Maps of Music

The Beat of My Heart (1957)

Where the lyrics of The Beat of My Heart take you, and where it was really made.

Bennett's fifth studio album was built around percussion, with several drummers and percussionists invited to play on it.

Key places

Recorded at CBS Studio in New York (1957)

Recording site Record Plant Studios — Sessions for the album were held on 27 June, 14 October, 21 October and 25 October 1957. The Italian article places the recordings at CBS Studio in New York. The point is shown at city level, so the exact building is not pinned here. Google Maps · Apple Maps

How to get there: See the map for directions.

Album story

Overview

• The Beat of My Heart: fifth studio album by jazz singer Tony Bennett
• Issued by Columbia; the 1957 LP has twelve tracks across two sides
• Ralph Sharon served as arranger and conductor and also played piano
• The album is built around a percussion-influenced treatment of standards
• Later CD editions added bonus tracks, and a 2011 box set reissued the album

Background

• Bennett started working with English jazz pianist Ralph Sharon for this Columbia album
• Together the two devised the percussion-influenced approach
• Percussionists invited to take part: Chico Hamilton, Jo Jones, Billy Exiner, Art Blakey, Candido Camero and Sabu Martinez
• On November 8, 2011, Sony Music Distribution included the CD in a box set entitled The Complete Collection

Recording

• Sessions took place on June 27, October 14, October 21 and October 25, 1957
• Each track was recorded on one of these dates, so the sessions were spread across several days
• The Italian edition notes list CBS Studio in New York as the recording location
• Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon are credited as producers

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Tracklist

Sources: musicbrainz.org

Artist

Early life

• Born Anthony Dominick Benedetto on August 3, 1926, in Long Island City, Queens, New York City.
• Grew up in poverty after his father, a grocer, became unable to work and died when Tony was ten.
• Sang for money from age 13 as a singing waiter in Italian restaurants in Queens.
• Attended New York's School of Industrial Art but dropped out at 16 to help support his family.

Military service

• Drafted into the U.S. Army in November 1944 and fought as an infantryman in the final stages of World War II.
• Stayed in Germany with the occupying force and sang with an Army Special Services band under the name Joe Bari.

Career

• Studied bel canto at the American Theatre Wing on the GI Bill; Pearl Bailey and Bob Hope helped launch him, and Hope shortened his name to Tony Bennett.
• Signed with Columbia Records in 1950; first number-one hit "Because of You" in 1951.
• Shifted toward jazz singing in the late 1950s; "I Left My Heart in San Francisco" (1962) became his signature song.
• Declined commercially during the rock era and struggled with addiction and debt until a comeback in the late 1980s, managed by his son Danny.
• The 1994 MTV Unplugged album won the Grammy for Album of the Year.

Later career

• Collaborated with Lady Gaga from Cheek to Cheek (2014) through Love for Sale (2021).
• Won 20 Grammy Awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award, and sold more than 50 million records worldwide.
• Received a Kennedy Center Honor in 2005 and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Co-founded the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts in Queens with Susan Crow.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

Reception

At release

• Columbia Records released the album in December 1957, according to the Italian article
• The LP side one opens with Let's Begin and includes Lullaby of Broadway, Let There Be Love, Love for Sale, Army Air Corps Song and Crazy Rhythm
• Side two includes The Beat of My Heart, So Beats My Heart for You, Blues in the Night, Lazy Afternoon, Let's Face the Music and Dance and Just One of Those Things
• The personnel list includes Al Cohn on tenor saxophone, Nat Adderley on trumpet and Eddie Costa on vibes
• Drummers and percussionists credited include Art Blakey, Chico Hamilton, Jo Jones, Candido and Sabu Martinez

Reappraisal

• The 1996 compact disc re-release added six bonus tracks but left out Army Air Corps Song
• The 2011 release as part of the 73 disc Complete Tony Bennett Collection restored Army Air Corps Song
• Apart from the restored track, the 2011 edition matches the 1996 CD

Sources: en.wikipedia.org · it.wikipedia.org

Trivia

• The 1996 CD reissue dropped Army Air Corps Song from the set of bonus tracks.
• The 2011 box set edition restored Army Air Corps Song.
• Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon are credited as producers of the album.
• Art Blakey, Chico Hamilton and Jo Jones are among the drummers credited on the record.
• Eddie Costa is credited on vibes in the personnel list.

Sources: en.wikipedia.org

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