He may have left his heart in San Francisco, but Tony Bennett dropped a big secret to The Los Angeles Times when he told the newspaper's Pop and Hiss music blog of major plans to celebrate his 85th birthday in style. Pop and Hiss revealed that Columbia Records will soon release "a $500 box set of every album Bennett has ever recorded, dating back to 1950 [sic], an achievement the performer said he was especially proud of." The singer confirmed these plans: "I'm thrilled about it, because 50 years from now, or 100 years from now, it won't sound dated," he said. "And that's really important to me. I'm anti-obsolescence." In actuality, Bennett's first album proper was Because of You, a 10-inch LP released in 1952, not 1950, on the Columbia label, but who's counting? This looks to finally be the set befitting Bennett's stature that he should have had long ago, or his equivalent of the Frank Sinatra "suitcase" containing The Chairman's complete Reprise recordings. Bennett's association with Columbia is legendary; The Hollywood Reporter recently wrote of the label's relationship to its "Five Bs": Bennett, Barbra Streisand, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel. Bennett has been with the company the longest, since 1950, although he departed for a time in the 1970s. Streisand's run has been uninterrupted since 1962, the longest continuous artist/label tenure in the history of popular music, although her current agreement reportedly ends this year and will have to be renegotiated.
Tony Bennett: The Complete Collection includes every album Bennett has recorded over his lengthy career, including 11 albums recorded outside of Columbia Records. There could hardly be a more exciting announcement for Bennett fans, as wide swaths of his catalogue have remained out-of-print for decades. Indeed, due to his dedication to recording the greatest songs from the Great American Songbook, these songs have never dated, but only aged, more like a fine vino. The 73-CD/3-DVD box set contains every original album right up through 2011's upcoming Duets II in a miniature LP replica jacket plus "never-before-heard rarities," and gathers Bennett's "non-album singles from the '50s" as well as "outtakes and other delights," according to the initial information released on the artist's website. (Two such confirmed delights: Bennett's first-ever recording, an Army V-disc of "St. James Infirmary Blues," and an unreleased album preserving his 1964 Las Vegas debut, Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On.)
This celebratory box will cap a fantastic year for the eternally youthful performer. He recently wrapped recording his second volume of Duets, due in September, recording with a number of younger talents including Lady Gaga, John Mayer, Norah Jones, Sheryl Crow and the late Amy Winehouse. (Their duet on "Body and Soul" will be released soon as a charity single.) He's also filmed a cameo appearance on CBS Television's hit series Blue Bloods with duet partner Carrie Underwood. We'll take a quick look at lengthy career of Frank Sinatra's favorite singer and his history in box sets after the jump!
In an extraordinary career which began over sixty years ago, Anthony Dominick Benedetto has introduced on record some of the most beloved American standards of all time: "I Wanna Be Around," "Blue Velvet," "The Good Life," "The Best is Yet to Come," and of course, "I Left My Heart in San Francisco." He also popularized a number of songs coming from the worlds of stage and film, tunes like "Just in Time," "If I Ruled the World," "The Shadow of Your Smile" and "Stranger in Paradise." Columbia and Legacy first anthologized Bennett in box set form in 1991 with Forty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, spanning the period of 1950 to 1989. That four disc set received a fifth disc and a new title when it was reissued in 2004 as Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett. That extra CD brought Bennett's career up to date through 2002's A Wonderful World, produced by T Bone Burnett. It, of course, included his triumphant "comeback" in 1994 when his MTV Unplugged album took home the coveted Album of the Year trophy at the Grammy Awards.
That wasn't it for Bennett in boxed form, though. In 2006, Columbia and Legacy delivered The Classic Collection, collecting 12 original Bennett albums (most of which had already been released on CD) and one bonus disc of singles into a snazzy velvet cube. While this box contained many of Bennett's best LPs, including The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album licensed from Fantasy, it still barely scratched the surface of the man's discography.
By my count (with a little help from the official discography contained in Fifty Years!), Bennett has released 70 albums on the Columbia label (including greatest hits compilations and live albums, etc.) between 1950's Because of You and 2011's Duets II. Of these albums, over 50 of them are original studio albums (though some compilations contain unique material) and three are live albums (1962, 1971, 1994). Throw in his 1958 Count Basie collaboration on the Roulette label, two albums for MGM in 1972-1973, the Bill Evans set on Fantasy and five more albums (one live, four studio) on his own Improv label. I speculated back on August 5 that we were looking at nearly 70 discs, at least (1962's Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, for instance, is 2 CDs in its expanded form), and that number has now been confirmed to be 73. Much of Bennett's earliest singles catalogue has been arriving from U.K. public domain labels. Finally, these early hits will receive the official, remastered treatment. He hasn't always spoken fondly of the Mitch Miller-directed material he was recording early in his career, so the inclusion of these tracks would be a most special treat for collectors. (There is no word yet of the inclusion of later singles.)
The collection's three DVDs present Bennett's 1994 MTV Unplugged, director Rob Marshall's 2006 An American Classic television special, and the never-before-released Tony Bennett Sings with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.
In short, this is a box comparable to Legacy's monolithic 70-CD/1-DVD Miles Davis: The Complete Columbia Album Collection, an indispensable guide to another jazz great. A 250-page book is included, containing each LP's original notes and rare photographs, plus sketches and a new essay by Bennett. Some questions do remain, which undoubtedly will be answered in due time when official word arrives from the label. Will all non-LP singles be included? Will the albums be presented in mono or stereo? (All of Bennett's albums had mono editions through 1967's For Once in My Life.) Will bonus tracks carry over from those albums which have had expanded CD editions?
Whatever the exact contents, however, Bennett's fans should start saving their pennies and counting down! Of those 50+ studio albums, more than half of them have never before been on CD. This includes the controversial Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today! from 1969, which proves that even the singer's least successful projects, indeed, have moments of sheer virtuosity. It's not for nothing that Bing Crosby called him "the best singer I ever heard" and Frank Sinatra described him as "the best singer in the business, the best exponent of a song." Louis Armstrong might have put it best, though: "If Tony Bennett, who swing sings wonderfully, can't send you, there's a psychiatrist up the street from you. Dig him!"
Tony Bennett's The Complete Collection can be pre-ordered now at Bennett's official website. It is available in two editions: a $399 standard retail set, and a $499 edition that will personally be signed by Mr. Bennett. The latter will only be available for order through December 24. In either configuration, this set offers bang for your buck, with each disc roughly averaging $5.25 in the standard edition and $6.56 in the signed edition. (The premium, of course, is for Bennett's original autograph.) Happy 85th birthday, Mr. Benedetto. We dig you, and can't wait to dig into the upcoming box set!
In Memoriam: Tony Bennett (1926-2023)
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This indeed IS great news...
🙂
...can't wait...
As a serious Tony collector, now I must say that I have very mixed feelings about this....it's the $500 price tag. What happened, Tony? For the elite, who just want to be hip? The latest economic news may just put off many people, including most of the long-time fans. We all know, from the prices of some of the massive classical collections, that it is possible to price this at a lower range
I just broadcast a 3 hour radio special on Tony's birthday, featuring many rare items. It's too bad I couldn't mention this
I buy many boxsets, but I just may have to live with my singles and LPs (both mono and stereo). Let's see if there is a better price range.
I could be pushed to buy it if the impossible happens. That is, Columbia somehow manages to eliminate the echo/reverb it applied to most of Tony's pop records in hthe 50's and 60's (as they did to many records)
As a former BBC Senior Audio Supervisor, I agree about the echo. Let's hope it was added just to the quarter inch tape mix downs, and not to the 3 track studio masters. Thankfully, on many Sinatra recent reissues, they've taken the echo off.
But Capitol (Sinatra) did not use echo very much. The Columbia Sinatra LPs that added echo were later reissues of 78's that had no echo.
The Columbia Bennett with echo were later 50's/early 60's
It's hard to complain about the price tag of $7 per CD (assuming there are about 70 CDs in there). The list price for Frank Sinatra's "suitcase" box set was $650 for just 20 CDs. By the way, with inflation, that works out to $920 today, or $46 a CD!
So cut Mr. B a break.
Furthermore, Frank's EU-only 38-CD set that came out last year works out to $11 per CD. Miles Davis's 70-CD box set is a bit cheaper, at just about $5.20 per CD, and that has sold as low as about $3.50 or $4 per CD. I expect Tony's set will eventually hit that level. But $7 per CD is not outrageous--in fact, it's a pretty good deal, in my opinion.
I just hope this isn't a limited edition, because I could never afford it in the near future but I'm kind of fascinated by this. I think I owe it to my grandfather to get this.
Let's remember that the $$$$avy Mr. B held out on this box set himself for years. Finally, he $$$$$old out to Sony and gave them permission to use his masters as they wish...for $10,000,000.00!!!! The ultimate $$$$$$ellout, Tony! THAT is why this set will wind up costing so much. Happy 85th, Tony. $$$$$$$$$$orry you can't take it with you!
Furthermore, none of that is even true!
Stop mocking Tony, Paul! Bennett should not be compensated for his lifelong work in the studios? I'm happy to finally hear about an artist making some money from his recordings instead of getting cheated by the record companies.
PROVE IT! Tony even boasted about it himself in interviews when it occured.
First of all, Sony = Columbia. He recorded all of his albums for Columbia, and it is quite likely that they (i.e., Sony) owned his masters, and quite unlikely that he did. And so, if that is the case, Sony could have done this box set at any time. I would be surprised if Tony blocked them for years and only caved when they offered him $10 million. (If you think otherwise, prove it. Very few artists own their own masters and can do with them what they want. I could be wrong, but I can't find any indication on the web that Tony owns his own masters. But if he does, I will admit that I am wrong on that point.)
Second, and more relevantly, Sony sets the price of their products to maximize profits. If $500 maximizes profits for a 70-CD set better than $250 does (because they make, say, $250 profit per set versus $50 and they expect to sell, say, 10,000 sets versus 20,000 at those prices, respectively), then that's the price they will set. If Tony does control his masters and has licensed them to Sony, well, Sony is not a charity. They will not then say, "We'll sell it for less and make less money on it thanks to Tony's generosity." Assuming they actually do price it at $500, they have set that price based on a market survey that that is how they will maximize profits. (And look at the Beatles box sets, by the way, Full retail for the Mono box was $300, and it contained, what, 12 CDs and no DVDs?)
Further, by the way--if Tony did own his masters, he was paid less over the years by Columbia as a result. If Columbia knew they were going to have to go back to him to get his permission to re-release anything, then the contract they had with him was less valuable to them and they would have paid him less.
Either way, pricing the set at $500 isn't Tony Bennett's greed. It is Sony's business decision. If you don't want to pay that much, you can always wait to see whether the price drops.
...or he can $imply $top bickering anyways, if he ha$n't got the money needed, that'$ not Tony'$ fault... 😀
$ony'$ focu$ on maximizing it$ profit$ i$ what ha$ $set the price at $500. $uck it up and pay it, or $ave up your ca$h and maybe a$ the price drop$ and one'$ $aving$ increa$, they will meet in the middle ($ay at $300)--that'$ my personal plan. Either way, $top the complaining!
;-$
Bennett did not/does not own the masters. What he did exercise is a clause in his contracts with Columbia/Sony that allowed him final approval rights on what/how his music is released... that is the clause that Sony bought out with the 10 mil....
https://tonybennett.com/pre_order_collection.php
I would definitely pay $500 for the complete Tony Bennett collection. Can you imagine the value someday once the set is no longer available?
So the retail price is "only" $400' after all... Which brings this to a $5.48 per CD, which is reasonable enough IMO.
The $500 is for the autographed version, and I'll grant that $100 for an autograph is pretty costly, as far as autographs go.
I personally couldn't care less for he signature, so I'll go for the 400 version, and maybe, as it's been said, the price will drop further in the next months.
A fully updated report is coming soon, friends!
For the money they are asking, you would think that they would at least publish a complete list of each disc in the set...
Tony does a lot of charity work, so no complaints there--but if the autographed edition were $100 more but the site stated that all $100 of that extra amount was going directly to a charity, I bet he would sell more of that autographed edition and raise a lot of money as well.
One other thing--I hope the CDs are "Japanese style" exact duplicates of the original albums. The Frank Sinatra Reprise set just put out last year made every single CD into a gatefold, but the insides of the gatefolds opened up to form a giant photo of Frank (if you had a big enough floor to do it. It was, Frankly, kind of lame IMHO.
Tony is the kind of artist that gives autographs wherever he goes. I have several myself.
I checked the official website.
There is NO INDICATION whether this set includes the dozens of singles that never appeared on an album.
There is no indication whether any mono mixes will be available of the albums that Tony released in stereo as well. The mono mixes are often better. My guess is NO MONO.
There is only a vague statement that the set include previously unheard rarities. How many. As all the singles have been heard, this may be different.
I wonder if the set will make it to general web dealers.
I would love to see a complete listing of each disc and its contents + the date this is expected to ship. That's not too much to ask in return for a $400 pre-order.
As indicated in the post above, questions do remain about this set - but as soon as there's an official press release and more formal announcement, we'll be certain to share all of the specs, and hopefully those answers, with you! Stay tuned.
thanks Joe!
THE ULTIMATE TONY BENNETT DISCOGRAPHY IS HERE:
http://www.steve-albin.com/Artists/Bennett/
You can use this to check the box contents later
As Simon said, the real update wil be when we finally have a definite setlist of what's in, and what's not.
Until then, it's just wild guessing and speculation...
I cannot wait for this set either and thankfully my birthday is in the late fall when this will be released so I'm putting it on my birthday list! LOL! I'm very eager to see what albums are on here once a formal announcement is made.
I'm hoping this set contains the unreleased studio version of 'on the glory road.' you can see the info for this album on steve albin's link posted above. it was recorded before his Carnegie Hall Concert and was never released to increase sales of his Live album.
@Robert, interesting that you raise the issue of the phantom THE GLORY ROAD album, a few tracks of which were released on other Bennett LP's. I seriously doubt that this will be included on this set. My belief is that only the officially released albums will be included (+ the live Sahara Vegas concert). But it WOULD be great if GLORY ROAD were there!
I have a strong feeling that 'glory road' will be in the set and I only say this because in the 'forty and fifty year' box sets in the list of tony's official discography 'glory road' is listed there.
I'm only assuming that the team of people who compiled this set, took a glance at the list as some sort of a reference and never realized that this album had never been released before and it became part of this set.
This is merely an assumption but I really hope I'm right
I hope you are correct, Robert. The reason I doubt is because the people who put together these sets do not really seem to know what Bennett fans most want. Just look at the ad copy for the set on Bennett's website. Look at the "highlights" they list: every one of the items they boast about have already been released on CD and are already in the collections of 99.9% of Bennett's fans. Some of us even own multiple copies...
I doubt that the set will even include all of the officially issued singles. We'll see.
If the set is available from multiple dealers, you might be able to get the box for $299. But not the autographed version (always $499). The autograph is probably slipped in on a small sheet of paper. That's a pretty expensive autograph (possible $200!), especially since there are many Tony autographs out there
@Kevin - I think you are correct regarding the singles. The ad copy only mentions non-album tracks from the 50's, nothing about 60's and beyond.
They need to do this with James Brown!
James Brown is being done one volume at a time. There are 20 CDs of singles so far (10 doubles). But not all the original covers.
I was correct! This is amazing! Glory Road is in the set! Here's the link!
http://www.billboard.com/news/tony-bennett-box-set-includes-2-lost-lps-1005332152.story
The exclusivity of the two selling points may be cause for concern as far as getting this set below list price.
Paul, I agree, this set boasts some major selling points the two lost albums, 2 discs of rarities and 6 discs of singles!
But, what I'm getting at is that if we can only buy the set at two locations (Barnes & Noble and tb website) that knocks down the chances of us getting this for less than list price anywhere...I think. Any thoughts?
I would guess (and I definitely hope) that it is a limited time exclusivity and that at some point it will be available elsewhere. Best Buy has had some exclusives like that (nothing this large though) where the CDs or DVDs eventually showed up at other retailers.
That said, B&N does have a membership program where you get 10% off any items, so as long as they don't exempt this set, the savings will more than pay for your $25 membership. And they occasionally have coupons sent to members for, say, another 15% off. So that may be your best bet.
Here's the complete track listing! from B&N
http://music.barnesandnoble.com/Tony-Bennett-The-Complete-Collection/Tony-Bennett/e/886978746023?itm=1&usri=tony%2Bbennett%2Bcomplete%2Bcollection
Hmmmm.......is The Columbia "LOVE SONGS" 1971 LP release there?
The B&N site says: "This item does not qualify for coupons or promotional discounts unless expressly stated."
Ben Franklin once said, "$399 saved is $399 earned, especially when you have most of Tony's records already"
Ben had real foresight.
So much for my B&N coupon idea! I can imagine B&N negotiating for exclusivity through Christmas. Hopefully it gets to other retailers at some point soon, preferably by early next year. Prices should come down then.
Should The COLUMBIA ALBUM "BLUE VELVET" not be there?
Maybe BLUE VELVET & LOVE SONGS are compilation albums and the tracks are there already. But what about the three John Bunch piano tracks with Tony on All Time Hall of Fame Hits?
All the tracks from BLUE VELVET and the Bunch tracks are there.
However, if we are to take the provided track listing as true, there ARE a bunch of missing items. I have started to prepare a list and I found at least 10 previously released items that are missing in action.
BUT, from what I can see, this set is a godsend, with stuff I never thought I'd see on CD. So, it's a no brainer for me. I will buy it so I have it in time for Christmas!
Also, I notice a bunch of totally unknown items (at least for me) that I can't wait to hear!
@Art,
The BLUE VELVET album is a compilation of singles from the 50's and LOVE SONGS is also a compilation of songs as well. So, no, they wouldn't be there. This set is a collection of all original albums.
They also (wisely) did not include all the various Greatest Hits albums (volumes 1 thru 6). Any tracks not on other albums (singles) have been included on the six CD's of singles compiled especially for this set! Greatest Hits #7 is there because it contains items not available on any other album.
One wasted disc I can identify is disc #48, a compilation entitled SUNRISE, SUNSET which appears to be a total duplication of tracks available on other albums. Not sure why it is there.
Funny, I was writing my reply while the question was answered. On that note, I also noticed one things that is missing, unless I glossed over it, Tony recorded 'People' as a single and it was released on a greatest hits complitation.
Robert, looks like they put that version of "People" as a bonus track on I'VE GOTTA BE ME (disc #38)
Simon,
Thanks so much, another thing, I don't see the bonus tracks from 'Tony sings for Two' that were released on the shoddy 'Classic Collection' released for his 80th birthday. It should be a total of 16 tracks, I believe.
Robert, there were no bonus tracks, despite ad copy to the contrary... more false marketing! I have that CD from the "velvet box" and there are no bonus tracks. In fact, the one bonus track from that album previously released on a previous US reissue was omitted!!! That is "Skylark" which, thankfully, appears to be on this new set in its rightful place!
To me, the highlight of this entire enormous set is HOMETOWN, MY TOWN on CD for the first time ever!!! It's my favorite Bennett album...
Simon,
I've long had a 6 eye stereo copy of this album and love it. Yesterday I found a NM mono 6 eye (for $2) and immediately fell in love with the album all over again. It's actually better in mono to my ears!
BTW, things have been quiet here re: the box set. Anyone have any updates or tidbits to share?
odd thing is that the MTV Unplugged album, released in the velvet box as one CD with 22 tracks, is now split on two CD's in this new set but with the same 22 songs
The two discs in "MTV Unplugged" are not both CDs. One is a CD and the other a DVD of the show.
Simon,
I'm glad Skylark will be there but 'God Bless This Child', 'Imagination', and 'I Only Have Eyes For You' were also recorded during this session. All sixteen songs can be found right here on this page.
http://www.steve-albin.com/Artists/Bennett/Bennett55.html
They were all recorded on October 28th, 1959. Each song has a catalog number.
yes, I know... but they are not on this set (apparently) along with lots of other songs recorded by Bennett but never issued
Perhaps someone can review the list of discs thoroughly and then compile al list of what is left off.
I would hazard a guess that Joe is doing just that. 🙂
I started to to compile such a list, Paul. Then someone pointed out to me that the track listing at B&N may not be entirely accurate...
Thanks somon. After Nov. 8th we'll be able to do an accuarte one! 🙂
Sorry! Sorry! I meant to type SIMON. (Embarrassed)
There was an alternate take of one of the Tony Sings For Two songs on the 4CD long box...is that there?
I'd like to hear reports on whether this set will be offered by any other dealers than B&N. How about UK/Europe/Australia editions.
Is this limited?
Many times a set may be limited in USA, but have wider availability in Europe and Australia. If so, the importers like Blowitoutahere and ImportCDs might get their stock from those sources and be able to discount them.
Any information is helpful.
Well, unlike with the Beatles two box sets from 2009, we probably don't have to worry about bootlegs of a 73-disc set. So any copies of it that show up on eBay or Amazon Marketplace would likely be legit. Although if they show up for $99, I would have second thoughts about my first sentence. But $250 or $300 pricing does seem possible, especially after Christmas.
@Kevin - the track on the 4 cd longbox was "Skylark" which was an extra unused track from the SINGS FOR TWO sessions. That same track appeared on a now-OOP CD reissue of that album.
Ref international distribution, I am sure it will happen...
No. There is an alternate of the tune that "belonged" to Judy Garland, and it is different from the take on the OOP CD of Sings for Two....I do not have my stuff with me and cannot check. But I know it is an alternate take.
I have quickly gone over the track listing and I see the following titles missing. I only considered previously released records, not unused session material. All tracks are Columbia unless otherwise indicated. I will double check but they appear to me MIA:
Let's Make Love
Our Lay of Fatima
Kiss You
Beautiful Madness
Madonna, Madonna
Friend's Blues (Tony actually only whistles on this)
What Child Is This
I, Yes Me, That's Who!
Fred
All That Love Went To Waste (Phillips)
Some of these Days (Phillips)
I'm Just A Lucky So and So (Concord Records)
Prelude to a Kiss (Concord Records)
There are also some tracks Bennett recorded especially for some movie soundtracks in the 90's (IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU, ONE FINE DAY, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING)... I have to verify those tracks.
also not on the set, as far as I can see, are two additional tracks recorded for Bennett's Ellington collection, HOT & COOL. They are "I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart" and "Something To Live For", recorded in 1999 and released on a rare bonus CD to the same HOT & COOL album.
I wonder if the setlist could be posted here on this page, perhaps with some annotations.
I'm hoping to be able to verify the track listing shortly, so that the discussion may continue based on the confirmed facts. Thanks, friends, for your interest! I'm always thrilled to see so much enthusiasm for Tony's amazing body of work.
Those 2 Ellington songs are available on the Import edition of HOT & COOL. It's available on Amazon.
and, Speaking of movie songs, Here's a song that Tony recorded, it's from 'That's Life.' A Mancini Song called "Life Through A looking Glass" It's a Great recording. I don't think it's in the set.
Here's the link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTwG7EDKA3U
some additional possibly missing tracks:
Love Me Tender (from an Elvis tribute cd)
Young at Heart - duet with Shawn Colvin (from IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU soundtrack)
Always (from IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU soundtrack)
What a Difference a Day Made (from ONE FINE DAY soundtrack)
I Get Along Without You Very Well (with Bill Charlap from STARDUST cd)
If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow (from DIVINE SECRETS OF YA-YA SISTERHOOD soundtrack)
Colors of My Life (with Cy Coleman, from IT STARTED WITH A SONG cd)
by the way, Robert's post about the 2 additional Ellington songs reminded me to report that almost every track missing from this set that I have mentioned is available from other sources. It would have been nice if they are on this set since it purports to be "complete", but at least they can be obtained elsewhere!
@Robert - I don't believe that Bennett ever recorded that Mancini song for release on records/cd's
great find, though, Robert. GREAT track! thanks for the link!
Thanks, Another one, haha, Tony cut a track with doc severinsen, i can't get it started on an album called -one more with feeling-
wow, you're amazing Robert!! How do you find these things? I never know about the Severinson track!!
Well, the Mancini song I found while combing through YouTube one day and the Severinsen track a friend told me about. I'm a radio DJ who plays this Great American Songbook material all the time. Tony is my favorite artist. Period. The hunt for the music is where the fun is. I'm a very avid Tony fan and only 21 years old. But, let's get back to Tony! lol.
For the hard core researchers, maybe pull up the discography link that I posted above:
http://www.steve-albin.com/Artists/Bennett/
and connect the "missing songs" to the discography reference
I think the Sings for Two alternate take on the 40 Years boxset was "The Man That Got Away" I do not think it was Nobody's Heart (maybe).
I do not believe the discography mentions this in either the web discography or in the booklet that comes with the 4 CD box.
Just listen. It is very distinct. I prefer the boxset take.
P.S. In that photo on the box, it looks like Tony is saying to himself, "Damn, what were those words to that song about losing something by the Bay?"
Maybe there will be other sources for the box. Can anyone figure this one out?
http://ent.southcn.com/8/2011-08/31/content_29222708.htm
If this is not a source, I am beginning to think that this set's distribution will be very tightly controlled, and that there will be very few ways to buy it. $400 is probably going to be the minimum price.
Kevin, thanks for the info on the SINGS FOR TWO alternate. I will check it out. By the way, for Tony nuts like us, there are also several alternate takes on the "velvet" box version of THE ART OF EXCELLENCE.
@Kevin,
Steve Albin's list was already posted in this discussion and the songs that we say are missing (the mancini song and the severinsen cut) aren't even listed on that site. The list isn't perfect but close to it.
Also, that 'southcn' link is completely in another language I cannot understand. weird.
BTW, this discussion is GREAT and makes me wish there was a Bennett fan forum. The one that was on Tony's site was awful and full of spam.
Happy to have all of you guys here! I'll have something up in the near future collating all of the information we have, although I'm still hoping to nail down a definitive contents list!
A noted music writer just told me today that the track list published on B&N may not be the final one, even at this late date (so close to November release).
That website is in Japanese. You can't read that?
I might just hold out for the $1,800 Japanese version. They use better plastic in their CDs, and I've been told that the quality of the plastic makes all the difference in sound. Some people have come close by rubbing garlic on the top side of USA manufactured CD's, but then you gotta store the CDs in the refrigerator.
Ref: THE ART OF EXCELLENCE cd from the "velvet" box: Everybody Has The Blues, How Do you Keep The Music Playing, and The Day You Leave Me are all alternate takes. Of course, we have no idea which versions will be on the upcoming box...
Kevin, you are absolutely correct about the alternate take on "The Man That Got Away" on TONY SINGS FOR TWO. Thanks for pointing this out! I appreciate it.
Columbia didn't know they were issuing an alternate take on the 40 years boxset. They often make mistakes on their reissues. They issued many Sinatra alternates without knowing it.
Therefore, I would not be surprised if the incredible alternate of The Man That Got Away is left off the "Ulti-Box" (my phrase)
I very much like the alternate take, Kevin. But I still prefer the released version... The two versions are very different, that's for sure!
@Simon, I just remembered another album that was left out, It's a good one too but probably wasn't recorded formally under Columbia. Tony recorded National Guard Sessions with Gene Krupa in 1963. Not every track has Tony on it. It was released on CD for the first time on CD earlier this year. I have the LP though. Here's the link on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/Guard-Sessions-Tony-Bennet-Krupa/dp/B004B3PBHY/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314891798&sr=8-1
yes, I also know that recording Robert. I have a copy of it as well... at least these things are available in some form. Robert, do you like other vocalists besides Tony?
Sinatra too, but I ultimately prefer Tony mainly because I believe Tony is a genuinely good person with great music. Frank, also recorded great music but as I'm sure you know he was known in many instances as being a cruel individual.
I have many favorites: Ella, Louis, Sarah Vaughan, Nat Cole, Torme, Louis Prima, Keely Smith, the list goes on.
I also have a soft spot for the Columbia artists of the 1960s: Tony, Andy Williams, Johnny Mathis, Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin
Let's just remember that not all is what it appears when it comes to people in the entertainment world. Some of the alleged sweet and good individuals are actually S.O.B.'s to work and deal with. I'm just sayin...
Virtually all artists are "intense" people. I don't spend too much time worrying about whether an artist is a "good" person or a "better" person. The press is full of so much hype trying to tear down artists. We can get too absorbed in this. No one is perfect in every regard.
About other singers, I always enjoy those very special singers who only got a chance to make a few records, or even one record. Among the male ballad singers, check out David Allyn, Ronnie Deauville, Tommy Leonetti, Bob Manning and many others. Each has left us with at least one masterpiece that equals anything from Sinatra or Bennett.
I should have made myself clearer in my post. I prefer Tony's music because the messages in his music are happier. Also, on a desert island, I would choose Bennett's entire catalogue over Sinatra's. I am simply aware of Frank's behavior outside of the recording studio. I ALWAYS seperate an artist from their behavior/politics. I know Tony's behavior in his earlier career wasn't completely angelic. I am a HUGE Sinatra fan(my iTunes library borders on 1,500 recordings of his alone)! I have always seperated Frank's music from his behavior much like Streisand fans need to seperate her from her politics.
There were many Armed Forces records made by many artists, but I would not expect "official" reissue programs to include them.
It's too bad that Tony did not become involved in making dozens of transcription records that were commonly made by pop/jazz singers. Transcriptions still were being made early in Tony's career, but it is possible that either Tony decided not to do them, or maybe his Columbia contract precluded them. The fast pace of the transcription recording sessions often made the records feel more spontaneous and less polished.
Sinatra was obviously a complicated person... I try to separate out those things when appreciating someone's talent. There are many artists today that may say or do outrageous things but I would still judge their creations or performances by an artistic criteria.
Robert - can you please drop me an email? I have a question for you mrsimonmorley@gmail.com
Another Bennett track I was unaware of and is not in the Bennett discography. He recorded "Day Dream" on May 25, 1964 at the same session as "Danny Boy", It's on a CD called BOB BROOKMEYER AND FRIENDS" http://www.amazon.com/Bob-Brookmeyer-Friends/dp/B000CELO9U/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1314985239&sr=8-1
I have a question which I don't know if it's already been addressed here: what about bonus/alternate tracks?
For instance: for TB/Bill Evans' "Together again" at least 17 bonus/alternate tracks have been released over the years, but there's "only" 10 here...
Ok, so let's not count the alternates to "the bad and the beautiful", which is a BE piano solo... There's still at least 5 alternate tracks missing from this record...
What about the other albums?...
There was never any expectation for this set to include all of the alternates/bonus tracks contained on the Concord Improv box, or the Complete TB/BE collection...the set was designed around Bennett's complete original albums, with the rarities and singles discs all bonuses. That said, I'm glad for the amount of rare and unreleased material that appears to be included, and will attempt to ascertain whether the track listing as revealed on Barnes and Noble's website is the finalized one.
Can't wait for this release. It'll take the sting out of accidentally putting my "Tony Bennett Sings A String of Harold Arlen" CD in a Salvation Army donation box a few years back! Was in Barnes & Noble's Midtown Manhattan store yesterday to see if pre-orders show up on your credit card when you place the order or when the order becomes available. Sorry to say, it's the former.
@ Paul,
It certainly has been quiet but I'm just waiting for an update on the track listing, a final version.
Yet there are other things we could discuss in Tony World, I read an article back in either April or May that Tony said that he recently finished recording an album of Jerome Kern songs with two pianos accompanying him. And get this, he recorded it for his children to release AFTER his death.
I wish I could find the article again.
That article can be found here:
http://www.29-95.com/music/story/tony-bennett-doesn%E2%80%99t-want-music-ever-end
He also mentions his interest in Kurt Weill songs. Wouldn't a CD of those be great.
Daan, Thank you so much for finding this!
I'm really surprised no one has asked Tony recently what his plans for his next album are. Tony is always looking towards the future, I'm sure he's got a few ideas brewing! Ever since his first Duets album, he has mentioned that Stevie Wonder and he wanted to make an album together. Here's an article for it but it's two years old already.
http://articles.nydailynews.com/2009-08-26/entertainment/29436375_1_tony-bennett-pop-vocal-collaboration-grammy
In his later years, Tony has often boasted that he has enough unissued material in the can to keep new material coming out long after he's gone. We'll see...
That's great to know! I have a lot of faith in his sons. I just read another article where his son Danny was quoted saying that as his father's manager, he is managing a legacy. So true. I know he will take great care of his father's music in the same manner as Sinatra's family. Hopefully we get a concert boxset in the same fashion as Frank someday. All I do is stumble upon clips from Tony's MANY tv specials.
NPR has 16 of the 17 tracks for Duets II available for listening. Enjoy!
http://www.npr.org/2011/09/14/140408084/first-listen-tony-bennett-duets-ii
I just saw Tony's interview from 20/20 last night and there was a film clip of him singing 'The Trolley Song' from his movie album in the studio. I had no idea some of those sessions were filmed. Brilliant! I couldn't believe what I was seeing. Yet, the oldest clip I've seen of him in the studio has him singing 'So Long, Big Time' from this Harold Arlen documentary.
http://www.amazon.com/Somewhere-Over-Rainbow-Harold-Arlen/dp/1572525797/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1316060584&sr=8-1
Tony was on television so frequently in the 1950's. I wish there was a circulating (official or other) DVD of kinescopes of these clips. There is a 2 hour set of circulating clips of Sinatra's early 50's TV show, but no Tony. They must exist somewhere
Just letting everyone know on this thread that tonight I'm going to see Tony at he Metropolitan Opera House in Lincoln Center! I will fill you all in on the event later tonight!
Great Robert, can't wait to hear about it!
I'm letting everyone here know that I shall be attending Tony's AARP Benefit performance on saturday the 24th at the staples Center in L.A. I shall report and review accordingly. 🙂
For the TB completists out there a question....
What are the "CD era" albums that were also released in LP form?
I know of "Art of Excellence", "Bennett/Berlin", "Astoria" and"Ellington:Hot & Cool". Any others?
Thanks in advance.
Here's a recap of Tony's concert at the Metropolitan Opera House:
First, he was introduced by Bill Clinton. Clinton filled the audience in with a brief bio on Tony which he read from a teleprompter which was positioned precisely where you would find the orchestra leader. He introduced Tony and the evening got underway. The ticket said the concert began at 7 but it didn't get underway until 720. Anyway, Tony sang a total of 23 songs and here is the set list:
1.Watch What Happens (I knew he would open with this, he's been doing it for several years)
2.They All Laughed
3.Maybe This Time (This was the song I had hoped he would perform tonight and I'm so glad he did)
4.I Got Rhythm (he gave each musician plenty of solo time here and they really got to show out their chops)
5.How Do You Keep the Music Playing w/ Aretha Franklin (Great Chemistry but I prefer the recorded version on Duets II. Aretha is much more controlled in the studio version and it seemed like she was trying to block Tony out some points.
6.Sing You Sinners
7.The Way You Look Tonight (accompanied simply by Gray Sargent, perfection)
8.Steppin' Out
9.Yesterday I Heard the Rain w/ Alejandro Sanz (Tony mentions after he finished singing that this song just went No.1 in Spain on the charts)
10.Just in Time
11.Because of You (I loved the tempo in this song)
12.I Wanna Be Around
13.One Upon A Time (I was surprised he sang this song, I love lesser known hits)
14.The Good Life
15.For Once in My Life
16.The Shadow of Your Smile
17.I Left My Heart In San Francisco
18. The Best is Yet to Come
19.If I Ruled the World w/ Elton John (At the end of the song when they hit the climax, Elton stops singing, steps back in awe and lets Tony shine on the last line.
20.Who Cares?
21.Smile (Tony speaks of the time he received a letter from Chaplin about he made 'Smile' famous all over again)
22.When Your Smiling (Ending the show with this is genius because it's a great follow up to 'Smile' but more importantly, Tony was always told he should start his shows with this song because many performers of this earlier days did[Judy Garland comes to mind].
23.Fly Me To the Moon (accompanied again by Gray Sargent, Tony sings the opening verse with the microphone, but then puts the mic down and demonstrates the phenomenal acoustics of the Opera House)
After the last song, we clapped non-stop in an effort to get Tony back on the stage for another song but it didn't happen. He came out 4 separate times and took a bow but no more encores. We didn't stop clapping until each musician left the stage.
Lastly, it was an amazing evening and to see Tony at this stage of his career was an absolute privilege. I am very grateful to my family who gave me the tickets as a present for my graduation from college.
I was also there tonight, Robert, and would like to thank you for the wonderful recap! And what a wonderful family you must have, too; I'm so glad Mr. Bennett didn't disappoint. It was truly an evening to remember!
Great review, thanks. I went to a concert some years back. About an hour after the concert, some friends and I were standing in the parking lot talking,when Tony emerged from the hall by himself. He spotted us, and walked over and talked to us for about half an hour.
Glad you had a good time, Robert. I'll see how the set list varies on Saturday at Staples. Methinks it will be exactly the same except for the duets. Here in L.A. the guests are listed as Carrie Underwood, John Mayer and Stevie Wonder.
What does everyone think of Duets II?
I have my likes and dislikes. This album is not perfect. I pretend that the John Mayer duet did not happen. I also purchased the Target exclusive for the extra 2 bonus tracks with Jackie Evancho and Brad Paisley.
Yet, I love that Marion Evans arranged some of the songs because Marion arranged one of my favorite albums of Tony's. His 'What Makes it Happen' album is fantastic. Interestingly enough, two of the tracks on Duets II appear on 'What Makes it Happen' Don't Get Around Much Anymore and On the Sunnyside of the Street.
After this album I hope he releases a solo album of some sort because even though I love hearing him with other artists, it is time for another solo album.
Indeed, Robert, it was wonderful to see Marion's name among the credits! I was thrilled to see that he, like Tony, still has "it!"
It really is great to see that Marion Evans is still working and creating great music! This topic of Marion reminds of when I read Tony's auto biography and in the book Tony said that Torrie Zito had arranged many songs for him and many of the arrangements went unused. It would be great it Tony still had those arrangements were dusted off and made into an album. I wonder what became of them.
I attended last night's performance at Staples Center in L.A. As I was keeping track of the set list, my note card fell from my lap under the next section of seats!!!! If anyone has the set list from the show will they PLEASE post it? I'd love to review and commnet on the show for you all, but a set list would be infinitely helpful. Many thanks in advance.
P.S. Tony was unbelieveable!!!!!
Paul,
Was the event filmed? Did you see any cameras?
Yes I saw cameras. Plus the two big video screens.
That's great! I hope we get to see this concert one day on dvd! Why not continue Tony's birthday celebration by releasing this birthday concert on DVD? Columbia, can you here me?
Speaking on Tony concerts on DVD, I purchased Duets II from HSN so I can get the Bonus Live Disc. The bonus disc has 8 songs from various live concerts. They are audio taken from already released DVD concerts of his. Specifically, they were taken from Tony's Live By Request Show from 1998, his Live in San Francisco DVD from 2002 and the third source struck me as odd. Three of the songs were from a Live EP that was released through iTunes last year. It's from the 2010 iTunes Festival in England at the RoundHouse. The liner notes of the Bonus CD said that the three songs were taken from the DVD of that concert. Now I though I was aware to all of Tony's DVDs.
After some searching on Google, I found the concert from the Roundhouse and it available ONLY through the Irish iTunes store. I'm annoyed I can't purchase this. The running time is 1 hour and 20 minutes and by the looks of the trailer, it looks great!
Did you guys know the new album is being released in Europe as a 180gm LP????
http://www.musiconvinyl.com/releases/Bennett,_Tony/Duets_II
This is an historic achievement!
http://www.billboard.com/news/tony-bennett-85-achieves-first-no-1-album-1005373552.story#/news/tony-bennett-85-achieves-first-no-1-album-1005373552.story
I doubt we will ever see another solo album by Tony until he has left us. Sadly, "The Art of Romance" was a very poor seller and the Duets CD is now Number 1. What do you think Sony is looking at??????
Paul,
I agree but when Tony signed his latest contract with Columbia, he signed on for another 12 albums, so he has 11 more to go, if he chooses to record them that is unless the albums he is recording in secret are part of the 11 left. The contract also said (and this is what Tony said) he doesn't have to record them if doesn't want to.
Just a slight deviation........does anyone know why Tony never recorded with Nelson Riddle? In an interview recorded not long before his death, Nelson was asked....having arranged for all the greats.........was there anyone that he would have liked to have worked with, but didn't? His reply was, " Yes, as a matter of fact there is. I would have liked to have worked with Tony Bennett." Did Tony simply not want to go down the same road as Frank, Ella, Judy, Rosie etc? They were both in limbo in the 1970's.....oh to have a swing and ballad album in my collection with Tony & Nelson!!!
I would consider it wishful thinking for an 85 year old singer to reord 11 more albums. Sometimes TB does egagerate on these things!
@ Art,
It certainly is a dream. I can't imagine how wonderful a Nelson/Bennett album would have been. I also think Tony missed some opportunities when it came to album ideas and duet partners. I would have loved duets with Rosemary Clooney and Margaret Whiting or complete albums in the same fashion as Tony and k d lang.
@Paul,
A guy can dream, can't he? haha!
Anyway, today marks one month till the release of this set! Will anyone be picking it up come November 8th?
Clip of Tony's first recording in this promo video for this set! Found this just now on YouTube!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WmZy0_tDCqY&NR=1
I wonder if anyone has compiled the most up-to-date list of the tracks that are missing from the big box. This would include unique recordings that are released, alternates/outtakes, special limited/promo songs, guest vocals/duets, etc.
Maybe another check of the discography would help.
Then it would be wonderful if some of us could somehow share that supplement to the box.
I decided to get the box, for sure!
This is the list I have compiled. It does not include some alt takes nor tracks issued as bonuses at Target, etc:
ITEM# TITLE REC DATE
1 Let’s Make Love 17-Apr-50
2 Our Lady of Fatima 14-Jul-50
3 Kiss You 23-Aug-50
4 Beautiful Madness 17-Jan-51
5 Madonna, Madonna 11-May-54
6 Friend’s Blues (Ralph Sharon; Tony only scats) 3-Jun-58
7 How Long Has This Been Going On? 26-Feb-64
8 All Of You 26-Feb-64
9 We’ll Be Together Again 26-Feb-64
10 You Can't Love 'Em All 26-Feb-64
11 What Child Is This 1-Sep-67
12 I, Yes Me, That’s Who! 20-Jan-70
13 Fred 25-Jan-71
14 All That Love Went To Waste (Phillips) Nov 1973
15 Some of these Days (Phillips) Nov 1973
16 I’m Just A Lucky So and So (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77
17 Prelude to a Kiss (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77
Capitol City (from SIMPSONS CD) Nov 1990
18 I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart May 1999
19 Something To Live For May 1999
20 Love Me Tender (TV PERFORMANCE) 1994
21 Young at Heart – duet with Shawn Colvin 1994
22 Always 1994
23 What a Difference a Day Made 1996
24 I Get Along Without You Very Well Sep 2001
25 If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow 2002
26 Colors of My Life 2002
27 I Can't Get Started (with Doc Severinson Band) 1991
oops, that's 28 items. I failed to number the Simpsons track!
ITEM# TITLE REC DATE BEST SOURCE
1 Let’s Make Love 17-Apr-50 VINYL
2 Our Lady of Fatima 14-Jul-50 PROPERBOX 121 CD
3 Kiss You 23-Aug-50 PROPERBOX 121 CD
4 Beautiful Madness 17-Jan-51 PROPERBOX 121 CD
5 Madonna, Madonna 11-May-54 PROPERBOX 121 CD
6 Friend’s Blues (Ralph Sharon; Tony only scats) 3-Jun-58 VINYL
7 How Long Has This Been Going On? 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
8 All Of You 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
9 We’ll Be Together Again 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
10 You Can't Love 'Em All 26-Feb-64 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: VAN HEUSEN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8164
11 What Child Is This 1-Sep-67 NEW CD CLASSIC CHRISTMAS COLLECTION (SONY)
12 I, Yes Me, That’s Who! 20-Jan-70 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165
13 Fred 25-Jan-71 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165
14 All That Love Went To Waste (Phillips) Nov 1973 VINYL
15 Some of these Days (Phillips) Nov 1973 VINYL
16 I’m Just A Lucky So and So (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77 TRIBUTE TO DUKE CD (CONCORD CCD-4050)
17 Prelude to a Kiss (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77 TRIBUTE TO DUKE CD (CONCORD CCD-4050)
18 Capitol City (from SIMPSONS CD) Nov 1990 SONGS IN THE KEY OF SPRINGFIELD CD (Rhino CD: 8122-72723-2 )
19 I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart May 1999 HOT & COOL BONUS CD (CSK 46304)
20 Something To Live For May 1999 HOT & COOL BONUS CD (CSK 46304)
21 Love Me Tender (TV PERFORMANCE) 1994 ELVIS, IT’S NOW OR NEVER (MERCURY CD)
22 Young at Heart – duet with Shawn Colvin 1994 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CK 66184)
23 Always 1994 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CK 66184)
24 What a Difference a Day Made 1996 ONE FINE DAY SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CD CK 67916)
25 I Get Along Without You Very Well Sep 2001 STARDUST CD (BLUE NOTE)
26 If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow 2002 DIVINE SECRETS OF YA-YA SISTERHOOD soundtrack (COLUMBIA CD: 5089592)
27 Colors of My Life 2002 IT STARTED WITH A SONG (CY COLEMAN CD Sony Music CD: SK 89138)
28 I Can't Get Started (with Doc Severinson Band) 1991 ONCE MORE WITH FEELING, DOC SEVERINSON (AMHERST CD)
Great job. Thanks for posting this listing. It's puzzling that the Columibia/Sony titles were excluded from the box.
This list is great! Too bad Tony's version of "I've got the world on a String" from 'Analyze This' isn't availalble. It's a great track.
Wow, what a list. I have some, but not all of them. It amazes me that Sony left off some Columbia singles.
I hope that someone might be able to share a set of these deleted titles somehow, as I just cannot go out and buy them all after spending $400.
Thank you for compiling the list, and I hope any new discoveries are added in this thread.
I have every track 😉
One week till release! I pre-ordered mine yesterday! The people at Barnes and Noble were sort of stunned that a 22 year old wanted this the day it came out! I said to them "I'll be there at 9AM of the 8th to get it!"
Robert,
Sounds like me in 1968 rushing out on Decemeber 7th to be first in line for Frank Sinatra's "Cycles" LP. I was 14 at the time and had fallen in love with Mr. S's music the previous summer. I was also there on release date for "A Man Alone" and "Watertown" the following year! I took ALOT of grief from schoolmates and others my age for my taste in music in the "Inna Gada Davida" era!!!!
ENJOY!
Your post made me laugh, Paul. I remember leaving Sam Goody's with a couple of buddies in the '60s. They had their latest Beatles and Bob Dylan LPs and I, at the ripe age of 15, couldn't wait to get home and listen to the just-released "September of My Years" . Fast forward into the early 70's, I was getting the same flak in the Navy barracks, replacing Three Dog Night for Peggy Lee on the community record player.
By the way, while the Barnes & Noble site was charging $32.00 tax with free shipping, the Tony Bennett website wasn't charging any tax, just $10.00 for shipping - a net savings of around $22.00
Just ordered mine today!!! 🙂
Does the Velvet Box have any of the other missing tracks beside #7-8-9 of Simon's list? That is, I wonder if some of the other missing tracks that Simon lists as being on OTHER CDs/vinyl might ALSO be on the Velvet Box? (is that clear?)
I do plan to order, but I need to wait until after it is released.
I've really enjoyed reading this thread, and hope that all of you have a good Thanksgiving.
About my comment above...Simon mentioned in an earlier post that the "Velvet" Art of Excellence had some alternate takes, but the list of 28 "excluded tracks" does not include mention of those. Are they confirmed to be on the new super box?
I also note that the alternate of "The Man that Got Away" is not listed in Simon's "Missing 28"...has it been confirmed to be on the super box?
Maybe when the box is out all of these details can be worked out. I hope that SONY did not mess up and use out-dated remasters (such as using the inferior mastering of Tony Sings for Two")
@Kevin- correct, I did not include any alternate takes on my list
the alternate takes from ART OF EXCELLENCE have never been officially acknowledged and are NOT in the new box. The alternate of “The Man that Got Away” is also NOT in the new box. The alternate takes included on the I WANNA BE AROUND cd in the velvet box, "If I Love Again" and "Someone To Love" ARE included in the new box.
actually, regarding ART OF EXCELLENCE, I am not sure which takes will be included: either the alternates or originals will be missing. On the velvet box version of EXCELLENCE, Everybody Has The Blues, How Do you Keep The Music Playing, and The Day You Leave Me are all alternates
@Kevin, have no fears on the sound quality. I have heard a few sample tracks from the box and the sonics are AWESOME!!!
I do hope that some of that Columbia echo has been removed??
there are several alternate takes from the Bill Evans collaborations, included in the COMPLETE BENNETT-EVANS set issued a couple of years ago, inexplicably missing from the new box
FYI, Kevin, the velvet box does NOT have any of the missing tracks, except those I indicate i my list of the 28
@Art - from the tracks I have heard, I would say that the echo has NOT been removed. The sound is true to the original sonic design of those vintage Columbia recordings.
@Kevin, speaking of the alt take of "Man That Got Away: from the great SINGS FOR TWO album, there is a killer outtake from the same album of "God Bless The Child", never before released!!!!
Unlike some alternate takes by other artists, which are near exact clones with perhaps a slight pause for a breath, Tony's seem to be almost completely different versions (at least the few that I have heard).
If you ever have the time, Simon, to compile a list of all confirmed alternates, that would be so nice.
I bet all of the original session tapes that do not have echo or reverb applied have been destroyed for many years. There are two kinds of "original sonic design" as far as I am concerned, one by the commercial producer/engineer (echo/reverb), and one by the singer & his creator (all natural!)
It is easy to get all of the Bill Evans session alternates, but not the Columbia alternates.
@Kevin - you said: I bet all of the original session tapes that do not have echo or reverb applied have been destroyed for many years.
I am sure you are correct. Yes, I do intend to attempt a list of previously released alt takes not included in the new box.
My list of the 28 also does NOT include some tracks issued as bonuses on CD's sold at Target, etc (for example, some additional duets not present on the first DUETS album)
My copy of The Art Of romance has an extra track, "Lovers After All"...is this on the set?
That track doesn't seem to be in the set. 'Lovers after all' falls into the category of 'Bonus tracks' that appear on Import versions of albums released outside of the USA. I've also never heard of this track. I would love to hear it!
I found another tune I've never heard of 'Now It can Be Told' which can be found on the Japanese import version of the 'It Could Happen To You' soundtrack. Anyone own that track?
Is it the same recording from "Bennett/Berlin"?
It could be!
Also, I noticed in the track listing provided on the Barnes and Noble website for the set that on the 'Beat of My Heart' contains a track I have not heard of titled 'Army Air Corps Song' Does anyone know anything about this?
Yup! It's on the orginal pressing of the LP and was written by R. Crawford with Jo Jones on drums. It's a swing version of the Army Air Corp theme. Dunno why it was deleted from later issues and the CD.
Believe it or not, "Army Air Corp Song" was deleted from the CD of BEAT OF MY HEART because TB thought that the song glorifies war...
Oh crap!! "Lovers After All" is not on my list.... I have to track that one down! I do not own it. 🙁
Interesting.
Also, what about 'Lady sings the Blues' It was released on a Jazz Arc LP called 'The Songs of Alec Wilder' This song was recorded after the Bill Evans sessions and before the Ellington tribute album in 1977.
My CD of The Art Of Romance not only contains LOVERS AFTER ALL but also ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS IS YOU.......is that available on the set??
Check the list...it's on Disc 75.
It looks like the "Complete Addenda of Tony" (CAT) may end up being a small box set in itself. At least two CDs. It may be a little gross to call it the CAT BOX, so maybe I'll just call it the CAT.
The CAT be a mission. I hope our Number One Fan (NOF) can help. I'll have to start looking through my stuff, though I never bought special imports.
I was very surprised by the items that Simon listed from the "Proper Box", which tended to be early Columbia singles. How could those have been overlooked when SONY did the singles in the big box? I was going to wait until the big box is in my hands to backcheck my collection of 78s and 45s and the discography.
I sold my Plunge Router yesterday, which helps me further justify my purchase. If you don't know what a Plunge Router is, you haven't really lived.
Those early singles left off the new box were omitted at the express request of TB himself... some of the early cuts embarrass him and he did not want them exposed once again. My only objection is that they are not addressed at all in the set's booklet. I dislike revisionist history... why not just list them and explain why they are not included?
Don't get me going on Tony and re-writing history!!!! The man is off-the-wall when it comes to what h wishes to remember and how he remembers it. And I am talking way back to the 1970's...not now as an old man.
"Our Lady" was a big selling 78 for Tony...at least I have seen many, many copies.
I didn't realize that this was an intentionally edited set. I thought the deletions were oversights. Even Frank allowed "Mama Will Bark" to be included on his Columbia box. The songs deleted may not be masterpieces, but they are not garbage either.
Mr. S had no hand in the decision-making of the Big Blue Box as he did not own the Columbia masters. As far as I'm concerned if Tony actually hand-picked what songs were to be included and excluded from this collection it is totally B.S. He got $10 million from Sony and was supposed to have no further say in the release of his back catalogue.
Frank is still running the show from the Beyond. If he had demanded that Mama Don't Bark, Mama wouldn't have made a sound on the Big Blue Box. But he picked his battles.
A little Frank story: I was in the front row at a Sinatra 1993 concert. In between two songs, he very clearly said into the microphone: "I've got a roach out in the car, and I can't wait to get out there to smoke it." I was stunned. My friend confirmed what I had heard.
Frank may be dismayed to find that roaches do not have an afterlife.
@Paul Mock said: As far as I’m concerned if Tony actually hand-picked what songs were to be included and excluded from this collection it is totally B.S. He got $10 million from Sony and was supposed to have no further say in the release of his back catalogue.
Paul, actually it's not B.S. Sony gave in to TB's request of their own free will,not because they were contractually obligated. He asked them not to include those tracks and they agreed. remember, TB still records for them and I am sure Sony wants to maintain a friendly relationship...
I got this information from someone who knows...
Either a box set is complete or it's not. It is not the artist's right to decide what has already been historically recorded. This set should have an asterick next to the title. It is one thing (as in the Reprise box set of Mr. S's recordings) to have some tunes left out due to being incomplete or overlooked in the production. It is another issue when the artist himself tampers with it's content!!!!
Even though I wish that the box included a little more, I respectfully say that I think Paul is being a little harsh.
I do not know one single so-called COMPLETE box set that is truly complete, whatever the artist, whatever the manufacturer. Every one of the "complete" Sinatra boxes is missing material. I have over 200 Bear Family boxes. As great as they are, hardly one is truly complete...at a minimum, they are missing existing alternate takes, or alternate and better mono mixes. Even the super boxsets, like the 19 CD Sandy Denny, is missing material. The zillion CD Heifetz box is also missing material.
I also think it is a little too harsh blasting Tony. After all, this set never would have been issued without his push. Never.
Again, though I am disappointed, it is too harsh to accuse Tony, when this set never would have happened without his push for it.
Well my typewriter seemed to be on auto repeat, but I think the thought was worth repeating anyway!
Thanks, Tony!!
Again, though I am disappointed, it is too harsh to accuse Tony, when this set never would have happened without his push for it.
Yup, make that a $10,000,000 push!
You guys totally miss the point! Here an artist (allegedly...from someone who is supposedly "in the know") blatantly tells the record company what he doesn't want included in what is supposed to be a complete collection of his work because he doesn't want a blemish on his artistical pallete? Again I say it...no one has the right to re-write their own history. If you recorded it and a complete set is produced EVERYTHING that you legitimately recorded and released should be in it...warts and all.
Production oversights are understandable. Sound quality from poor masters is another acceptable cause for omission. But to say "I don't want that song in the set because I don't like it or because I don't want to be remembered as having recorded it" is just criminal!
I've got the set in my hands! The packaging is great! THE GLORY ROAD is a great album! The Sahara Concert is amazing and The DVD of Royal ALbert Hall is of perfect quality. Today is Christmas for me! I'd be glad to answer any questions about the set. Also, the people at Barnes and Noble said the set is exclusive only until after the holidays! 🙂
Congrats! I look forward to reading comments about it.
And thanks for the news about the post-Christmas non-exclusivity. Here's hoping that once it is non-exclusive, the price drops by about $100 so I can pony up for it! (I did my part to bring down the price of The Beach Boys Smile Sessions by pre-ordering it, so I'm not a total free-rider here....)
Looks like a nice drop in price will be had in 2012 for this set if that kis true. Here's hoping!
Congrats.....are the sound mixes the same ...ie have they remixed the original multitrack session tapes from the 1960's onwards?? Or just used the same ole previous mix downs with ten tons of reverb?
The mixes sound the same as the vinyl pressings. These recordings are true to the original pressings. All of the albums so far have incredible sound quality. All the orginal artwork is there. The set even contains mini-gatefold LPs. The photos in the book are very rare. The one complaint and its small is the sound quality of the first 3 recordings in the set. These are Tony's very first records and it sounds like no restoration was undertaken. The dust on the records takes away from the recordings.
But, nonetheless, this set is breathtaking and will keep me occupied for a long time.
I have not listened to the set yet, but I am guessing that I'd rather not have an "expert restoration", because most of those efforts tend to only muffle the sound of the voice and instruments that survives on a 78 pressing.
And WHY, pray tell did Tony deem it necessary to remove "O Sole Mio" from the "Good Things in Life" CD???????? I saw him perform it live 4 times back when he was promoting the LP. He sure seemd to enjoy singing it then!
There is a definite "odor" coming from the tampering during the production of this box set!
that;s now 30 missing tracks. Time to update the list 🙁
some of these omissions are indeed puzzling...
I just got a msg from B&N saying that the release date has been delayed so I am not getting my set that I pre-ordered. I know this is nonsense as Robert already has his set. I guess B&N likes to lie to its customers
Ordered my this past Sunday from the TB site. The release date hasn't been delayed. I've been tracking my package via UPS's website. It's due for delivery tomorrow.
I ordered mine directly from TB's site as the UPS World Wide Saver shipping offered there seems more convenient for overseas purchases (with regards to customs which I would have to pay on arrival otherwise).
At the moment my order status reads as follows:
"No Key. In Stock, ships within 1-2 business days"
Absolutely "no clue" about what "no key" means, so I decided to ignore this and read only the "1-2 days shipping" part of the sentence 😉
Andrea - Italy
Simon,
The people at Barnes and Noble are certainly lying to you.
On another note, I have now listened to both 'rarities, outtakes, and other delights' CDs and I have only a few minor complaints. I'll start with the most minor and that's only the repeating of the title 'Something's Gotta Give' on the sleeve of disc 1. It is numbered in sequence as follows 1.2.3.4.5.6.7.8.9.6.10. I'm just glad the song doesn't show up as a repeat on the disc. haha! Second, the audio for the 3 tracks from the Live Basie Concert were poorly recorded but I'm glad the recording exists. Sometimes you can't even tell if Tony is being accompanied by Basie on piano or he's singing a capella. Now, my biggest complaint is that track 20 is totally pointless. It is 'Sweet Lorraine' from the Jet Set album. I checked the book and it is definitely the same recording. It has the same catalog number and recording date. Though it can be considered a delight...give me a break!!!
The only minor complaint I have about disc 2 is the first track 'Everybody's talkin' I find this unnecessary on the disc because the finished track appears on the 'Something' album and the finished version is great. This track brings nothing interesting at all. Yet, the rest of the tracks are incredible. Beautiful track after beautiful track.
Found another missing track. Tony recorded more then one version of 'Sing You Sinners' The first was 'less produced' and it contained 'hand clapping' on the beat and then he later re-recorded it with a full band and strings.
Now, 'Sing You Sinners' is listed twice in the Singles Volumes, it appears on Disc 3, track 5 and Disc 6, track 8. They are the same track in the box. This is ridiculous but could of been a case of a missing master because the book does not list them as the same recording. There is a five year span between the first recording and the second. Thankfully though the first recording of 'Sing You Sinners' is available on CD is more than one place.
Great posts, Robert. These are most informative, especially to those of us who will not be getting the box anytime soon or have no plans on purchasing it at all. THANKS!
@Art, can you please send me an email? mr.simonmorley@gmail.com
I need to ask you something
Many of the discs' track titles do not show up when you upload them into your iTunes Library. There are at least 23 discs so far that I have to upload and type in each of the titles, artist and album titles individually. This is frustrating!
So I just received a message from TB Store that my box has shipped.
Online status is now:
"Shipped via UPS, Tracking Number: etc..."
I just cancelled my order at B&N and switched for TB store site
The TB store site ships out of Nashville, TN.
the TB store already shipped by box!!!! happy, happy!!
UPS arrived a few hours ago. Just sitting here listening to "Individual Thing" and "Coffee Break" which I haven't heard in years. Just looking at all of the old reproduced album covers is giving me a Chris Matthews-like tingle up my leg !!!
Box arrived this morning. Less than 2 days from Nashville,TN to my little Italian town (hometown, my town...) is what I would define as "fast".
This really looks great... It's going to be a very, very busy weekend...
Ps I STRONGLY ADVISE european buyers you order through TB's store. Beside being extremely fast, they ship by UPS Worldwide Saver, meaning you pay a little (very little actually) more upon ordering, an then you don't have to pay absolutely nothing more in terms of customs and duties on delivery (which we know is usually extremely aggravating).
So kudos to TB and the people at his site for the shipping service too, beside all the rest 😉
Hey Simon,
Now that I have the box set in hand, I want to thank you again for compiling the list of missing tracks as well as their sources. Had to do a little digging around/housecleaning but, with your help I managed to come up with all of the missing tracks (thus far) but two: "Make Love To Me" and "Lady SIngs the Blues". Your expertise and assistance is appreciated.
I don't know if you would consider them missing tracks, there's also last year's "live at iTunes London Festival" 6-track EP, though if think it's been released only in digital (downloadable) form. And I don't know if it's been made available worldwide, or only in Europe.
The songs are: The best is yet to come, Maybe this time, Sing you sinners, Smile, Who cares, For once in my life. TB and the 4tet are on top form, some amazing performances, including a "Who cares" taken at breakneck speed, just incredible.
@Philly Mike: actually, a few more missing tracks have been pointed out to me. A new updated list is forthcoming.
here is my latest list, bonus live tracks are NOT yet listed
ITEM# TITLE REC DATE BEST SOURCE
1 Let’s Make Love 17-Apr-50 VINYL
2 Our Lady of Fatima 14-Jul-50 PROPERBOX 121 CD
3 Kiss You 23-Aug-50 PROPERBOX 121 CD
4 Beautiful Madness 17-Jan-51 PROPERBOX 121 CD
5 Madonna, Madonna 11-May-54 PROPERBOX 121 CD
6 Friend’s Blues (Ralph Sharon; Tony only scats) 3-Jun-58 VINYL (also expensive JAP CD)
7 How Long Has This Been Going On? 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
8 All Of You 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
9 We’ll Be Together Again 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
10 You Can’t Love ‘Em All 26-Feb-64 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: VAN HEUSEN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8164
11 What Child Is This 1-Sep-67 NEW CD CLASSIC CHRISTMAS COLLECTION (SONY)
12 I, Yes Me, That’s Who! 20-Jan-70 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165
13 Fred 25-Jan-71 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165
14 All That Love Went To Waste (Phillips) Nov 1973 VINYL
15 Some of these Days (Phillips) Nov 1973 VINYL
16 I’m Just A Lucky So and So (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77 TRIBUTE TO DUKE CD (CONCORD CCD-4050)
17 Prelude to a Kiss (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77 TRIBUTE TO DUKE CD (CONCORD CCD-4050)
18 Capitol City (from SIMPSONS CD) Nov 1990 SONGS IN THE KEY OF SPRINGFIELD CD (Rhino CD: 8122-72723-2 )
19 I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart May 1999 HOT & COOL BONUS CD (CSK 46304)
20 Something To Live For May 1999 HOT & COOL BONUS CD (CSK 46304)
21 Love Me Tender (TV PERFORMANCE) 1994 ELVIS, IT’S NOW OR NEVER (MERCURY CD)
22 Young at Heart – duet with Shawn Colvin 1994 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CK 66184)
23 Always 1994 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CK 66184)
24 What a Difference a Day Made 1996 ONE FINE DAY SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CD CK 67916)
25 I Get Along Without You Very Well Sep 2001 STARDUST CD (BLUE NOTE)
26 If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow 2002 DIVINE SECRETS OF YA-YA SISTERHOOD soundtrack (COLUMBIA CD: 5089592)
27 Colors of My Life 2002 IT STARTED WITH A SONG (CY COLEMAN CD Sony Music CD: SK 89138)
28 I Can’t Get Started (with Doc Severinson Band) 1991 ONCE MORE WITH FEELING, DOC SEVERINSON (AMHERST CD)
29. O Sole Mio 9/11/72 from GOOD THINGS IN LIFE (Curb CD: D2-77447 — BEST OF TONY BENNETT)
30. Lovers After All rec. 2004 recorded for ART OF ROMANCE, issued on Sony Music CD: 5187092000 — The Art Of Romance [Import version]
31. The Lady Sings The Blues - 1977 from Jazz Arc LP 12": 19795 — The Songs Of Alec Wilder VINYL
32. Jingle Bells (2008) (Bloomingdale's Exclusive Version), ALSO ON JAP VERSION OF CD SWINGIN’ CHRISTMAS
33. Christmas In Herald Square (1995 Version/ different arrangement) (released on Christmas With The Stars Columbia CD originally sold through Avon)
34. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (2001) Soundtrack CD: Rudolph & The Island of Misfit Toys
35. Sing You Sinners (rec. 7/20/50) new box lists this recording as being on disc #3, track #5. However, it is really the 12/15/55 recording, which is repeated again on the new box as disc #6, track #8. Original 1950 version is available on PROPERBOX 121 CD
MISSING ALTERNATE TAKES
1. The Man That Got Away rec. 1959 from SINGS FOR TWO, alt issued on the FORTY YEARS: ARTISTRY box set
2. Everybody Has The Blues,
3. How Do you Keep The Music Playing
4. The Day You Leave Me
#2-4 recorded for THE ART OF EXCELLENCE (1996) all alternate takes issued on the "Velvet Box" COLLECTION version of that album in 2006
5. A Child Is Born (take #2)
6. You Don’t Know What Love Is (take #16)
7. Maybe September (take #8)
8. You Must Believe In Spring (take #1)
9. Who Can I Turn To (take #6)
#5-9 alternate takes from second Bill Evans album, TOGETHER AGAIN, issued on CD COMPLETE BILL EVANS RECORDINGS (Concord FAN-31281)
MISSING BONUS DUETS
1. The Lady Is A Tramp (1987) -with Frank Sinatra *A bonus live duet from Bally's that was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD.
2. I Left My Heart In San Francisco-with Judy Garland *A bonus live duet from Judy's TV show that was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD.
3. When You Wish Upon A Star-with Jackie Evancho (Target exclusive from Duets II)
4. They Can't Take That Away From Me-with Brad Paisley (Target exclusive from Duets II)
5. Steppin’ Out (duet with Delta Goodrum) rec. 2/2006 and released on Australian CD version of DUETS)
6. If I Ruled the World (duet with Wang Hom Lee) rec 2006 and released on Singapore version of DUETS)
oops, someone just pointed out another:
36. Christmas Song (1992) with Manhattan Transfer from MANHATTAN TRANSFER CHRISTMAS (Sony CD 0074645296821)
pardon error above, ART OF EXCELLENCE should read 1986, not 1996
another alternate take:
10. The Rules of the Road with Ralph Sharon Trio, alternate take rec. February 26, 1964, different from version finally issued on WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW, alt take can be found on ESSENTIAL TONY BENNETT CD Columbia/Legacy 86634
TWO MORE MISSING DUETS:
7. "I've Got the World on a String" (2006)- duet with Diana Krall was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD
8. "Steppin' Out with My Baby" – (2006) duet with Michael Bublé was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD
I am very impressed with your work, Simon.
I had a good friend, long deceased, Bill Brooks, who was known as "Alternate Take Bill Brooks". Bill was a great collector of vocalists. He had a virtually perfect "musical photographic memory" and could distinguish any slight variation, even pauses for a tiny fraction of a second between two takes that even serious listeners thought were identical. Discographers often turned to Bill, who found many errors in many reissues by the major labels. One thing about Bill, he was an incredible gentleman, very generous, and did not take his ability as any sign of superiority. I do miss him.
As a big fan of Tony Bennett, Bill might have enjoyed the challenge of this box set.
I heard that there is a small general store in Weiser, Idaho that has an exlusive edition of the box set with 5 extra CDs.
They do not do online sales or mail order. I'm leaving tonight for Idaho, and will report back after Thanksgiving.
I hope this is not a turkey.
@Kevin, sounds rather far-fetched! 🙂 but pls keep us posted!!
I made it as far as Buffalo, when I decided to call the Weiser General Store. The deal was not so good. The store owner would order the set for you through Barnes and Noble, and then let you pick any 5 CDs from his personal collection that he kept behind the register, clearing an extra $40. So I decided to drive across Goat Island and look at Niagara Falls before heading home.
that's pretty funny!!! 🙂
It looks like the autographed edition has dropped to $439.99 on the B&N website. I guess no one was buying that Tony's autograph (which he freely gives) was worth $100!
Kevin,
I heard that in some stores they're selling a "Tony Bennett Box-Elvis Costello Spectacular Spinning Songbook" bundle autographed by both artists. While signing, they occasionally got confused and signed each other's box. These particular cross-signed bundles are being sold (so I'm told, I hoped you could look into this) for as much as $10.000
While crossing back into the USA at Niagara Falls, the customs agent noticed a stack of Frank Sinatra bootlegs on my car seat. While I was being detained, they ripped my car seats apart. Though they didn't find any other contraband, they told me they are not responsible for damage to the seats. I just found out that the repairs total more than $400, meaning I may be delayed for quite awhile in getting the Tony box. I will never be suckered into one of those Exclusive Edition deals again.
Wait a minute. You mean the cross-signed bundle is only $10,000? I gotta call Mastercard and get my credit limit extended.
Simon,
Thanks for the updated list. I've downloaded most of the box to my iPod and noticed that "You Can't Love 'Em All" is on the CD marked "The Columbia Singles - Vol. 5".
Kevin, I should be in bed by now, it's quite late here in Italy and tomorrow is going to be long working day... Instead, I'm sitting here laughing by myself at your Idaho-Niagara adventures... 😉
PS: beware of counterfeits on your cross-signed bundle mission. I understand some of the set "supposedly" signed by Mr.Costello might actually have been signed by Diana Krall. Eyes wide open, I'm counting on you.Cheers.
It has always been easy to tell anytime that Diana Krall signed Elvis' name for him, because she usually wrote "Elvis Presley", whom she actually thought she was marrying. Not having grown up when "The King" was well known, she wasn't familiar with his looks. Diana became suspicious when she noticed the name "McManus" on her twins' birth certificates, but still prefers to believe she is "The Queen".
@Philly Mike: the recording of "You Can't Love 'Em All" is a recording from 1959 with orchestra. The rare one missing from the set is a trio recording from 1964 intended for WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW but not placed on the album
That's great, Simon. I was annoyed with myself for having ordered the Jimmy Van Heusen CD with the missing track. It should be arriving in a day or two. What's left of the scowl on my face is now due solely to gravity!
it's really amazing (and infuriating) that Sony releases a supposedly complete Bennett set and leave off so many tracks (54 at last count), forcing compulsive TB collectors to scramble looking for these rarities. And, all the more infuriating with the dozens of duplications on the set...
Here Here!
or is it:
Hear Hear!
or maybe:
Hear Here!
That's got it!
"compulsive" is not the right word...let us just say "serious" Tony Bennett collectors. Compulsive would apply to those who buy two copies of this boxset, one for back-up purposes only.
Ooops... I honestly thought that THREE copies were the compulsiveness threshold...
As one who has back-ups of many of my favorite recordings, and back-ups of almost every useful kitchen appliance or stereo equipment (I go to many garage sales), I would have to agree with you that owning THREE of something is a better definition of being compulsive.
That said, I must confess that I have at least three copies of many recordings, and as many as three or more of many appliances and stereo equipment. However, when I go camping, I only bring one back-up of any useful gear.
I see your point and I think we can settle this. Let's say that from FOUR copies on, it *could* be somewhat pathological, even if particular situations might need separate evaluation and could possibly be justified. Up to THREE copies is just serious, responsible collecting.
Anything more than one is hoarding, purely and simply. Collector's sickness. See a shrink. 🙂
Funny you should mention this, my shrink owns 3 copies of Mosaic's Nat King Cole box set.
He says it's pretty normal.
Well, it's easy for him, it's my money there.
two more missing tracks:
9. New York, New York (2011) live duet with Andrea Bocelli from Bocelli’s CONCERTO, ONE NIGHT IN CENTRAL PARK CD, issued on Decca/Universal
10. New York State of Mind (2008) live duet with Billy Joel from Joel’s LIVE AT SHEA STADIUM, Sony Columbia/Legacy CD 88697 85424 2
total tracks missing in action now at 56
And I guess you're not even considering the 6 track iTunes EP, that would add up to 62... We're talking about another, small boxset...
This is nit picking! Stick with official studio master takes that were not included. The Bocelli duet in Central park was released after the set was released and does not count.
with such sloppy work by Sony, nits are extremely ripe for the picking! 🙂
Regarding the "nits": I really appreciate Simon's comprehensive approach.
When all the dust settles, it is possible to separate the 56-62+ missing recordings into something like:
Part A: SONY + Other Masters
Part B: Officially Released Live & Guest & Other Recent Issues
That can be done at any time that a collector wishes.
I also think it would be nice to have
Part C: Under the shower & doin' the laundry
good idea, Kevin
btw, in addition to those iTunes live tracks, there were also some other live tracks issued as a bonus disc... I have to take a look: I have the tracks somewhere on my HD
Tony Bennett: The Complete Collection (Sony Music)
By David Hajdu
New Republic
More than thirty stars of contemporary or recent-vintage pop, rock, and country music sing with Tony Bennett on his two CDs of cross-generational collaborations, Duets and Duets II, the second of which was released shortly after Bennett's eighty-fifth birthday last summer. The albums are narratives of pilgrimage. Most of the guest singers, who include Lady Gaga and Faith Hill, are young or youngish; and the oldish ones, such as Paul McCartney and Aretha Franklin, are considerably younger than the singer who brought them together. Nearly all of them traveled some distance from their comfort zones and their musical frames of reference, abandoning their categories on the Billboard charts, to work alongside Bennett. Performing songs from his repertoire of vintage popular standards ("It Had to Be You," sung by Carrie Underwood with Bennett; "Sing, You Sinners," done by John Legend with Bennett) in arrangements suited to Bennett's style o f jazz-inflected crooning, the junior partners adapted their approaches to Bennett's in gestures of respect not only for his seniority, but also for the ostensible superiority of his music. For a singer of any age or musical orientation, working with Tony Bennett is an act of deference, something close to a ritual of secular devotion. Bennett's status in popular music today has no precedent in living memory. Frank Sinatra, who also recorded a pair of duet albums late in life (with some of the same singers who appear on Bennett's recent CDs, including Bono, Willie Nelson, and Natalie Cole) was and is still widely revered, of course, though not with the swelling adoration - the uncritical, almost familial warmth of heart and fuzziness of mind - that Tony Bennett engenders. Sinatra is a figure who commands attention and demands admiration. At the same time, he remains - even to many of his admirers - a source of occasional exasperation; and to his detractors, he is an object of enmity, which is utterly foreign to the sphere Bennett occupies. Bing Crosby's avuncular languor, once the mark of his cool, has come across as dozy indifference or grandfatherly cluelessness to generations raised on the high wattage of rock. Louis Armstrong, though broadly venerated throughout his lifetime (and held in even greater esteem today), might have been able to nurture a significant rock-generation audience in his last years, had he or his managers tried to do so; but they never did, notwithstanding the well-meaning rendition of John Lennon's "Give Peace a Chance" on Armstrong's final album. (Crosby, on one of his late-career LPs, gave a shot at Lennon and McCartney's "Hey Jude," without embarrassment or distinction.) Ella Fitzgerald, like Billie Holiday, was taken up in earnest by young listeners only in the years after her death helped to solidify her standing as an artist of canonical stature. Other singers have been held in awe; but Tony Bennett gets the oozing "oohs" and "aahs."
Why Bennett? He has been asked often to account for his own success, and he has consistently offered an explanation having to do with his very consistency. I have interviewed Bennett twice since the late 1980s, when he re-emerged from creative exile, under new management overseen by his two sons (former rockers in a minor band called Quacky Duck and His Barnyard Friends), to make the album that began his repositioning, called The Art of Excellence. In the first interview, conducted more than twenty years ago for a book on pop singers to which I contributed, Bennett said: "The music I was lucky enough to grow up with, when I was just a kid in Astoria, Queens, was the greatest music ever created in this country - the music of the Kerns and the Berlins, the Arlens and the Porters. That's the music I've dedicated my life to singing... the only music I've ever sung. Middle of the road, I never went for that. Middle of the road means it's neither this nor that. I've always taken the musical high road."
More than fifteen years later, in our second interview, Bennett affirmed the consistency he had described by saying nearly the same thing, updated to touch on his growing youth audience. "I never went down the middle of the road," he said. "If you pursue excellence at what you do, and that's what I've always done - the best songs, the great standards of the American songbook, the best musicians, the best engineers - people will respond to you. Young people, especially, because they're not exposed to that kind of quality in the world today. I can't get over that young people line up to see me the way they do. They're craving for quality music, and that's what I've always been devoted to."
Bennett has been singing professionally for more than sixty years now, and the ample documentation of his long career is evidence of more change - in fact, more growth - than he is in the habit of admitting. This month Sony Music (corporate grandchild of Columbia Records, the label that first signed Bennett in 1950) is releasing a gargantuan boxed set of seventy-three CDs collecting every recording that Tony Bennett has ever released, along with several discs of previously unissued material and three DVDs. (In the late 1940s, Bennett recorded a couple of songs for the independent Leslie Records under his first stage name, Joe Bari, before his early mentor Bob Hope persuaded him to adopt an Anglicized version of his given name, Anthony Benedetto; and even the Bari tracks are included in the new box, along with a demo of "St. James Infirmary Blues," which the pre-Bennett Bennett made as a GI in the 314th Army Special Services Band of the European Theatre.)
Seventy-three CDs. Close to one thousand tracks. Some sixty hours of music. In its scale, its comprehensiveness, and its lavishness of presentation, the set is a thundering positioning statement, an insistent marketing argument for the historical significance of Bennett's work. Tony Bennett: The Complete Collection has almost no parallels in popular music, outside the quirkily obsessive collections of American recordings packaged by the Bear Family Company in Germany. (Available in limited numbers primarily by mail order, Bear Family sets have compiled the recordings of Gene Autry, Louis Jordan, the Carter Family, Nat Cole, and many other important acts, along with sets such as the seven-CD collection of renditions of a single song, "Lili Marlene.") The only major American singer other than Bennett to have his entire recording output preserved in one luxuriously packaged set is Elvis, whose work for both Sun and RCA Records was compiled by RCA/Legacy last year on The Complete Elvis Presley Masters, a thirty-CD set with more than eight hundred tracks. Tony Bennett: The Complete Collection is a box like a supermall: its claim to importance is contained in its scale. For that reason, it carries with it a challenge to Bennett's own claims about the consistency of his standards. Could any artist really do so much of equal excellence?
In the genealogy of Italian crooners - Sinatra, Bennett, Perry Como, Dean Martin, Frankie Laine, Jerry Vale, and others (there have been quite a few others) whose singing was central to the sound of American pop between the eras of Benny Goodman and Elvis - Bennett is the most Italian. That is to say, his singing style has been the most unabashedly, voluptuously emotional - at least in his early recordings, on singles such as "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" (his first success) and "Because of You" (his first number-one hit), which Bennett recorded in the 1950s. Hearing these songs for the first time in years (or, in many cases, for the first time) on the "Columbia Singles" CDs in The Complete Collection, I was taken aback by the cheery feverishness of Bennett's delivery. He bellows. He gushes. He works himself up in a frenzied two minutes and ends virtually every song with a fiery show-biz finish. Today we think of Bennett as a classicist for preserving a style of music that pre-dates the contemporary era by half a century, and he was doing something parallel when he started in the 1950s, belting like a combination of Jolson and Caruso in a robustly theatrical style that essentially pre-dated the advent of recording.
Among the reasons we think of Bennett as a classicist is the fact that he swings with a keen sense of jazz time. Yet that was hardly the case in his youthful work, as the early albums in The Complete Collection show. Born eleven years after Sinatra, he came up in the years after the decline of the big-band era. Every important vocalist in the decade before him - Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstine, Doris Day, Rosemary Clooney, Peggy Lee, and even Perry Como (who, for all his weaknesses, had decent time) - learned to sing in dance bands, keeping a pulse and stirring dancers, as opposed to listeners, to move. Bennett was a solo singing act and got his professional training in the studio, recording with string orchestras. He loved jazz, for sure, and was known to sit in with Barbara Carroll and her trio when she was strictly a bebop pianist, playing on 52nd Street. One of Bennett's early albums for Columbia was with a jazz septet, called Cloud 7, and he soon followed it with a rhythm-oriented LP called The Beat of My Heart, which featured six jazz percussionists, including Jo Jones, Chico Hamilton, and Candido. Still, the time in his phrasing tended to be rigid and angular, rarely loose and flowing, even on those early albums with jazz instrumentation. The records had jazz musicians but not a jazz singer.
The standard version of Bennett's story is an almost biblical tale of promise, exile, and redemption. After more than twenty years at Columbia Records, Bennett left the company - voluntarily, though without a fight from the label's potentate, Clive Davis; he re-invented himself through experimentation with jazz, making a pair of celebrated duo albums with the pianist Bill Evans; and he returned to Columbia and found an MTV-jaded youth market hungry for the unpluggable excellence that it saw in Bennett. But the CDs on The Complete Collection, taken chronologically, tell a less dramatic story. Bennett never really made a sudden shift in approach; his style evolved by increments over the decades. He had tried working in the duo setting with a jazz pianist, Ralph Sharon, as early as 1961, on the album Tony Sings for Two.
The marvel of Bennett's work is the gradually unfolding drama of its improvement over time. That is the true consistency in Bennett's output: the reliability of his doing better and better, seemingly through force of will and a dedication to preserving musical values that he has seen as under siege. His approach to rhythm may be the best example. As rock grew to dominate pop music, swing came to be re-conceived as a classical style, and Bennett slowly and steadily came to master its principles. Working regularly with strong jazz musicians such as Ralph Sharon, Bennett learned to hang casually behind the beat, and he developed the ability to phrase in rhythmic clusters. By the time he appeared with Sharon and a punchy trio on MTV Unplugged in 1994, Bennett could swing the Burton Lane-Yip Harburg standard "Old Devil Moon" as if he had grown up on a dance bandstand.
He also learned to reduce - to apply restraint to replace (or at least to supplement) the histrionics that had once made him the object of severe criticism and ridicule. "Bennett's singing was almost a parody of a cabaret act," wrote the syndicated television critic Harriet Van Horne. "The style was so overwrought as to make an audience look away in polite embarrassment... stiff-legged, wildly off-key, eye in a fine frenzy rolling. And those top notes! Pure screaming agony." Over time, aided by the limits that age enforced on his voice, Bennett grew deft at singing quietly, conversationally. He learned to moderate his attack, reserving his strength for the showstoppers and big finishes that he still cannot resist. He has gotten good at varying the dynamics of his voice to suit his material. He knows when to give us more Tony and less Tony, even if it's always the same Tony, more or less.
The great shortcomings of Bennett's music, taken as a body of work, are its narrowness of range, emotionally, and its lack of depth, intellectually. Few singers in any tradition are as gifted as Bennett at expressing joy; he is an ebullient spirit, and that broad grin of his is audible when he sings bright-spirited songs such as "The Good Life" and "Exactly Like You." Among the qualities that make the standards in his repertoire great are their complexities, their levels of subtext, their internal contradictions; but Bennett, for all his technique and seriousness of purpose, and despite his considerable improvement as a singer over the years, rarely cuts deeply into the complicated material he tackles. When Bennett does Rodgers and Hart's mordant lament "This Funny World," he conveys little sense of the cross-tensions of wistfulness, futility, and self-pity in the song. Or when he sings a piece of vernacular poetry such as "Moonlight in Vermont," he gets across a suitable feeling of warmth in broad strokes, but falls short of evoking the song's imagery vividly. (At one point he sings of "the wobbling of a meadowlark," instead of the "warbling.")
A meticulous vocal craftsman, Bennett applies his highly developed and well-seasoned skills to the making of exquisite surfaces - lush tones, fastidiously produced, swinging in time. He sings very much as he appears, impeccably attired and elegantly coiffed with an impressive, natural-looking hairpiece. But there would be little purpose at this point to expect to find much underneath.
I cannot help but suspect that Bennett's genial, exacting superficiality accounts in large part for his appeal to audiences unschooled in the deeper potential of the music that he sings. He serves as a symbol of the non-taxing, uncomplicated lightheartedness of the musical culture predating rock - by extension, a validation of rock's supposedly greater capacity to say serious things. I doubt that this is quite what Tony Bennett has intended.
Bennett, a classicist with the fervor and certainty that are the privileges of the converted, strives to serve the music he treasures as an uncorrupting conduit for the work. He brings little of himself to the music, in deference to it. Unlike Sinatra or Holiday - or any of the fine lesser-known interpreters of the American songbook, such as Mark Murphy - Bennett withholds the self in his work. However noble his intention, the effect is diminishing. Bennett seems not to have internalized the songs he sings. He presents them as musical artworks, but denies the value of interpretation as an art itself. Billie Holiday made clear her presence, her view of the world as an artist, and she employed her songs - the same songs Bennett sings, for the most part - to express her own ideas about that world. Her work was about life as she experienced it, and songs were her instruments. Bennett treats the instruments as the art. He grants no privilege to his thinking, and its absence is a hole that flaws the neat construction of his music. We know exactly where he left his heart, but what of his mind?
©2011 The New Republic
The great shortcomings of Bennett’s music, taken as a body of work, are its narrowness of range, emotionally, and its lack of depth, intellectually
WHAT A PINHEADED COMMENT
I completely agree, and I highlighted the very same lines myself.
David Hajdu is a perfect example of a critic who can only compliment one artist by attempting to tear down another artist. He relishes any opportunity to blast a major artist, from Duke Ellington to Bob Dylan.
He is so unlike the Second Disc's Joe Marchese who prefers to celbrate great artists and their work.
I really don't bother to read Hajdu anymore...you can scan his writing and these absurd statements pop out wherever you look.
Worthless.
I perused the article again, and noted that Hajdu criticizes both Bing Crosby and Louis Armstrong as well, on equally absurd grounds. Hajdu is simply ridiculous. And he talks about anyone having "narrowness of range, emotionally, and lack of depth, intellectually"? Most critics, like Hajdu, only think and write about themselves.
btw, Paul... thanks for publishing this review as I had not seen it
(At one point he sings of “the wobbling of a meadowlark,” instead of the “warbling.”)
I GUESS MR. HAJDU NEVER SPOKE TO ANYONE FROM NEW YORK OR MIGHT CONSIDER THAT DIFFERENT REGIONS OF THE COUNTRY MAY PRONOUNCE CERTAIN WORDS AND SOUNDS DIFFERENTLY...
When did the bittersweet "The Good Life" become a "bright-spirited song"? Maybe Mr. Hajdu has access to an alternate take with different lyrics.
for the nit pickers, here are a few more live tracks not in the set.
Tony has one track on a Bridge School Concert compilation released not long ago, Maybe This Time.
Also, when i purchased duets 2 from qvc, i received a bonus disc of live tracks, 3 were from the itunes festival available from 2010 but the rest of the tracks are simply audio tracks from various DVDs Tony has released within the last 13 years.
also, im seeing Tony at the Westbury Music Fair tonight and I feel like printing out the list of tracks and give it to Danny if I see him. HAHA!
Here's the set list for tonight's show! Tony was great!
She went on 20 minutes after 8.
Her set consisted of 6 songs:
1.Too Marvelous for Words
2.Taking A Chance on Love
3.Embraceable You
4.You're a Lucky Guy (she dedicated this song to her dad)
5.Sail Away (highlight of the set, I love rarely covered songs)
6.S'Wonderful
Tony's Set:
1.Watch What Happens (standard opening tune, I wish he'd perform 'There'll Be Some Changes Made,' I honestly think he still has the range for that song)
2.They All Laughed
3.Maybe This Time (I never get tired of seeing him perform this song)
4.I Got Rhythm
5.Recalls how Rosemary Clooney and he were the first American Idols then segues into how he got his stage name. I'm officially tired of hearing him tell this story.
6.Cold, Cold Heart (Retells story of how Mitch Miller tied him to a tree so he would record this song, great story as well but tired of hearing it.)
7.Sing You Sinners
8.Old Friends (duet with Antonia, very cute)
9.Steppin' Out
10.But Beautiful (highlight, accompanied by Gray Sargent)
11.The Way You Look Tonight
12.Rags to Riches (just a few bars)
13.Just In Time (dedicated it to John and Mary LaRusso, anyone know who they are?)
14.Because of You (tempo changed midway from a ballad to a gentle swing)
15.I Wanna Be Around (did it 'one more time')
16.Once Upon A Time (he flubbed the intro to this song by saying that the song was from the show 'Once Upon A Time' and not 'All American' but them he corrected himself)
17.The Good Life (dedicated this to Lady Gaga like has been doing for quite some time, he also mentioned how he will be appearing on a Thanksgiving TV Special on ABC with Lady Gaga)
18.For Once In My Life
19.Shadow of Your Smile (accompanied simply by Gray Sargent)
20.I Left My Heart in San Francisco
21.The Best is Yet to Come (dedicated to Dr. Ruth, who was in the audience)
22.How Do You Keep the Music Playing? (he told the story when Sinatra told him to sing the song)
23.I'm Old Fashioned (highlight because he hasn't recorded this song and it seems so fresh and so fitting for him to sing it.
24.Who Cares?
25.Smile (recalled the story of how Chaplin wrote him a letter about how much he loved that Tony made Smile famous all over again.)
26.When You're Smiling
27.Then his dog was brought to him on stage by Antonia. (I'll never understand why celebrities bring there dogs on stage.)
Nonetheless, the show was fantastic and it was incredible just to be in Tony's presence for that hour and a half. He didn't even have to sing!
thanks for the report, Robert!
OK, guys! Go to your shiny, new box sets...Now take out disc 46. Notice anything missing???? Try that gaping hole between tracks 5 and 6. Yeah, you know...the place where "IF I COULD GO BACK" should be!!!!! WHAT IS WITH THESE GUYS????????
Add another assassination to the list....the lovely "If I Could Go Back" written by Bachrach and David from the movie "Lost Horizon".
Unforgiveable!!!!
So "Living Together, Growing Together" remains but "If I Could Go Back" has been jettisoned? That's the sound of my jaw dropping right now.
We've got quite a bit on both songs here:
https://theseconddisc.com/2011/09/09/friday-feature-lost-horizon-1973/
Bennett's recording of "If I Could Go Back" has always been a favorite.
apparently, the blame goes directly to TB himself. He and his manager son specifically deleted the tracks that are missing from the set...
latest updated list:
ITEM# TITLE REC DATE BEST SOURCE
1 Let’s Make Love 17-Apr-50 VINYL
2 Our Lady of Fatima 14-Jul-50 PROPERBOX 121 CD
3 Kiss You 23-Aug-50 PROPERBOX 121 CD
4 Beautiful Madness 17-Jan-51 PROPERBOX 121 CD
5 Madonna, Madonna 11-May-54 PROPERBOX 121 CD
6 Friend’s Blues (Ralph Sharon; Tony only scats) 3-Jun-58 VINYL (also expensive JAP CD)
7 How Long Has This Been Going On? 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
8 All Of You 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
9 We’ll Be Together Again 26-Feb-64 VELVET BOX CD OF WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW (SONY 69699 85807 2)
10 You Can’t Love ‘Em All 26-Feb-64 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: VAN HEUSEN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8164
11 What Child Is This 1-Sep-67 NEW CD CLASSIC CHRISTMAS COLLECTION (SONY)
12 I, Yes Me, That’s Who! 20-Jan-70 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165
13 Fred 25-Jan-71 GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165
14 All That Love Went To Waste (Phillips) Nov 1973 VINYL
15 Some of these Days (Phillips) Nov 1973 VINYL
16 I’m Just A Lucky So and So (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77 TRIBUTE TO DUKE CD (CONCORD CCD-4050)
17 Prelude to a Kiss (Concord Records) 15-Apr-77 TRIBUTE TO DUKE CD (CONCORD CCD-4050)
18 Capitol City (from SIMPSONS CD) Nov 1990 SONGS IN THE KEY OF SPRINGFIELD CD (Rhino CD: 8122-72723-2 )
19 I Let A Song Go Out of My Heart May 1999 HOT & COOL BONUS CD (CSK 46304)
20 Something To Live For May 1999 HOT & COOL BONUS CD (CSK 46304)
21 Love Me Tender (TV PERFORMANCE) 1994 ELVIS, IT’S NOW OR NEVER (MERCURY CD)
22 Young at Heart – duet with Shawn Colvin 1994 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CK 66184)
23 Always 1994 IT COULD HAPPEN TO YOU SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CK 66184)
24 What a Difference a Day Made 1996 ONE FINE DAY SOUNDTRACK CD (COLUMBIA CD CK 67916)
25 I Get Along Without You Very Well Sep 2001 STARDUST CD (BLUE NOTE)
26 If Yesterday Could Only Be Tomorrow 2002 DIVINE SECRETS OF YA-YA SISTERHOOD soundtrack (COLUMBIA CD: 5089592)
27 Colors of My Life 2002 IT STARTED WITH A SONG (CY COLEMAN CD Sony Music CD: SK 89138)
28 I Can’t Get Started (with Doc Severinson Band) 1991 ONCE MORE WITH FEELING, DOC SEVERINSON (AMHERST CD)
29. O Sole Mio 9/11/72 from GOOD THINGS IN LIFE (Curb CD: D2-77447 — BEST OF TONY BENNETT)
30. Lovers After All rec. 2004 recorded for ART OF ROMANCE, issued on Sony Music CD: 5187092000 — The Art Of Romance [Import version]
31. The Lady Sings The Blues - 1977 from Jazz Arc LP 12": 19795 — The Songs Of Alec Wilder VINYL
32. Jingle Bells (2008) (Bloomingdale's Exclusive Version), ALSO ON JAP VERSION OF CD SWINGIN’ CHRISTMAS
33. Christmas In Herald Square (1995 Version/ different arrangement) (released on Christmas With The Stars Columbia CD originally sold through Avon)
34. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (2001) Soundtrack CD: Rudolph & The Island of Misfit Toys
35. Sing You Sinners (rec. 7/20/50) new box lists this recording as being on disc #3, track #5. However, it is really the 12/15/55 recording, which is repeated again on the new box as disc #6, track #8. Original 1950 version is available on PROPERBOX 121 CD
36. Christmas Song (1992) with Manhattan Transfer from MANHATTAN TRANSFER A CHRISTMAS ALBUM (Sony CD 0074645296821)
37. If I Could Go Back (rec. 9/20/72) for LISTEN EASY, only source is original vinyl
MISSING ALTERNATE TAKES
1. The Man That Got Away rec. 1959 from SINGS FOR TWO, alt issued on the FORTY YEARS: ARTISTRY box set
2. Everybody Has The Blues,
3. How Do you Keep The Music Playing
4. The Day You Leave Me
#2-4 recorded for THE ART OF EXCELLENCE (1986) all alternate takes issued on the "Velvet Box" COLLECTION version of that album in 2006
5. A Child Is Born (take #2)
6. You Don’t Know What Love Is (take #16)
7. Maybe September (take #8)
8. You Must Believe In Spring (take #1)
9. Who Can I Turn To (take #6)
#5-9 alternate takes from second Bill Evans album, TOGETHER AGAIN, issued on CD COMPLETE BILL EVANS RECORDINGS (Concord FAN-31281)
10. The Rules of the Road with Ralph Sharon Trio, alternate take rec. February 26, 1964, different from version finally issued on WHEN LIGHTS ARE LOW, alt take can be found on ESSENTIAL TONY BENNETT CD Columbia/Legacy 86634
MISSING DUETS
1. The Lady Is A Tramp (1987) -with Frank Sinatra *A bonus live duet from Bally's that was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD.
2. I Left My Heart In San Francisco-with Judy Garland *A bonus live duet from Judy's TV show that was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD.
3. When You Wish Upon A Star-with Jackie Evancho (Target exclusive from Duets II)
4. They Can't Take That Away From Me-with Brad Paisley (Target exclusive from Duets II)
5. Steppin’ Out (duet with Delta Goodrum) rec. 2/2006 and released on Australian CD version of DUETS)
6. If I Ruled the World (duet with Wang Hom Lee) rec 2006 and released on Singapore version of DUETS)
7. "I've Got the World on a String" (2006)- duet with Diana Krall was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD
8. "Steppin' Out with My Baby" – (2006) duet with Michael Bublé was issued by Columbia on the Target-exclusive edition of the first Bennett Duets CD
9. New York, New York (2011) live duet with Andrea Bocelli from Bocelli’s CONCERTO, ONE NIGHT IN CENTRAL PARK CD, issued on Decca/Universal
10. New York State of Mind (2008) live duet with Billy Joel from Joel’s LIVE AT SHEA STADIUM, Sony Columbia/Legacy CD 88697 85424 2
All this is really puzzling... In every interview he goes on and on about how proud he is of ALL of his legacy, and rightly so, saying that:
'There's not one side that I'll wince if somebody hears it, or say to myself, "Oh my God, I hope they don't hear that record." They're all good'
(btw interesting interview here: http://bnreview.barnesandnoble.com/t5/Interview/Tony-Bennett-The-Art-of-Excellence/ba-p/6153)
...And then there's this sort of revisionism... Reminds me a bit of Stalin erasing Trotsky from old photographs... Not that I think that Mr. B could by any means be compared to... well, I'm just making this worse, you know what I mean... 😉
well, it's his privilege, of course. I object more to the documentation of the set not even acknowledging the absence of these tracks and that both LISTEN EASY and GOOD THINGS IN LIFE are not complete as issued without informing the buyer and explaining why.
It may be his privilege, maybe, not to include the odd track appeared in a soundtrack, or the occasional collaboration... I could understand that, not that I'd approve of, but it has been done before.
But messing with an official album, deleting a track from the disc and from the tracklist on the backcover, while the sleevenotes still mention it, this is possibily the clumsiest move I've ever seen reissue-wise... And then he goes "they're all good!!"
Simon:
Your work still amazes me.
If you ever get an opportunity, I wonder if you could add details in your list to specify, for example, the "vinyl" record number (in case of 45's/78's) or "vinyl" LP name (if only on an LP and not a single). I realize we could cross reference the discography ourselves, but you seem to be a discographer-par-excellence.
Writers, especially poets, almost always edited their works when "complete" editions of their poems were published. It put the bibliographers and collectors to work.
not at all, Kevin... you embarrass me! All I am doing is collecting info already available...
ref vinyl record number, yes, I could do that... but remember, vinyl issues are sometimes reissued a few times, leaving more than one set of serial numbers.
Offhand, I was most interested in #14 and #15...was that a Philips 45 RPM? LP?
Also, certain folks have mentioned that some of the LP's included in the set had cuts removed. Do you have a list of these?
yes, one cut each was removed from LISTEN EASY and GOOD THINGS IN LIFE. These are the most infuriating deletions.
Yes, Phillips 45 and also were included in some compilation LP... this info from the TB discography
Yes, "infuriating" would be the right term... 😉
So far I've listened randomly at the first 19 discs, at the moment I'm stuck with 'sings for two' which is sooo great... Let's hope other deletions don't pop up...
Another very very minor quibble, which I'd rate '0.1' in a scale form 0 to 100 (100 being, let's make an hypothetical example just for argument's sake, 'tinkering with the reissue of an original album by deleting one of the tracks') is that some album outtakes have been put at the end of the relative disc, while others in the 'rarities' discs. Example "Tony sings for two": Skylark is at the at the end of the disc (where it belongs imho) while God bless the child is with the 'rarities'.
Yes, I said it was a very minor quibble.
But let's also talk about the plus-side:
the mastering is great, in my opinion, and as far as I've listened;
the 250-page booklet is well done, mostly composed of reproductions of the sleeves and other pictures; it doesn't reproduce the original notes as stated in the article above, just the session/discographical details which are rather, and in many cases I think as much as possible, detailed. If you have good eyes you can still read the liner notes (when any) from the mini-LP jackets, which are faithfully reproduced; the 10-page introductory essay is interesting even if hardly revealing, written by Mr. Richard Golden; Mr. Bennett signs the opening preface.
And of course, most of all, the real treat (for me) is the chance of listening to so much of this fine music for the first time.
So - omissions aside - I still think this is truly a great box set, one of the best I've seen.
yes, Andrea, you make a good point about the placement of such additional tracks. I have also put some thought into that issue. It's hard to say which strategy is best. I kind of side with the "restore them back to the original album" camp on this. In fact, when I rip all the discs to my hard drive, I will probably create playlists that will do just that!
You can buy the box from another source!!
Yes, "DEEP DISCOUNT" is selling it!!
http://www.deepdiscount.com/cd/BENNETTTONY-TONY-BENNETT-THE-COMPLETE-COLLECTION?utm_source=GoogleShopping&utm_medium=CSE&utm_campaign=productSearch
It is $659 (and no cents).
Maybe this is the truly complete edition??
I was always told that "you get what you pay for", so I am thinking of ordering it from Deep Discount.
Why not? It's just money. My wife tells me that I have "no common cents", but I have what it takes.
RIP- OFF!!!!
there is no "truly complete" version...there is no other version.
what we have is what we have... sorry Kevin
Kevin - always the debonair, sardonic chap... Didn't that trip to Idaho teach you anything?
I was going to keep this to myself, but since you've disclosed your information, I just think I have to level with you.
If you go on eBay and search "tony bennett complete collection", you'll find a copy up for auction: starting bid: $549.99 - but you can "buy it now" for only 779.99!!
Until yesterday it was the only one on eBay.
There, I said it. I know it will be a tough fight on this one now.
I politely inquired if it was the autographed version, the seller kindly replied - 'no, it's not, but thanks for asking, happy thanksgiving' 🙂
I finally get my set tmrw!!!!!!!
Seeing as how we're all completists here, should we include Tony's performance in the backing chorus of Louis Armstrong's "We Shall Overcome" ("Louis Armstrong and His Friends" LP, Flying Dutchman Amsterdam 12009, rec. 1970) and his contribution to "We Are The World 25" (digital single, 2010) among the missing studio tracks?
@Joe - oh, please no!!!!
Of course they should be included! Sinatra collectors will collect everything with his name printed on it, even if Frank was nowhere to be found. I know one Sinatra collector who even includes anything with Ray Sinatra on it, just because of the configuration of the letters.
If Tony opens his mouth, it goes on the list!
I just started to listen to different disks in the box at random. Interesting to note that all tracks on MR BROADWAY are in mono, despite annotation to the contrary. On purpose or inadvertent goof?
The packaging for the set is very nice, but I do have one criticism, and it could be called 'nitpicking'... all the cd labels are identical, using a vintage design of Columbia (not sure what year). This is a nice touch. However, a nicer touch would have been to use the Columbia labels used at the time of the original LP release. Is this important to do? Of course not... but I do remember the Sinatra Columbia set that used that concept, and it was beautiful.
I agree with you: this REALLY is nitpicking... 😉
Anyway, the MGM discs have their own label, and so the Improv, and so on... So they did use some kind of concept after all...
From where I stand, the only major blunder which I really can't forgive is the unaccounted deletion of tracks from officially released Tony Bennett albums.
I can't remember such a crass misjudgement in any other reissue I've ever held in my hands...
@Andrea - you are 100% correct and that is really the only meaningful gripe about the set
I have to admit, after playing several discs, that the sound is top-notch... excellent job
I would like to reserve the judgement on what is a meaningful gripe until I calculate the exact disc size that would be required to fit the entire contents of this box on one SINGLE audio disc, using the exact same digital technologies. I need the total timings of all of the discs, and a half decent calculator.
My initial estimates are that a single music disc of maybe 75 cm (or 30 inches) diameter would easily fit this entire box set, with extra room to spare for all of the missing tracks.
I hesitate to call such a disc a "Compact" disc, but the savings in overall manufacturing costs alone would have allowed a much more consumer-friendly pricing. The cover design could have been incredible, and the accompanying book a legend.
Where do I submit this meaningful gripe?
I am working on modifying my CD player to play this disc. It takes up most of my bedroom, which does not please my wife.
I agree, the sound is great 🙂 ...also on the unissued tracks, such as the Live at the Sahara... just great.
...nonetheless, problems might arise with Kevin's experiment, which for lack of better terms I will refer to as the "Wide Disc" (WD). I'm talking about sonic problems on the external tracks due to the oscillation of the WD; I know, because I've already tried that.
To stabilize the WD you'll need a very big gyroscope the size of your typical living room.
The cat wouldn't listen to reason.
I wish you success where I utterly failed.
I hadn't thought of that. I guess that may be why when there are flaws on a disc playback, they are almost always on the outer (or last) tracks. I'm dropping work on this (otherwise excellent) idea.
My other idea is to transfer this entire set to 78 RPM, as I do have a home 78 RPM record cutting machine from the 1940's. I guess that I'd need at least 600 blank discs. It may be time consuming, but it would be worth it for the sound upgrade. Vinyl playback is always higher quality at higher RPMs. The audiophile companies limit their work to 45 RPM because most people do not have 78 playback equipment. But I do, so this seems to be the way to go.
I withdraw my gripe about not having this box on a single disc. After all, 600 of anything is better than just one.
I totally LOVE this!
With the vinyl frenzy going on out there, you could cut - let's say - just 10 copies of this 'limited, 600 78RPM disc edition of the complete TB collection box' and sell it on eBay for... for... for an INCREDIBLE amount of money!!... THI$ I$ GOING TO MAKE U$ (sorry, 'you'... it's your idea) RICH!!!... (I'd be willing to autograph the box sets for a small percentage of the profit, anyway...)
For you, Andrea, I'm gonna put the whole boxset on one single 78 RPM record. You'll need a turntable the size of Yankee Stadium, and a tonearm the size of the Queen Mary. When I'm done, I'll get back to just enjoying listening to Tony Bennett
Do I have your word on that? Tomorrow I'm seeing certain people about certain lots of land.
I think I'll call it the Tony Bennett Vinyl Center of Performing Arts.
At the inside of the turntable there will be a mall, restaurants, a movie theater, a music school. The disc will play endlessly, 24/7, in all the premises of the building including the bathrooms and the theater, no matter what's on the screen.
Approx every three days a crane will put the tonearm back on the first track.
There'll be no escape from Tony Bennett's legacy.
I could not find my calculator when I estimated the size of the tonearm. I just liked the idea of a tonearm the size of the Queen Mary. Don't even ask about the size of the stylus, because it is about as big as the Hope Diamond, and for that, Queen Elizabeth will need to help me out.
Tonight Bennett was guest of honor at an italian tv show hosted by Fiorello. Fiorello is the local wannabe all-around showman. He's extremely popular here. Anyway, Bennett sang 'The lady is a tramp' and, in duet with Fiorello, 'For once in my life'. It was nice. And NO, I don't expect these to be included in the missing tracks list... 😉
Lady is a tramp is already on you tube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbdeUkRy_RE&feature=youtube_gdata_player
thanks Andrea, nice clip
Back on the "complete" kick. No one has mentioned the UK CD "On the Town" which features the 20 Improv Rogers & Hart tunes with overdubbed strings, rythym and soloists. I'm just sayin".....
i never saw that, Paul. Do you have a link to more info?
Sorry, I don't. But it is on the Metro label from the UK. Catalogue number METRCD088.
thanks. what a travesty to dub over that priceless, already perfect, recording
It's...different.
It's really difficult to imagine the R&H tracks, so perfect in their purest essence... with overdubs! I didn't know about that! ...seems to betray the whole point of that project...
Regarding overdubs...I wonder how many of Tony's 1960's sessions were "overdubs". Did he record "live" with the orchestra (as Sinatra), or did he sometimes record with just a rhythm section and the orchestral parts were later overdubbed, or did he record vocal tracks on top of pre-recorded orchestral tracks. The latter two "overdub" approaches are very common for many artists, with true live sessions the exception for most of the last 50 years
another addition to MISSING ALTERNATE TAKES
11. Skylark, rec 10/28/59. Version on box is new alt take. Previously issued take found on SINGS FOR TWO, Sony Music CD: SMSP A 8242 and Columbia/Legacy CD: C5K 92784 — Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett
Now this one really hurts. The "Sings for Two" session may be the ultimate Tony Bennett recordings. I would like to see the complete material in one place.
My question is detailed: I have the "40 Years" box, but never picked up the "50 Years" box, which was remastered. Often, when SONY reissues a box, they end up substituting different takes, whether intentionally or accidentally. I also have the CBS budget priced Special Products CD of "Sings for Two", but not any of the other limited/import versions. Was this missing take on either the "40 Years Box" or the budget-line Special Products CD?
Thanks for your dedication. I suppose there may be more updates before your final list of missing songs is complete.
I'm thinking of taking up gambling to get the money together for the set. I'm not good at cards, so I may go out and buy a few hundred dollars of lottery tickets, and hope to hit a winner.
Wait a minute, I always thought that the Bill Evans sessions were the ultimate Bennett recordings, with "Sings for Two" at the second place...now this questions my whole scale of values... tough call anyway...
Kevin's question is a good one... I've also read somewhere that Sings fo Two was previously reissued, on CD, with unsatisfying sound... is it so? and how was the mastering of the tracks released on the 40/50 years boxes?
I'd also like to thank Simon for his time and patience.
And Kevin - no need to take up gambling, on eBay there's a set for auction, starting price only $479.99 and incredibly no bid yet... and only two days to go...
good questions, Kevin. I will try to gather some good answers for you. meanwhile, another missing alt take confirmed:
12. Sold To The Man With A Broken Heart Columbia rec 1/19/57 different arrangement (without auctioneer accompaniment) GREAT AMERICAN COMPOSERS: SAMMY CAHN CD (COLUMBIA 2CS2 8165
I might have another bit of trivia here... It's about the 'In person' album with Count Basie...
In his autobiography Bennett says that this was originally recorded in mono, live at a club in Philadelphia. The recording was 'wonderful', but the producer wanted it in stereo, so they re-recorded in studio, adding fake crowd noise and applause.
Bennett always hated this, feeling that the producer added the audience sound 'in the wrong places' and that anyway the idea of fabricating an audience was 'in bad taste'.
To cut it short: the box version of the album is still the studio-stereo one, but without any audience sound at all.
So I guess the old man had it his own way once more, at last... and for the best this time, I guess... 😀
That is very significant, essentially it is a "previously unissued" recording. Of course, many, if not most, "live" recordings from those days were faked.
The "Latin Casino" studio recordings sans applause and noise are not previously unreleased material at all. Sony produced a beautiful SBM Matersound gold disc CD of the recordings back in the 90's. It is an exquisite presentation sound-wise!
there are three tracks from the Philly concert... they don't sound so great but wonderful to have nonetheless
That's right, they're on the 'rarities' first disc. I think they sound fine, considering the period, the equipment, the singer+big band line-up, the club setting... granted, that conga is certainly up front... 😉 ...still, I think engineer Laico did a good job as usual... I always marvel at how old time engineers managed to record big bands in mono with often astonishing results...
British television just broadcast the Tony Bennett 85 concert special. I have not watched it yet, but it is circulating as an avi/Xvid video file.
I am wondering if there are any updates from Simon.
I finally got the boxset, but I promised myself not to open it until Christmas. This will be very fine. Years ago, I collected every LP and almost every 45 and 78. I did not keep up with all of those "one-offs" that Simon has catalogued so well for us.
Thank you very much, Simon, Andrea, Paul, Joe, and to all of the others who have kept this thread alive and made it the number one reference on Tony's works (and probably the all-time record for comments on the Second Disc).
And to Andrea, I'm working on that 78 RPM edition for you as soon as I recover from Christmas. To create the blank discs, I'm using old 12 inch vinyl which has been recoated with shellac in a process that I plan to patent. This shellac cures very slowly (about 3-4 years), so I hope your home is well ventilated. It's made from hazardous waste oils that I found in a ravine, but that should not matter to a real music fan with a proper sense of priorities.
If I can ever get a set of Simon's "Bennett Addenda", I'll also try to cut that on 78 RPM for the ultimate audiophile experience. The breathing apparatus should not affect your hearing.
Happy Holidays to all of you.
And thank you, Tony Bennett.
I should have thanked you too, Robert. Merry Christmas. Your enthusiasm is inspiring!
Another resounding "Happy Holidays!" to my fellow Tonyphiles! Let's set another record over on our latest Bennett-centric post in which we (finally!) have reviewed "The Complete Collection" :
https://theseconddisc.com/2011/12/22/holiday-gift-guide-review-tony-bennett-the-complete-collection/
Thank you Kevin... and best wishes everybody!
http://www.missingbennetttracks.blogspot.com
That new blog is an incredibly generous gift to all TB fans. It is truly appreciated. I have made CD's of all 4 and shall listen intently this week. MANY thanks!
P.S. It would be a nice idea if that blog included Vol 1-3 of the "Rarities" to complete the set. 🙂