Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook

Performer: Tony Bennett
Artist: Ruby Braff; George Barnes
Engineer: Frank Laico
Producer: Patrick Milligan (Compilation)
Distributor: Universal Distribution

Notes: 2 LPs on 1 CD: TONY BENNET SINGS 10 RODGERS & HART SONGS (1976)/TONY BENNET SINGS MORE GREAT RODGERS & HART (1977). Personnel: Tony Bennett (vocals); Ruby Braff (cornet); George Barnes, Wayne Wright (guitar); John Giuffrida (bass). Recorded from September 28-30, 1973. Includes liner notes by Will Friedwald and Ruby Braff. Digitally remastered by Dan Hersch & Bill Inglot (DigiPrep). Personnel: Tony Bennett (vocals); George Barnes, Wayne Wright (guitar); Ruby Braff (cornet); John Giuffrida (bass instrument). Recording information: CBS Recording Studios, New York, New York (1973). Ensemble: Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet. Soon after he left Columbia Records, Tony Bennett recorded a 20-song Rodgers & Hart set in 1973, superbly accompanied by supper-club favorites the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, and eventually released on two albums through the private Improv label in 1976 and 1977, respectively. This was a both an act of defiance and a statement of purpose on Bennett's part, for there was perhaps no more dispiriting time for singers of the great standards. Still, Bennett chose his ammunition well, for Rodgers & Hart's breezy yet indelible romanticism had always suited this singer and also couldn't have been more out of sync with the times. Our time is a different matter however, and Rhino has seen fit to reissue the original 20-song session in fine remastered sound on one CD. The musical mood here is both tender and jaunty, as especially befits the lyrics of Lorenz Hart, for which Bennett has a particular affinity, so much so that he sings little-known extra verses of "The Most Beautiful Girl in the World" to nearly epic effect. "Jaunty" also describes the masterly trumpet interjections of the impish Braff, while the quiet swinging pulse of Barnes' guitar lends the whole project an appropriately informal air.

One of the finest voices of 20th century American pop, Tony Bennett began his career in the '50s, under the watchful eye of producer Mitch Miller, recording huge hits such as "Boulevard of Broken Dreams," and "Because of You." In 1958, his album BASIE SWINGS-BENNETT SINGS was a precursor to later jazz-based work. That same year, "Firefly" was Bennett's last US Top 40 entry until 1962, when he made a major comeback with the Grammy-winning "I Left My Heart In San Francisco." In '93 and '94 he was awarded Grammys for his albums PERFECTLY FRANK and STEPPIN' OUT.

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