On A Happy Face |
| “Put on A Happy Face” is from the musical Bye, Bye Birdie, based loosely on the story of Elvis Presley being drafted into the Army in 1957. |
Lyrics
Gray skies are gonna clear up,
Put on a happy face;
Brush off the clouds and cheer up,
Put on a happy face.
Take off the gloomy mask of tragedy,
It’s not your style;
You’ll look so good that you’ll be glad
Ya’ decide to smile!
Pick out a pleasant outlook,
Stick out that noble chin;
Wipe off that “full of doubt” look,
Slap on a happy grin!
And spread sunshine all over the place,
Just put on a happy face!
Put on a happy face
Put on a happy face
And if you’re feeling cross and bitterish
Don’t sit and whine
Think of banana split and licorice
And you’ll feel fine
I knew a girl so gloomy
She’d never laugh or sing
She wouldn’t listen to me
Now she’s a mean old thing
So spread sunshine all over the place
And put on a happy, happy face
Put on a happy, happy, happy face
Oh, come on bubby, smile its your birthday
Session / Album Information
1960
Put On A Happy Face was recorded on May 6, 1960. It was first released as a single and was also released in 1962 on the album Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits. It was arranged by Frank DeVol.
Listen to Put On A Happy Face on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962
This recording released on:
- 1960: Philips 45: PB 1149
- 1960: Columbia 45: 4-41691
- 1960: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8335 — More Tony’s Greatest Hits
- 1960: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1535 — More Tony’s Greatest Hits
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8563 — Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1763 — Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits
- 1972: CBS LP 12″: CBS 68200 — All-Time Greatest Hits [UK]
- 1972: Columbia LP 12″: KG 31494 — All-Time Greatest Hits
- 1973: Columbia LP 12″: C 32239 — Sunrise, Sunset
- 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]
- 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
- 1997: Columbia CD: CK 65316 — All-Time Greatest Hits
- 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
- 2006: RPM/Columbia/Legacy CD: 84779 — Tony Bennett’s Greatest Hits Of The ’60s
- 2008: Columbia/RPM/Legacy CD: 731397 — The Essential Tony Bennett [Limited Edition 3.0]
- 2011: Disc #8 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK8) The Columbia Singles, Vol. 6
- 2011: Disc #21 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK21) Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits
1962
“Put On a Happy Face” (part of a medley with “Comes Once In a Lifetime”) was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962 and was initially released in 1962 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.
Listen to Medley: Put On A Happy Face/Comes Once In A Lifetime - 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
1998
“Put On a Happy Face” was recorded in June 1998 and released that same year on the album The Playground. This song is duet with Tony Bennett and Rosie O’Donnell, with the Kids America Children’s Choir.
Listen to Put On A Happy Face - From the Broadway Musical "Bye Bye Birdie" on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Rosie O"Donnell · 1998
This recording released on:
- 1998: Columbia CD: CK 69380 —The Playground
- 2011: Disc #64 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK62) The Playground
2006
“Put On A Happy Face” was recorded was recorded on February 7, 2006 with James Taylor and was released that same year on Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.
Listen to Put on a Happy Face (with James Taylor) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, James Taylor · 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
