my bad! I just realized that both of the Tony Bennett "Smile"(s) are the same performance - the 1965 MOVIE SONG ALBUM version. I'll fix the page, but the correct link to the 1959 version is here: https://youtu.be/8nUXccGz3ks?list=RD8nUXccGz3ks
I confess that it took me a while to learn that the 1954 song was the theme to the 1936 film. I thought that might have gone past most listeners at the time too but was interested to see that the first sheet music portrays Chaplin in his tramp persona so prominently. Did the he or “Modern Times” have any renewed currency to get it repurposed at that point?
I saw Geoffrey Parsons a couple of times in Paris in the 1970s when he accompanied Elisabeth Schwarzkopf on the piano. For me, he has always been a classical pianist rather than the coauthor of the lyrics for "Smile." No doubt, his understanding of classical music was a big plus in writing "Smile's" fine lyric.
It may be beyond your "brief"--as the Brits say--but the Bennett/Streisand duet was pretty special, IMHO, not the least because she teased a little verbal spontaneity out him toward the end, which was never his strong point. Again, IMHO.
my bad! I just realized that both of the Tony Bennett "Smile"(s) are the same performance - the 1965 MOVIE SONG ALBUM version. I'll fix the page, but the correct link to the 1959 version is here: https://youtu.be/8nUXccGz3ks?list=RD8nUXccGz3ks
thanks!
Fascinating info. Thanks for this. So well written and researched.
thanks for your comment, this also made me smile!
Wonderful piece for a wonderful song. Thank you!
I confess that it took me a while to learn that the 1954 song was the theme to the 1936 film. I thought that might have gone past most listeners at the time too but was interested to see that the first sheet music portrays Chaplin in his tramp persona so prominently. Did the he or “Modern Times” have any renewed currency to get it repurposed at that point?
I saw Geoffrey Parsons a couple of times in Paris in the 1970s when he accompanied Elisabeth Schwarzkopf on the piano. For me, he has always been a classical pianist rather than the coauthor of the lyrics for "Smile." No doubt, his understanding of classical music was a big plus in writing "Smile's" fine lyric.
It may be beyond your "brief"--as the Brits say--but the Bennett/Streisand duet was pretty special, IMHO, not the least because she teased a little verbal spontaneity out him toward the end, which was never his strong point. Again, IMHO.