Angel Eyes/Tony Bennett

Composer Matt Dennis wasnt happy with the title of the song that he and his lyricist, Earl Brent, had just written: "Have Another Beer on Me" didnt sound right. Brent changed the songs title to "Angel Eyes" and a saloon ballad to rival "One for My Baby" was born.

Although one of the most covered jazz standards now, "Angel Eyes" had some bad breaks when it was first recorded. Dennis credited Ella Fitzgerald with popularizing the song. He recalled "I wrote it in 1947 and had a hell of a time getting it going, even with monumental starts. First, Herb Jeffries did it, but the (record) company folded. Then Nat Cole did it and I was in seventh heaven, but it got lost because it was on the flip side of a hit called Return to Paradise. Finally, Ella (Fitzgerald) recorded it for (producer) Norman Granz. She's done it four times since. I'm thrilled because she's always included it in her shows." Fitzgerald first recorded the song in 1952 with Sy Oliver and his Orchestra and often described it as one of her favorite songs; another favorite of hers was "Something to Live For." A New York Times article speculated, "Because both songs are sad, they hint at feelings that Fitzgerald kept mostly to herself, since she infused everything she performed with a sense of joy and almost heavenly confidence." Dennis himself was another early performer of "Angel Eyes"; he recorded it for the soundtrack of the 1953 film Jennifer, a creepy gothic thriller starring Ida Lupino and Howard Duff.

"Angel Eyes" was the only hit produced by the songwriting team of Dennis and Earl Brent. Dennis, along with his chief collaborator, lyricist Thomas Adair, wrote several other jazz standards, including "Lets Get Away From It All," "Everything Happens to Me," Violets for Your Furs," and "The Night We Called It a Day." Alex Wilder in American Popular Songs has this to say about Dennis: "He was, in fact, much more than a composer. He was a pianist, a singer, and I first began to hear about him when Tommy Dorsey hired him as an arranger-composer, an assignment I have never heard of again, except for Billy Strayhorns work with Duke Ellington." The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, in which Frank Sinatra was the vocalist, recorded many Dennis compositions. Although lyricist Brent now is known primarily for writing the lyrics to "Angel Eyes," in the 1940s he wrote songs for many film scores.

After Frank Sinatra had become a solo performer, he recorded "Angel Eyes" on his legendary 1958 album Frank Sinatra Sings For Only the Lonely. His rendition has been called the definitive version of the song, and today the song is most closely associated with him. He excelled at singing drinking songs and claimed, "Being a saloon singer, thats my racket." His treatment of "Angel Eyes" displayed the master in peak form. Instead of beginning "Angel Eyes" at the chorus, as do most singers, he began at the release, "So drink up all you people", which proved to be very effective and moving. In 1971 Sinatra announced his retirement at age 55, and began his series of farewell concerts. He closed these concerts with "Angel Eyes", exiting the stage after singing the last line, "Excuse me while I disappear." Despite this dramatic finale, Sinatra didnt stay retired, returning to the stage in 1973 and continuing to perform and record until 1995.

This recording by Tony Bennett is from his 1992 release, Perfectly Frank

Category:

Music

Tags:

• jazz
• ballad
• vocal
• Tony
• Bennett
• Matt
• Dennis
• Earl
• Brent

[stefanboro]

This song is the epitome of class.

[Rey05191957]

Thank you for your comment. I appreciate it very much.

[MauricioCasteglione]

Super cool. The last great singer.

[Rey05191957]

Thank you for your wonderful comment. I'm happy you enjoyed this.

[KentuckyJet]

Tony could sing the Manhattan Phone Book and make it sound great! This is a nice song sung by a great singer!

[Rey05191957]

Thanks for watching and for your comment.

[mleavit01]

@sherom lots of people prefer different types of songs and artists. Bennet and Sinatra are similar, but different, and so it's up to the individual to decide which one sounds better. personaly i like Bennet better, i think he sings with more feeling than Sinatra, but many people like Sinatra better, which i can respect. they are both just amazing singers.

[maria80153]

do you mind putting the lyrics? if its a bother, so i asked.

[sherom]

@pachydermo Tony is one of the greats no doubt, but as a professional singer myself who has listened to 95 percent of all Sinatra and Bennet's recordings over the last 30 years, Bennett is no Sinatra. As far as singing just with a piano, try and listen to Tony's lp titled Tony Bennett Sings For Two, which I find not moving at all, compared to anything Sinatra ever sang just with a piano, again, in my opinion, not even close.

[itheviewer4444]

@itheviewer4444

just checked , my book is wrong!

[itheviewer4444]

it says Earl Dennis is the composer in my book?

[pachydermo]

I once made a CD of 8 songs with Sinatra singing his version and Bennett singing the same song. I included this song. I'd give it to people and they'd all prefer Bennet's interpretations. Doesn't mean Bennett was necessarily a better singer. But on those particular 8 songs he kicked butt. In this song I think it's mostly the arrangement and the tempo. A piano trio will always sound more intimate than an overblown symphonic arrangement. I wish Sinatra would have used a piano trio.

[mrbearcare2]

he cant sing any more he should retire. When frank sinatra said he was the best.... well that was 25 years ago.  sorry tony