Tony Bennett The Midnight Sun

[@MarkBlackburnWPG]

TONY BENNETT - Midnight Sun It's 4 in the morning and Siriusly Sinatra satellite radio is playing the best arrangement I've ever heard of Johnny Mercer's MIDNIGHT SUN - sung by Tony Bennett. I recognize the orchestration - by a friend of my father's Robert Farnon. Friends since Bob arranged a song by a soldier George Blackburn to play on the BBC in the months before D-Day 1944. Both of them born in 1917, they died within a year of each other, having maintained their friendship, by letter and by phone: Dad in Ottawa Canada, and Mr. Farnon on the Channel Island of Guernsey. It's from a Tony Bennett album that, coincidentally or not, I'd brought up from our basement recently, just to look at the cover of a black vinyl LP that never made it to compact disc format. “THE GOOD THINGS IN LIFE - Tony Bennett & The Robert Farnon Orchestra.” Farnon who stayed in England after WWII, created for Tony's Midnight Sun a huge, open sky orchestration - worthy of the phenomenon that Japanese visitors tell us is at its very best, right here in Manitoba. Apparently we are 'the place to be' for the most spectacular Northern Lights displays anywhere on earth. (Certainly the one closest to a major city with an international airport and regular connecting flights to Japan.) The source of my favorite “I had to pull over to the side of the road” story - about Mercer hearing the instrumental version while driving in his car -- and finding the closest pay phone, to ask the DJ at the radio station: 'Who wrote that song?' Vibes virtuoso Lionel Hampton co-wrote the melody with Sonny Burke in 1947 (a very good year). The story made it into the song's Wikipedia entry (below) ----- Wikipedia Johnny Mercer was driving along the freeway from Palm Springs to Hollywood, California, when he heard the instrumental on his car radio and started to set words to the song as he drove.[6] The lyrics were first recorded by June Christy for her 1954 album Something Cool. One famous recording of the song with the Mercer lyrics is by Ella Fitzgerald on her album Like Someone in Love from 1957. Fitzgerald recorded the song again in 1964 for her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook and once more in 1978. "Midnight Sun" also became part of the repertoire of Carmen McRae after she recorded it first in 1955. Tribute albums to both singers by following jazz vocalists like Dee Dee Bridgewater or Vanessa Rubin included the song associated with them, just like Natalie Cole sang the song in a tribute show called "We Love Ella" at the University of Southern California's Galen Center in 2007.[7] Thanks, Eddys Vault for sharing. Celebrated elsewhere [search] " Great Melody, Great Lyric, Great Rendition, Songwriting Workshop, Harmony Central "

[@MrRickywallace]

Can't stop listening to this-like an addictive, sublime potion-and Robert Farnon!

[@ericdihmes6646]

This fantastic album without a doubt is Tony Bennett's best

[@poetgb]

A classic song with a classic rendition by the great Tony Bennett. Tony has a certain style and sound that brings positivity to the music.

[@MrRickywallace]

Curiously, one of the most unsung, great songs--but a marvelous one!

[@phildepree1234]

Probably because it's melody is a huge vocal challenge.

[@sonofnothing]

Ella Fitzgerald does this one wonders!

[@ericdihmes6646]

@@sonofnothing this song brings me beautiful memories of afternoons riding in my father's Thunderbird and thinking everything was possible

[@sonofnothing]

@@ericdihmes6646 that sounds fantastic.

[@ericdihmes6646]

It reminds me beautiful sunsets driving back home with my father

[@lesreed9269]

Tony or Ella - perfection.

[@JerryAttric42]

1,000 thanks for uploading this great (complete) Bennett album! for the life of me I can't understand why it's not readily available to the public. and what great arrangements as well.

[@nickriggio8807]

the best of the best!

[@peterdelestrez8880]

The true definition of perfection.

[@WPQ190D]

I have the Brazilian edition. 1973. Wonderful!

[@rockymountainjazzfan1822]

A beautiful rendition of a classic jazz tune with a classic lyric. Many comparisons have been made between Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra. Both were great singers. Often unremarked, though, was the fact that Sinatra-with Columbia, then Capitol, then Reprise Records-had the luxury of working with some of the best arrangers, orchestrators, and often large orchestras that Tony Bennett, recording for somewhat less prestigious record labels, often did not have. This tune and this album is an exception--a large orchestra with a first-rate arrangement and orchestration. Many of Bennett's other recordings were made with smaller orchestras, or even small jazz groups. Nearly all were fine recordings and every bit as good as many of Sinatra's, but just did not always have the heavy promotion and popular appeal that Sinatra's recordings did. Odd, then, that this fine recording of Bennett's, with a large orchestra, is not available on streaming, mp3, etc. that I've been able to find. That's too bad, I think it is one of Bennett's finest recordings from him at the height of his career.

[@blueway9]

👍👍 Thank you very much for posting this hard to find album!! I remember these Bennett songs and can't find anywhere on CD..ITunes etc : )

[@wimpers]

Fantastic song. A true challenge for a singer.

[@saltorino4369]

I was'nt sure that you'd hhave this song very happy to hear this song again .oh I like the history of the song plesantly surprised,,I am a singer and musician...many thanks ..

[@juliannatamburrino1372]

Mesmerizing

[@MrRickywallace]

Is anyone writing melodic torch songs like this anymore?

[@frankenzie]

I want this album, on vinyl of course.

[@MrRickywallace]

Gave up vinyl, but probably sounds better.

[@MrRickywallace]

Probably was a high end only LP release! Hopefully, someone can transfer it to cd.

[@jimbrown2044]

I have this on a Tony bennett album titled"at long last love"which I probably bought in the late 70s.haven't played it for years but I think I will now.

[@jenvienna1]

❤

[@Henrymurray100]

Why is this album not available on CD. I have the vinyl copy. Does anyone know?

[@MrRickywallace]

Greatest rendition and Tony, too bad it's not on cd!