Cloud 7 - Tony Bennett

 

Give Me The Simple Life

Cloud 7

Tony Bennett

Featuring Chuck Wayne

Columbia Record Productions

Special Products - Special Reissue CL 621

1955

Personnel:

Guitar - Chuck Wayne

Trumpet - Charles Panely

Piano - Harvey Leonard

Sax - Davey Schildkraut & Caesar DiMauro

Drums - Ed Shaughnessy

Bass - Clyde Lombardi

From the back cover: From the moment of his debut on records, Tony Bennett has had the magic touch that has hailed his listeners out to Cloud 7 with a single release. An audition record of Boulevard Of Broken Dreams won him an immediate contract with Columbia Records, and a new version of this old favorite served as his first release. Now, a revival of an old song by a new singer rarely makes much of a stir, but while Tony's record was only a moderate hit, measured against his later smashes, it was sensationally successful when those factors are considered. His next impression was made with Because Of You, which sailed easily past the million-record mark, followed in close order by Cold, Cold Heart, Rags To Riches and Stranger In Paradise, all of which rang the same gong. In 1951, the first year of Tony's popularity, he won no less than seventeen awards, including "The Cash Box" Award as 'best male vocalist,' which was ample testimony to his popularity on the juke boxes. He has done equally well ever since, and in 1954 won the "Make Believe Ballroom" poll as 'best vocalist'.

This is an unusual spot for a would-be artist to find himself in. Tony started out to become a commercial artist, studying at the High School of Industrial Arts after early training in Astoria, NY, grade schools. After graduation, however, he was called into service, where his distinctive singing style won him invitations to sing with army bands. He was so warmly received that he decided to abandon one form of art for another, and upon receiving his discharge, he attended the American Theater Wing's professional school for veterans. A series of bookings in local night clubs followed, with occasional radio programs, and his first big break came when Bob Hope caught Tony's act and invited him to appear with him during an engagement at the Paramount Theater. Shortly thereafter he made the demonstration record, and his career began in earnest.

I Fall In Love Too Easily

My Baby Just Cares For Me

My Heart Tells Me

Old Devil Moon

Love Letters

My Reverie 

Give Me The Simple Life

While The Music Plays On

I Can't Believe That You're In Love With Me

Darn That Dream