Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today

You thought Tony Bennett was cool just because he's got a video on MTV. Here's what Tony was doing back in 1969, when his career wasn't in such good shape -- covering Beatles tunes and trying his best to appeal to the younger generation.

On "Tony Sings the Great Hits of Today", we find covers of such staples as Something, Little Green Apples and Here, There and Everywhere, along with a knockout reading of Eleanor Rigby that's guaranteed to floor you with disbelief (especially if you listen to it while viewing the hip psychedelic painting of Tony shown here).

It's safe to say that Tony doesn't regard this album as his best work. A 1990 article in The Atlantic titled The Real Stuff quotes him as expressing his disgust with doing "contemporary" tunes, likening it to that of his seamstress mother when she was forced to work on a cheap dress. Fortunately, the Vinyl Museum saved at least one copy from the dustbin.

Joseph Gallant (notquite@hotmail.com) says:
To be honest, this may be the only sub-par album Tony Bennett has ever recorded.

From what I've heard, his version of "Something" on this album is actually pretty good. I hope it will soon be available to listen to on this page. (08-20-2002)

Susan says:
But 'Something' is worth listening to if my memory serves me at all. It has been 33 years since I've heard it. I thought it was kind of sexy. But for real sex, there's always Bette Midler singing 'Do you Wanna Dance' (08-17-2002)

e v e says:
i call CELEBRITY DEATHMATCH!!

Tony Bennett's 'Eleanor Rigby' vs. William Shatner's 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds'

(08-15-2002)

Daredevil6 (daredevil6@excite.com) says:
On second thought, it blows chunks! Great, big, turd encrusted chunks of drivel! Like a Siamese in leiderhosen, it just boggles the mind! (08-08-2002)

Daredevil6 (daredevil6@excite.com) says:
Because I like "Tony" so much, I don't have the heart to say what I really think of his compilation. He no doubt worked hard on this, so I will reserve comment. (08-08-2002)

Dingus (corngoober@yahoo.com) says:
The only thing that would make me happier than hearing Tony Bennett sing the Beatles would be hearing Tony Bennett sing Frank Zappa's Don't Eat the Yellow Snow! Viva Tony! (04-05-2002)

Schraff (laschraff@hotmail.com) says:
Sorry Tony, not even wearing a groovy tie can save you this time! (03-29-2002)

Roman Pativ says:
You know, for years I couldn't stand to listen to my Beatles albums. I was sick of that crap. Now hearing Tony, well, everything has changed. That swingin' beat, those Vegas vocals! Yes, this is how Beatles songs should be sung. (06-29-2001)

The Lone Beatnik (cujoe76@yahoo.com) says:
I think he left his voicebox in san francisco. (06-17-2001)

mc iedh says:
the cover is tight and i thought "here, there and everywhere" was crisp, but why did he say "there at the end, so abruptly and seemingly out from nowhere? wierd (05-21-2001)

SueBri says:
Tony ...Tony ....Tooonnnnny!ahem...arhewm....argrgemem...er sorry tony....brrrooogaa....wow..tomato soup looks sooo bad when it gets recycled! (04-23-2000)

Bob Moyer (151614@home.com) says:
What did the Beatles do to Mr.Bennett to make him hate them enough to do this? (12-31-1999)

BetsY Beck (betsyb1@prodigy.net) says:
Great songs, Tony will you sing at my Birthday Party? (12-09-1999)

Vynyl Junkie (SASdj@Yahoo.com) says:
When the Beatles originally recorded "Eleanor Rigby", they did it with their standard instruments. Sir George Martin consulted with the band after the session and suggested that a small string ensemble would give the music the same acidic bite that Paul had given the lyrics. The result was the "Eleanor Rigby" we all heard on Revolver". Given CBS's tendancy to push good artists in the wrong direction, I'll hypothesize that the album's producers felt Mr. Bennett was making the song a little to happy (maybe sing-songy) with his Las Vegas lounge vocalizations and suggested he simply say the words in a "dramatic" fashion in order to achieve the same "cold, biting" feeling of the original. Beatles, 1. Bennett, 0. Thanks for sharing, though. (07-12-1999)

LC-Ludwiig (luisct@hotmail.com) says:
Johnny Fiama coming through!! (04-22-1999)

mike hunt says:
never heard the album, just want to tell sir droopy drawers: you are a hero, a god, i bow down before you (not too close).. (03-25-1999)

LoreNZo Van Der Lingen (zali@paradise.net.nz) says:
Omigod! Tony's Shatneresque interpretation of 'Eleanor Rigby' defies belief! Truly, achingly awful in a way that only desperate aging hipsters can manage - I love it! If the "Beatle Barkers" don't bring 'em to their knees, THIS will! Thank you, Frank, for further proof that there IS a God. (03-22-1999)

a real parakeet says:
Being what I am, I too know the pain that comes with doing material of someone else's choosing, I feel for you Tony. Like, when I drop shit on the paper in my cage. (02-20-1999)

David (forsaroma@yahoo.com) says:
It must have been more humiliating for Tony doing this album than loosing his hair. (02-13-1999)

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