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Tony Bennett Presents The Great American Songbook - part 1

Tony Bennett, a legend from the American swing era, guides the Radio 2 audience through his selection of the 40 defining songs from the Great American Songbook.

In tribute to Tony Bennett, another chance to hear his series on The Great American Songbook, from 2010.

Tony Bennett, a legend from the American swing era, guides the Radio 2 audience through his selection of the 40 defining songs from the Great American Songbook.

Tony has lived the songs, sung the songs and now, in his 60th year as a performer, he offers his personal thoughts, insights and insider's view on the greatest compositions ever written. As Sir Michael Parkinson leads the way through the ten songs covered each week, we hear Tony's anecdotes about the people who created them, the pantheon of singers who have interpreted them and, of course, his views about what makes each one special.

The Great American Songbook is an informal phrase, originally coined by Tony himself, which describes the interrelated music of Broadway musical theatre, the Hollywood musical and Tin Pan Alley, in a period that begins in the 1920s. Aside from the enduring popularity of this music in its original context, it also became the central repertoire for jazz musicians.

In the first episode, Tony illustrates the musical and lyrical sophistication in a line-up that includes Billie Holiday's Autumn In New York, Nat King Cole's It's Only A Paper Moon, and Judy Garland's Over The Rainbow:

"No-one will ever sound as good as Judy Garland as far as I am concerned. Just listen to The Man That Got Away that she made for A Star Is Born and you'll believe it".

57 minutes

Last on

Tue 25 Jul 2023 03:00
Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2

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Tracks of My Years: An Elton John Special

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Music Played

  • Bing Crosby and Al Jolson

    Alexander's Ragtime Band

    • Decca.

  • Fred Astaire

    S Wonderful

    • Verve.

  • Billie Holiday

    Autumn In New York

    • Verve.

  • Nat King Cole

    It's Only A Paper Moon

    • Capitol.

  • Louis Prima & Keely Smith - That Old Black Magic

  • Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney

    The Very Thought of You

    • RPM/Columbia.

  • Frank Sinatra

    One For My Baby

    • Capitol.

  • Judy Garland

    Over The Rainbow

    • Decca.

  • Louis Armstrong

    Let's Do It

    • Decca.

  • Tony Bennett

    Old Devil Moon

    • Columbia.

Broadcasts

  • Sun 18 Sep 2011 19:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2
  • Tue 25 Jul 2023 03:00
    Βι¶ΉΤΌΕΔ Radio 2