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Back To Love-Anthony Hamilton

2012-01-14T05:21:00.000-08:00

Original Release Date: December 9, 2011
Label: RCA Records Label
Copyright: (P) 2011 RCA Records, a division of Sony Music Entertainment
Total Length: 45:56

Customer Reviews

LuKasAV6 (Longview, Texas USA)

This review is from: Back To Love (Deluxe Version) (Audio CD)

Anthony Hamilton is one of the greatest soul singers in the industry who consistently graces us with great vocals and a great musicianship.
He returns after what feels like an eternity with 'Back To Love', easily one of the best CDs to be released this year. The album showcases just how wide the spectrum of soul music can be and fills a void left by a musical landscape oversaturated with dance cuts, sugary pop, and hip-hop that unimaginatively dwells on bling, cash, and women. On this album that is so good from start to finish, here are my top 5 for now:

>>"Mad" - A funky tribute to being grumpily and undeniably in love. It's underscored by a killer harmonica countermelody that plays like a best friend consoling his homie. The arrangement and the instrumentation - the horns, organ, guitar - are sheer perfection.

>>"Who's Lovin You" - A beautiful lament that caught me a bit off-guard. I wasn't prepared to be so moved by this tale of unrequited love.

>>"Life Has A Way" - A consummate exercise of soulful introspection. I found myself saying "you ain't lying!" after each verse.

>>"Never Let Go" - My eyebrow raised when I saw Keri Hilson's name because she's so urban contemporary for a CD that's so retro-soul. But this duet works very well and fits snuggly among the other tracks.

>>"More Than Enough" (from the Deluxe Version) - This feels like a jam session that Anthony and the band had in someone's basement or studio apartment on a nice sunny afternoon. This one is gonna sound great live!

Like many others, I chose not to pursue a career in music (I crunch numbers instead). But it actually hurts listening to musicianship this great (Anthony, band, and all) and not be a part of it as a musician even if I'm just supplying hand claps! It's rare in this day and age to get something authentic that you feel down to your core. What you get on 'Back To Love' is pure soul music that's pretty damn close to what you'll hear in concert. By the way, if you haven't seen Anthony Hamilton live, what on earth are you waiting for? Without question, 5 stars!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ~Back To Authentic Soul~
Anthony Hamilton is one of the greatest soul singers in the industry who consistently graces us with great vocals and a great musicianship.
He returns after what feels like an eternity with 'Back To Love', easily one of the best CDs to be released this year. The album showcases just how wide the spectrum of soul music can be and fills a void left by a musical...

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Published 1 month ago by LuKasAV6

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3.0 out of 5 stars Disappointed
It's a little softer than I expected. I expected the more upbeat songs and tempos that Anthony Hamilton is so good at.

Published 18 hours ago by milwaukeemel

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Rap HIP HOP

2011-12-30T01:11:00.000-08:00

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2011-12-30T00:49:00.000-08:00

Unbroken Demi Lovato

2011-12-30T00:17:00.000-08:00

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Original Release Date: September 20, 2011
Release Date: September 20, 2011
Label: Hollywood Records
Copyright: (C) 2011 Hollywood Records, Inc.
Record Company Required Metadata: Music file contains unique purchase identifier. Learn more.
Total Length: 52:36

Brady James "BookBot" -This review is from: Unbroken (Audio CD)

I am a Lovatic through and through! I've been a fan of demi's from the beginning! Don't Forget was full of sass and sadness and Here We Go Again was new and fresh showing off her amazing voice and talented writing. Now here she is ... after such a hard year, ready to shine again! "UNBROKEN" is amazing. Although I feel the album OS split, unevenly, in two. The first four songs have featured artists thy coke off 75% good.
ALL NIGHT LONG sounds like classic Timbaland with a cool guest rap from Missy Elliot Demi sounds a lot like JoJo on this track but its good all about going out with ur Guy.
WHOS THAT BOY features Dev she sounds good with Demi and it's a fun catchy track, very r&b!
YOU'RE MY ONLY SHORTY features Iyaz and is the only track I don't feel at all its just silly.
TOGETHER Demi is joined by Jason Derulo and its a good track bit it seems like the typical 'come together and be happy' song bit their voices do go well together l!
The second, heavier half of the disc is just Demi and therefore where she shines!
LIGHTWEIGHT starts off very GLEE -ISH but it quickly becomes amazing! Its Demi telling a Guy a friend the world that she's fragile and is easily affected, its my favorite track! Her voice soars and near the end u get a small taste of accapella which I loved!
UNBROKEN is very dancy and very freeing! It's about just giving love it all going through without regret! A solid amazing track!
FIX A HEART feels like Demi is letting u into her world around the time things really went bad referencing 'cuts' its bittersweet and beautiful!
HOLD UP is like a literal hold up but instead of a gun and violence its being faced with love and taking it regardless of consequence!
MISTAKE is pretty self-explanatory very catchy and reminiscent of her first album.
GIVE YOUR HEART A BREAK I just love this song its about falling in love from another perspective when u don't want it you simply need a break.
SKYSCRAPER this was a tailormade Demi anthem its about healing and rising above, perfection!
IN REAL LIFE feels like it would have fit just right on her second album verry bluesy and lounge like about an innattentive lover who is perfect only in her dreams!
MY LOVE IS LIKE A STAR comparing love to stars so beautiful always there even when out of sight.
FOR THE LOVE OF A DAUGHTER speaks for itself, heartbreaking!

There's also a remix of SKYSCRAPER which is cool the album is amazing and will be a hit!

3.0 out of 5 stars Fixing a Heart In and Out of the Club, October 15, 2011

Jonathan -This review is from: Unbroken (Audio CD)

Unbroken, Demi Lovato's third studio album, is far different from anything her sophomore record pointed toward. If rehab had never happened, we may have seen a barely-pop, mostly-rock album, much in the vein of John Mayer during it's quiet moments while exploding like an especially exuberant Paramore single during it's uptempo cuts. Instead, Demi's world spiraled to its lowest point, and she was taken out of the spotlight for majority of the time between albums, exiting rehab a different person around the spring of 2011. So what do we make of the first album from a new woman?

If you're hoping Skyscraper was a taste of what this album as whole would sound like, it's not. There are some beautiful moments, but you won't reach them until track five, the beautiful Lightweight. It's the sort of song that could have opened the album, but then that album would have been a beautiful artistic statement, something Demi doesn't seem ready for. Instead, the whole affair begins with thumping Timbaland beats and a Missy Elliot feature; hardly the sort of thing that a girl that has stared self-destruction in the face would be expected to record. It's a brilliant track, no doubt, being one of the best club songs recorded by an artist under legal drinking age this year. However, it is a catalyst to a slew of far inferior club songs, the nadir being the Dev-assisted Who's That Boy. It's completely unnecessary and nearly inappropriate, offensive at its worst. Why record a song like this when you have been through so much in your life, Demi? Why bother trying to get the club hits with an artist that is just beginning their career as it is? No strong argument comes to mind. You're My Only Shorty, with commercially-flailing Iyaz, marks another low point. Fortunately Demi pairs up with Jason DeRulo for the best song he's ever put his name on, and we begin to see a glimmer of hope.

The previously mentioned Lightweight begins the real album, perfectly performed and masterfully stripped, building slowly the feature a sparse array of instrumentation. It's one of the best moments on the album by a country mile, and what follows feels like the sort of record Demi should have kept herself to. Some beat-heavy up-tempo numbers such as the title track and Give Your Heart a Break feel genuine, though it's all eclipsed by the phenomenal Fix a Heart and tragic For the Love of a Daughter. The latter 2/3 of the album is a truly strong affair nonetheless, balancing well-penned dance songs with autobiographical heartache.

Bottom Line: Unbroken is a strong third album. It's just too bad that some poorly-crafted club tracks precede the truly great music.

Recommended Tracks: All Night Long, Lightweight, Fix a Heart, Give Your Heart a Break, For the Love of a Daughter

Skip: Who's That Boy, You're My Only Shorty, Skyscraper (Wizz Dumb Remix)

3.0 out of 5 stars I'll always love Demi, but this album was not for me., September 22, 2011

deefromtx -This review is from: Unbroken (Audio CD)

This album is alright, very R&B, dancey, sounds like most music out there which is not for me. I understand and respect that she wanted something new and have a different sound, but i loved her rock/pop sound like her 2 previous albums. Only songs i enjoy alot on this album would have to be skyscraper and lightweight.

NOW That's What I Call Music Vol. 40

2011-12-30T00:13:00.000-08:00

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Original Release Date: November 8, 2011
Release Date: November 8, 2011
Label: EMD
Copyright: (C) 2011 NOW Joint Venture
Total Length: 1:13:28

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Mix, December 18, 2011

L. Poulin (Florida, USA) -

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Now 40: That's What I Call Music (Audio CD)

The great thing about this Brand of CD is the genre's it includes. It has a little bit of everything and not always the latest on the Top 40, which is nice because it exposes you to artists or songs you would not normally listen too. That is also the case with the inclusion of 3 or 4 tracks now of new artists trying to make it big. I just love these CD's and I actually have most of the 40 they've produced so far.

4.0 out of 5 stars Great CD, November 14, 2011

Wayne Mangiardi

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Now 40: That's What I Call Music (Audio CD)

I really enjoy all the NOW CDs. I have all 40 of them and for the mot part happy with about 85% of the songs that make it to the CD. Good Job!

All hit music!, December 25, 2011

Ron Goss "Love them movies!" (Atlanta, GA USA)

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Now 40: That's What I Call Music (Audio CD)

This CD has a great collection of hits of 2011. If you want tto play the hits, you need this CD.

Songbook (Amazon MP3 Exclusive Version)

2011-12-30T00:02:00.000-08:00

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5.0 out of 5 stars MUST HAVE, November 21, 2011

T K (Seattle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)

This review is from: Songbook (Audio CD)

Chris Cornell absolutely is one of the greatest vocalists of all time. Before Songbook tour, he had been constantly criticized for his unstable vocal performances. I believe that the critics were somewhat right for the Audioslave era in which Chris also admitted that he had problems with alcohol and smoking that could have affected his vocal ability during that time. But man... The Old Chris is back. I watched one of the tours last May in Seattle, and his vocal performance was a way beyond my expectation. After seeing his concert, I also have been watching his Songbook tour videos on Youtube and I have to say that he sounded so good throughout the tour. To me, he sounds even better than how he sounded when he was in Soundgarden in the early 90s. The voice is more mature and powerful than ever before. What surprises me is that his vocal performance was so stable throughout the entire tour despite that he had to perform without much gap between tour dates. Having just one or two days off after performing more than two hours for three or four days in a row, and then performing again, on and on, for a few months is not an easy thing for any musician. Although this may not be much of a problem for many singers whose songs do not require much of vocal range, this is not the case for Chris, as many of his songs are above high C. Also, we all know many vocalists, even those who are considered the greatest of all time, could not maintain their quality of voice when they turned about age of 40. Chris is almost 50 now...! He deserves much respect for keeping his singing ability.

As you may hear from the tracks, he does not have any problem with hitting right pitch. "Call Me A Dog", for example, goes up around high E or F, but he sounds just fine hitting that note. Now if you think about it, what kind of musicians nowadays can hit that note with power, timbre and soul like Chris's while playing a guitar at the same time? Not just this, but also, without losing voice after performing for more than two hours for three or four days in a row? I certainly can't think of anyone. Of course, vocal range and power are not the only factors that define a good singer, but they certainly indicate the singer's vocal ability. I am so glad to see that Chris gained his master vocal ability back, and I strongly hope he does more tour like Songbook in the future.

A tiny little complain I have about this album is that I wish they made it into two CDs because there are so many songs from the tour that could have been included, such as "Say Hello 2 Heaven", "Preaching the End of the World", "Billie Jean", "Getaway Car","Redemption Song", and especially "When I'm Down".

Anyway, just one unofficial acoustic album- Unplugged In Sweden - was not adequate for a great acoustic live performer like Chris; fans certainly want more. This Songbook album is a must have for all those who thirst for 'that vocal performance'.found

5.0 out of 5 stars Chris Cornell raw!, November 21, 2011

Michael (Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Songbook (Audio CD)

Songbook is the new live acoustic album from Chris Cornell showcasing his awesome vocals and songwriting ability as performed along his very successful recent solo tour. Chris Cornell is a true survivor of rock having had success with Soundgarden, Audioslave, and three solo albums prior to this amazing collection of acoustic tunes. There was a little taste of what this album contains with the hidden track at the end of his previous solo album but Songbook is definitely what fans of this iconic voice wanted to hear. Highlights include the amazing Temple Of The Dog classic "Call Me A Dog", the brilliant version of the Audioslave track "I Am The Highway", the dark sound of Soundgarden's classic track "Fell On Black Days", and the memorable melodies of the Audioslave hit "Like A Stone". It is amazing how he can turn relatively simple chord progressions into memorable songs with his powerful voice and interesting lyrics. I saw Chris Cornell perform these songs at The Sydney Opera House recently and I can tell you it was a stunning show and Songbook is a great memento of his tour. What more can be said about Chris Cornell and his decision to please his fans with a gift like this - essential listening!

Native American Flute Lullabies

2011-12-29T23:50:00.000-08:00

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5.0 out of 5 stars Staring at the wall, August 19, 2011

Scott Rabchun "Scott" (Dearborn Heights, MI)
(REAL NAME)

This review is from: Native American Flute Lullabies (MP3 Download)

I have had this review screen up for at least 10min. The mp3's on this album are playing on the speakers of the computer and I just sat here staring at the wall. This is some pretty deep trance relaxation music. I cant believe its free. Another 10min of wall staring just happened. Just get the damn thing! :)

5.0 out of 5 stars Plaintive, and soothing, July 19, 2011

Dinakar Sarma "Dino" (New York, NY)
(VINE VOICE) (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Native American Flute Lullabies (MP3 Download)

Flute hasn't always been my favourite instrument, but in this particular sampler, it's taken on a different life. The songs are very soothing and earthy, rather than (as is the case sometimes) airy and floaty. I wanted something to play in the background while I try to get myself to sleep, that would bring me down from a long day, and relax me. This seems to fit the bill perfectly. Definitely give it a listen.

5.0 out of 5 stars What a SUPERB freebie!, July 20, 2011

Mamabear Cherei (San Antonio, TX USA)

This review is from: Native American Flute Lullabies (MP3 Download)

If you've not heard the Native American flute played before.. you're in for a real treat! It's a lovely combination of nature and the most haunting flute you've ever experienced! Be one with ALL! Download this one QUICKLY!

MP3 Downloads by Tony Bennett

2011-10-11T02:11:00.000-07:00

MP3 Downloads by Tony Bennett

Duets II

$13.99

September 20, 2011

Duets An American Clas…

$9.99

September 26, 2006

The Ultimate Tony Benn…

$9.99

October 3, 2000

The Essential Tony Ben…

$16.99

July 23, 2002

A Wonderful World

$9.99

November 5, 2002

The Tony Bennett / Bil…

$9.49

November 7, 2006

Jazz

$7.99

July 6, 1987

Snowfall - The Tony Be…

$5.99

August 24, 2004

MTV Unplugged

$9.99

August 29, 2006

Sings The Rodgers & Ha…

$9.49

February 21, 2006

Stranger In Paradise

$2.99

November 28, 2009

Tony Bennett

2011-10-11T02:05:00.000-07:00

Duets II,Tony Bennett

Less than ten months before he would celebrate his 85th birthday, Tony Bennett stood on the field of AT&T Park in San Francisco during the 7th inning of the first game of the 2010 World Series between the Giants and Texas Rangers (San Francisco would go on to win the championship in 5 games). This was his second time “at bat” during the game. Earlier he’d dazzled the home team crowd with his a cappella performance of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” but this moment, with just a microphone in hand and his amazing and powerful voice, he sang “God Bless American, first heard on Kate Smith’s popular radio program on the eve of Armistice Day, 1938. On that historic November 10th, twenty years after the signing of the Armistice that brought World War I to an end and three years before Pearl Harbor was attacked, Irving Berlin’s love song for his adopted country -- a song filled not with the bombast of some anthems, but a song infused with humility and gratitude -- touched millions of Americans.
Now a decade into the new century, an American icon, Tony Bennett, someone who was twelve years old when the song was first introduced, who served his country with honor in World War II, a lifetime Grammy Award Winner, a National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master, who marched with Dr. Martin Luther King during the Civil Rights struggle in the 1960s, who has been recognized for his worldwide humanitarian work by being named “A Citizen of the World” by the United Nations an artist of deep humility and profound gratitude… connected with both the spirit of the song and the spirit of the country. With all the economic tumult and national doubt and uncertainty, here was one of the country’s consistent champions reminding us of our good fortune to have been born in a country where a young man from Astoria, Queens, born just before the Great Depression of the 1930s, gifted with great talent, dedication, ambition, and deeply held values of excellence, could survive and thrive through six decades in popular entertainment. With just a simple gesture, placing his right hand over his heart as he sang the words, “… land that I love...,” he reminded the more-than 40,000 fans in the ballpark and the tens of millions here and around the world watching the televised World Series, that America, with all its myriad problems needing to be solved, is still our “home, sweet home.”
The next day, even as word spread and millions who had been a part of a historical “tribal” American moment told others about Tony Bennett’s stirring performance… how he hit the same high note at the end of “God Bless America” that Kate Smith sang in 1938 (she was 31 at the time, Tony Bennett was 84 in October 2010)… Mr. Bennett was deeply involved in planning DUETS II, his next recording project for RPM/Columbia Records.
Tony Bennett has been singing “duets” since he and Rosemary Clooney co-starred on the CBS Radio/TV program “Songs for Sale" in the summer of 1950. In any number of live concerts in his career he has sung with Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, and other artists from the “golden age" of American popular song. In 2006, the year of his 80th birthday, his Duets: An American Classic was released. The album,--which included performances with Paul McCartney, Elton John, Barbra Streisand,Bono and others--won three Grammy Awards. The CD entered the Billboard 200 at Number 3 when it was released in October of 2006 and went on to be one of the best selling CDs of the year and Tony’s career. Bennett's first Duets album also inspired the Rob Marshall-directed television special “Tony Bennett: An American Classic” which won 7 Emmys making it the most honored program at the 2007 Emmy Awards.
DUETS II includes a roster of artists as diverse as Amy Winehouse and Andrea Bocelli but, as in the first Duets sessions, Phil Ramone returns as producer. Danny Bennett, Tony’s son, manager and executive producer on the project, observes observes, “The duets concept is not an original concept but the idea in these CDs is that nobody can cover the demographics, the various genres of music, and the male/female format like Tony Bennett can. I see these sessions less as duets and more as collaborations.”
Phil Ramone noted that although there are many different styles of artists, all the guest performers concurred that what helped make this CD so sensational was Tony Bennett’s consistency and support. “Tony’s warmth and artistic generosity was so appreciated by each guest performer. For many, they said that to record with such a master was a career highlight they’ll always remember."
The recording sessions were filmed by Academy Award-winning cinematographer Dion Beebe (“Chicago”, “Memoirs of A Geisha”, and “Collateral”) and a documentary is being produced in conjunction with the release of DUETS II. “This gifted film crew and production team of about seven people followed us everywhere,” Tony reflected, "and one example of how they inspired these recording sessions is what they did for the session with k.d. lang, someone who sings so beautifully and meaningfully. They created the most beautiful wall of blue velvet as a backdrop and it helped create just the perfect mood for us to sing “Blue Velvet” which I first recorded in the summer of 1951. The set really inspired our performance.”
One of Tony Bennett’s life long personal favorite songs and records is the 1939 Coleman Hawkins recording of composer Johnny Green’s song “Body and Soul." The song and record always reminds him of the days in New York City when, as a young man, he would visit various jazz clubs on 52nd Street, Swing Street, and see and hear giants like Erroll Garner, Stan Getz, Art Tatum, Lester Young, and Billie Holiday. He thought that this song would be the perfect one for his collaboration with Amy Winehouse, which was recorded in London at the famed Abbey Road Studios. “Contemporary popular music artists, for the most part, have experienced primarily “rock” music in their lives…but then along comes Amy Winehouse who has such an innate sense and feeling for jazz. Amy’s idol is Dinah Washington truly one of the best singers I’ve known in my life. I found Amy to be one of the most focused and professional artists I’ve collaborated with… she is a gifted and very spontaneous singer… she knows how to be in the moment. You sense that feeling in every note she sings on 'Body and Soul.' I was just knocked out with her singing and so was everyone else at the session.”
It is not just astounding that Tony Bennett’s been making superior recordings since 1950, but that he keeps searching for new ways and new concepts to present songs. As Danny Bennett said, “My adage about Tony is that he never sings the same song once… in other words every night you watch him perform it is like getting a hand picked flower… every performance is so fresh and unique.” This ability served Tony well in his duet with John Mayer. “The approach to this song was a real challenge,” Bennett recalled, “because through the years Frank Sinatra’s 1958 version of 'One for My Baby' from his Only The Lonely album has been considered the definitive recording of this Harold Arlen/Johnny Mercer song. He sang it as a blues song with a real melancholy feeling and, unusual for Sinatra, he sang it with just his wonderful pianist Bill Miller’s accompaniment. When I first started singing the song in concert in the early 1960s at the Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, I added a nice little beat to the song because I didn’t want it to sound like I was trying to copy Sinatra’s wonderful recording. Well a few years ago I was watching Turner Classic Movies and on comes a Fred Astaire movie I’d never seen. It was entitled 'The Sky’s the Limit' and it’s the 1943 movie in which Fred Astaire introduced the song. To my great and pleasant surprise Fred sang the song with the same kind of little beat I’ve been using and I had added it without ever having seen the movie. It was a joy to team up with John Mayer. We decided to assume the roles of a couple of guys in a bar together with just the hint of being a bit tipsy. We really had so much fun and he’s so talented. I enjoy his unique way of phrasing and I see nothing but a long and great career for him.”
Carrie Underwood has gone on to achieve great success since winning the “American Idol” crown in May of 2005. She joined Tony on a song written in 1924, over 80 years before she was crowned “Idol” winner, which demonstrates not only her maturity as an artist, but also how durable and fresh these American standards are. Tony Bennett introduced “It Had To Be You” to a whole new generation of listeners when he performed it on the Grammy winning record of the year in 1995, “MTV Unplugged.” “I’ve always paid close very close attention to the public and how they react to certain songs I perform in concert,” said Bennett, “and whenever I perform this great Gus Khan classic the reaction is tremendous. The public just adores this song!”
Going into this historic project Danny Bennett said, “It’s very important to note that with all the new technology, Tony insisted on recording the same way he his since 1950… to do live studio recordings. The most impressive aspect of this project, especially for younger artists, was to come into a studio to record and not overdub or employ all kinds of editing tricks, but to stand next to Tony and record live. And this chemistry is apparent when you hear him collaborate with Norah Jones.” “Speak Low” was written in 1943 by Kurt Weill, one of Tony Bennett’s favorite composers, he enjoyed singing with such “a quality artist.” “The film crew not only captured how beautifully Norah sings but they also captured how beautifully she looks… she is gorgeous…I mean she has such a sweet face and it reflects her wonderful attitude toward life.”
Because of the international response to Tony Bennett’s 1953 recording of “Stranger in Paradise,” from the Broadway show Kismet, he was invited to perform concerts for the first time in Great Britain. For the 2011 version of this song, Tony performs with Andrea Bocelli, the biggest selling solo artist in the history of classical music. “What a great experience” said Tony, “First we flew to Andrea’s home in Pisa. We had to travel around the world and to several US locations in recording these duets. Andre has a beautiful Oceanside home with a home recording studio. I just love singing with him and as soon as the session was over, he invited all of us to a memorable home cooked Italian dinner.” And as Phil Ramone notes, “On their recording you’ll find that this is not a competition between two great tenors. Instead what they produced was a tender and beautiful record.”
George and Ira Gershwin wrote “The Man I Love” in 1924 and the brothers' songs have been an integral part of Tony Bennett’s career. “Tony is the greatest interpreter of genius produced by the Gershwin’s,” said Phil Ramone, “and it was wonderful to watch and listen to Sheryl Crow team up with Tony on this one.” “Jorge Calandrelli wrote a beautiful orchestration for the session,” recalled Bennett, “and I think Jorge really captured the magnificence of George Gershwin’s uniqueness as a composer. The orchestration is classical. And then, Sheryl and I did something that hadn’t been done with the song in that we altered Ira Gershwin’s lyrics so we could sing this classic as a duet. I think it worked beautifully.”
Tony Bennett teamed up with Tim McGraw, Faith Hill’s husband, on his first Duets album and now the time had come to collaborate with Faith. As producer Ramone observes, “Some of our greatest singers come out of country music and I believe it’s something about the honesty most country singers have. It is unique and very compatible with Tony Bennett’s approach to everything he performs. It's total honesty.” For Tony the session is memorable, “Faith Hill is one special person and again that gifted documentary camera crew captured her beauty. For our record of 'The Way You Look Tonight, ' which Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields wrote for Fred Astaire, they had her in a stunning evening gown and, in the only time in the making of the CD, they had me dress in a full tuxedo. Then for the background, they created the magnificent Art Deco set and it just inspired our performance. When we finished the recording, I told her wonderful husband, 'Faith Hill is the female Frank Sinatra!'"
For the 1986 CD Astoria: Portrait of the Artist, composer Charles DeForest wrote three original songs for Tony Bennett including “When Do The Bells Ring For Me” and this recording of the song for the DUETS II sessions Tony chose Mariah Carey. “She’s just so talented,” said Bennett, “and she invited us to travel to her beautiful home in Los Angeles which is equipped with a state-of-the-art recording studio. During the session, recorded when she was close to giving birth to a set of twins, I kept kidding her that our record was more than just a duet because I was actually recording with three people! And let me just say that she knocked that performance right out of ballpark. She was sensational.”
Tony Bennett introduced the Gordon Jenkins song “This Is All I Ask” into the “Great American Songbook” with his 1963 recording and is joined on this track by Josh Groban. In analyzing the reasons so many younger performers, among them Groban, are able to give such superb performances for both Duets and DUETS II. Phil Ramone commented, “It’s important to understand that the much of the success stems from interaction and spontaneity when Tony records with these artists. He treats each one as an artist. It's always musician to musician. Some of the comments the guests consistently made were focused on how thrilling it was to watch Tony continually reinvent and how he created the proper environment for the honest performances you hear on this CD. And 'This Is All I Ask' is a perfect example of this.”
Because of the 1964 Tony Bennett recording of “Who Can I Turn To,” composers Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley enjoyed a great success on Broadway with their show “The Roar of the Greasepaint …The Smell of the Crowd” which contained the song. Tony continues to dazzle audiences when he sings it in concert. The song was a great choice for teaming up with Queen Latifah. “If you listen closely to this recording,” Tony explains, “you will discover that Queen Latifah has a beautiful voice and I think the best voice since Ella Fitzgerald. You watch, she is going to be around a long time she has so much talent. She has eliminated all fear from her attitude. She is just so positive in her approach to everything… acting or singing…whatever she does she does it so well. She really sings with the gift Ella had. When you listen closely to 'Who Can I Turn To,' her voice is as sweet a voice as any woman that I’ve heard sing.”
Danny Bennett found that each recording date brought its own thrills. “Each session was like a master’s class for the guest performers and that’s what made these sessions so memorable.” He observes, “These recordings further demonstrate The New York Times stated several years ago, 'Tony Bennett not only bridged the generation gap, he demolished it!'” Tony’s influence is apparent in many new artists who have embraced the popular standard and certainly that is evident with Michael Bublé. “Whenever I get together with Michael we have so much fun. We both love Duke Ellington’s music and on 'Don’t Get Around Much Anymore' we were able to use a wonderful arrangement by Marion Evans. We did a couple of takes and each one was great. There was a difference in each take but they all had a nice jazz feel to them.”
A song from Mexico with an English lyric by Gene Lees was introduced to North American audiences with Tony Bennett’s 1968 recording of “Yesterday I Heard the Rain” and for this duet Tony chose the winner of 15 Latin Grammy awards, Alejandro Sanz. “This is an example of two iconic artists creating a record together,” said producer Ramone, “and both Tony and Alejandro share the same deep passion for life and for music.” One of the qualities Sanz processes really impressed Bennett, “I have to say that he is such a relaxed person. I thought I was relaxed, but Alejandro is so calm he made me nervous! But seriously, when he performed on this record he was so with it. He gave the performance all he had. Working with him I can understand why he is so successful and beloved all over Latin America and it was a joy to record with him.”
Phil Ramone spoke for everyone includingDanny Bennett and his brother, Daegal Bennett, who did the engineering work on these sessions, the film crew and everyone else who witnessed for the first time a historic collaboration held in Nashville between Willie Nelson and Tony Bennett. “To be in a recording studio with these two giants,” said Phil, “and watch the wonderful ease and comfort level they had with each other was really one of the highlights of this project.” And, for Tony Bennett, it was like meeting an old friend. "Willie travels all over the country to do concerts and he travels with his family in a bus. He graciously invited me aboard to meet his wonderful wife and daughter and it was like visiting old friends in their home," says Tony. "Then he and I headed into the recording studio and I was so impressed with his absolute honesty, naturalness, and simplicity. When he performs he does just what the composer has in mind. It is just amazing how he can make a song come alive…not with fancy tricks or anything like that…he just sings in such a natural way and right away the song is in its natural tempo and he brings just the right feeling to the lyrics. If you’re a composer you’ll get a perfect record if Willie Nelson records your song!”
The recording sessions for DUETS II were filmed in a complete and intimate way under Danny Bennett’s supervision. “We filmed everything,” he explains, “from the moment Tony would arrive at a session right through the whole process. Instead of having stationary microphones, I asked that everyone wear a wireless mike and a sound person collect all the conversations. As I had hoped, the longer people walked around with the wireless mike on, the less self-conscious and relaxed they were and the conversations were so real. To have Tony Bennett sitting around with Natalie Cole and hear them talk about her wonderful father and Tony’s great friend, Nat King Cole, talking about their times together and about Nat recording at the Capitol Tower studio near the corner of Hollywood and Vine. It was just wonderful, and we have hundreds of hours of material that is turning into something quite special and unique.”
For Tony Bennett, recording again with Natalie Cole was one of the highlights of these sessions. “One time I was at a Luciano Pavarotti concert in Rome,” Tony recalled, “and there was a huge audience. Natalie Cole was a guest artist at the concert and she
came out on that stage swinging and I said to myself, 'Wow! Wait a minute. This is truly one of the great new jazz singers in the world.'And sure enough when we recorded a terrific Michel LeGrand song I first introduced in 1965, she brought just the perfect feel to 'Watch What Happens.' I also have to say that along with all of that talent, Natalie Cole is just a wonderfully spirited person. It's in her DNA to be that way and I love being around her.”
And so, after only nine months since that moment when Tony Bennett deeply stirred the emotions of Americans everywhere when he sang “God Bless America” at the opening of the 2010 World Series, Tony traveled to Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, London and Pisa, Italy to record DUETS II with a diverse and talented roster of artists representing many genres of music. Breaking down barriers in music, encouraging artists to grow by being a genuine role model, and reminding us that there is much more that binds us together than the issues that separate us. Phil Ramone believes the sessions succeeded because, “Tony made everyone so comfortable with his natural grace and great ambition for excellence in life and in music.” For Danny, who has worked side by side with his father since 1979, these were indelible moments. "These sessions were all so thrilling…so spontaneous…with unexpected things always happening and that is the essence of what made them so memorable. The spontaneity and the energy were so contagious everyone performed at such a high level. And that includes the members of that wonderful film crew, Phil Ramone, my brother Daegal who again did a marvelous job as engineer for the recordings, and even the piano tuner. Everyone felt a part of each date and that is because of Tony Bennett’s amazing spirit, his demand of excellence from himself and others, and his uncanny ability to keep real and to keep everyone in the moment.”
For Tony Bennett this DUETS II project represents perhaps one of the most satisfying birthday gifts as he turns 85, for in addition to good health, a loving family, and the adulation from fans all over the world, this project is an extension of his career long ambition to expose audiences of all ages to the great songs of composers like the Gershwins, Jerome Kern, Duke Ellington, Harold Arlen, and the other giants who composed the songs on this CD, songs that continue to speak to our times and songs that offer sustenance to our souls. After listening to the final results of the months of traveling all over the world to record these sessions, Tony Bennett reflected on the results. “What I’ve discovered in collaborating with these very talented young contemporary artists on DUETS II is that the young artists really enjoy singing these wonderfully crafted songs that constitute the American Songbook. It has been a personal and professional thrill to collaborate with the artists on DUETS II and to know that a new generation has an opportunity to experience these songs.”
No one in popular American music has recorded for so long and at such a high level of excellence than Tony Bennett. The essence of his longevity and high artistic achievement was imbued in him in his loving childhood home in the Astoria section of Queens where he was born on August 3, 1926. His father died when Tony was 10 and his mother, Anna, raised Tony and his older brother and sister, John and Mary, in a home surrounded by loving relatives who were Tony’s first fans filling him with encouragement and optimism. He attended the High School of Industrial Arts in Manhattan, where he continued nurturing his two passions, singing and painting. From the radio he developed a love of hearing Bing Crosby, Louis Armstrong, and James Durante.
As a teenager Tony sang while waiting on tables and then enlisted in the Army during World War II and while in Europe he performed with military bands. He later had vocal studies at the American Theatre Wing School. The first time Bennett sang in a nightclub was in 1946 when he sat in with trombonist Tyree Glenn at the Shangri-La in Astoria. Bennett’s big break came in 1949 when comedian Bob Hope noticed him working with Pearl Bailey in Greenwich Village in New York City. As Bennett recalls, “Bob Hope came down to check out my act. He liked my singing so much that after the show he came back to see me in my dressing room and said, 'Come on kid, you’re going to come to the Paramount and sing with me.' But first he told me he didn’t care for my stage name (Joe Bari) and asked me what my real name was. I told him, ‘My name is Anthony Dominick Benedetto’ and he said, ‘We’ll call you Tony Bennett.’ And that’s how it happened. A new Americanized name -- the start of a wonderful career and a glorious adventure that has continued for over 60 years.”
With millions of records sold world-wide and platinum and gold albums to his credit, Bennett has received fifteen Grammy Awards -- including a 1995 Grammy for Record of the Year for his “MTV Unplugged” CD which introduced this American master to a whole new generation -- and the Grammy Lifetime Award. His 2007 prime-time special, "Tony Bennett: An American Classic," won seven Emmy Awards. His initial successes came via a string of Columbia singles in the early 1950’s, including such chart-toppers as “Because of You," "Rags to Riches," and a remake of Hank Williams “Cold, Cold Heart.” He had 24 songs in the Top 40, including“I Wanna Be Around," “The Good Life," “Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)” and his signature song,” I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” recorded 50 years ago this coming January 2012. This song garnered him two Grammy Awards.
Tony Bennett is one of a handful of artists to have new albums charting in the 50’s, 60’s, 70’s, 80’s, 90’s, and now in the first two decades of the 21st century. He has introduced a multitude of songs into the Great American Songbook that have since become standards for pop music. He has toured the world to sold out audiences with rave reviews whenever he performs. Bennett re-signed with Columbia Records in 1986 and released the critically acclaimed The Art of Excellence. Since his 1991 show-stopping performance at the Grammy Awards of “When Do The Bells Ring For Me," from his Astoria album, he has received a string of Grammy Awards for releases including Stepping Out, Perfectly Frank and MTV Unplugged.
Tony Bennett became a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2005, was named an NEA Jazz Master in January of 2006, a Citizen of the World award from the United Nations and a Billboard Magazine Century Award in honor of his outstanding contributions to music.
In addition to his 2007 Emmy awards, Bennett has also received an Emmy Award and a Cable Ace Award for groundbreaking television special, “Live By Request…Tony Bennett” which featured a unique interactive format in which the viewing audience called in song requests to the performer live during the program (then-First Lady Hillary Clinton called and requested that Tony sing “My Funny Valentine”), a concept created by Bennett that has become a regular special on the A&E network. He has published three books, his autobiography, “The Good Life,” and two books of his paintings, “Tony Bennett: What My Heart Has Seen” and “Tony Bennett In The Studio; A Life of Art and Music.”
Tony Bennett is a dedicated painter whose interest in art began as a child. He continues to paint every day, even as he tours internationally. He has exhibited his work in galleries around the world. The United Nations has commissioned him for two paintings, including one for their 50th anniversary. His original painting, “Homage to Hockney,” is on permanent display at the Butler Institute of American Art and the landmark National Arts Club in New York is home to Tony’s painting “Boy on Sailboat, Sydney Bay.” Three of his paintings are part of the Smithsonian Museums permanent collections including his portrait of his friend Duke Ellington which became part of the National Portrait Gallery’s collection in 2009.
Throughout his career, Tony Bennett has always put his heart and time into humanitarian concerns. He has raised millions of dollars for the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation, which established a research fund in his name. His original paintings each year grace the cover of the American Cancer Society’s annual holiday greeting card, proceeds from which are earmarked for cancer research. He is active in environmental concerns and social justice. He marched with Dr. King in the historical Selma to Montgomery Civil Rights movement and the Martin Luther King Center in Atlanta bestowed upon him their “Salute to Greatness Award” for his efforts in fighting racial discrimination. Bennett founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in 2001 and in 2009 a state-of-the-art permanent facility was built in his hometown of Astoria, Queens. With his wife, Susan Benedetto, he established Exploring the Arts, a non-profit organization that supports arts education in NYC public schools. By the fall of 2011, Exploring the Arts will be partnering with 14 public high schools in every borough of New York City to enhance and foster the arts.
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Today Tony Bennett’s artistry and accomplishments are applauded here at home and all over the world from people from 12 to 90 years old. Recently former President Bill Clinton observed, “Now in his seventh decade of singing, Tony Bennett has somehow kept his unique voice, with its beauty and range, its strength and style, and still in perfect pitch. But as talented as he is, Tony’s most impressive quality is his giving spirit!”

This biography was provided by the artist or their representative.

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