Disclaimer: I don't own the music or the pictures, they belong to their rightful owners. Recorded in London, England in 1972 Tony Bennett (vocals) Robert Farnon (arrangement) John Bunch (piano) Kenny Clare (drums) Arthur Watts (bass)
This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Swings for days. Strange you can't find it on iTunes. I wish they would remaster it but there's something keeping that from happening. Kenny Clare is an outstanding big band drummer, love this swing version of the tune. I got to play with Mr. Bennet with Kenny Clare, John Guifrida on bass and Torrie Zito on piano (I played guitar at 19 y/o). Greatest experience of my career. One night concert in San Antonio Texas 1973 with the North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band. It was filmed or taped I believe but lost forever or in a vault somewhere.
From Tony's 1972 LP 'The Good Things in Life' With an English band of top studio players including Don Lusher & Kenny Clare. And Tony's pianist, John Bunch.. Peter Robinson
Best version of this great song. Tony can swing like nobody else and with the swinging big bands Count Basie Billy May Tony is one of the few greats left. He can still sing even he’s old . He can still belt it out live. I’m a huge fan and I get chills up and down my body when I hear Once Upon a Time. I love You sweet precious Jenn . I miss You every day. Come back to me my darling
Covid shit canceled his performance at St. George Theater on Staten Island ,NY. I had tickets. Figured what a way to remember him. My Dad ,Mom and Nana saw Tony Bennett at the Old Copa in City in February 1969.
First heard this tune on 960 KABL back in 1998 while speeding down I-580 in my early 1970's Chrysler. It took a few years before I was able to track down and locate the album it came from.
Tony's take -- with "Bob's Band." The next offering at RU-vid this night -- after Johnny Hartman's END OF A LOVE AFFAIR was this one -- Tony Bennett with Robert ("Great Songs from Great Britain") Farnon -- acknowledged as the "most influential arranger" by all the other great arrangers. Tony Bennett, when he appeared at hotels in Canada (for years he was on the supper club circuit) would often say: "You Canadians should erect a statue to Robert Farnon." During a visit to New York, that turned into a longer stay, Tony arranged for Robert Farnon to stay at a home next door to Tony's Mom. From an all-swing tunes album Tony recorded with Bob's Band -- London Symphony musicians who would assemble on a moment's notice for the man Frank called "The Guv'nor" -- exactly ten years after "Great Songs/Great Britain" was recorded. An informed note (just below the video) from a kindred musical spirit: Jeffrey Davang 4 years ago (edited) This is one of my favorite albums of all time. Swings for days. Strange you can't find it on iTunes. I wish they would remaster it but there's something keeping that from happening. Kenny Clare is an outstanding big band drummer, love this swing version of the tune. I got to play with Mr. Bennet with Kenny Clare, John Guifrida on bass and Torrie Zito on piano (I played guitar at 19 y/o). Greatest experience of my career. One night concert in San Antonio Texas 1973 with the North Texas State One O'clock Lab Band. It was filmed or taped I believe but lost forever or in a vault somewhere. [Thanks for posting, "EddysVault" and thanks Jeffrey Davang, for the informed note]
My favorite Bennett song. I never get tired of it. And those who say that the tempo is 'too happy' or 'jazzy', really do not get the meaning of the lyrics. I have been at that end of it, laughing and carousing on the outside, screaming sadness and bleeding tears inside. But what else can you do at the end of a love affair...?
be sure to listen to the Great little herb version of this song from the album: Gloria Lynne live at the Las Vegas Thunderbird. My favorite! It was recorded in the early sixties at the now-defunct hotel and casino.
I'm with "those who say"... This is a heart-wrenching torch song, and rips at your gut when done agonizingly slow (I used to perform this one and could barely get through it without my voice cracking). It also has a lovely verse. But this happy-pappy swinging tempo and raucous arrangement makes it sound like a circus act.. Horrible. And the sad thing is, I usually love Bennett's treatments of tunes. He went south on this one, in my book. If I were the composer I'd be spinning in my grave...
+Don Paul First, thanks for the upload, I didn't think there were any TB albums I didn't have let alone didn't know existed. This hails from the period when the geniuses at Columbia let Tony's contract run out because he refused to record the crap of the day. Can anyone imagine letting this guy go? As a result, he bounced around from one label to the next until his kids took charge which led back to Columbia and The Art of Excellence. All that because I noticed "Verve" on the cover. What I also noticed was Robert Farnon. He was British (someone mentioned that this was recorded over there) and he was regarded as one of the best arrangers, for strings in particular, in history. He did Tony's Christmas Album, Sinatra Sings Great Songs from Great Britain and many, many others. Mr. Zito was undoubtedly under contract with Columbia which forced Tony to look elsewhere. So, I guess you could say this wouldn't have happened had they not let him go. Maybe they were geniuses after all!
I like the faster tempo than is usually performed. as the lyrics say "I go at a maddening pace and I pretend its taking her place but what else can you do at the end of a love affair"
So I walked a little too fast And I drive a little too fast, And I'm reckless it's true, But what else can you do At the end of a love affair? So I talk a little too much, And I laugh a little too much, And my voice is too loud When I'm out in a crowd, So that people are apt to stare. Do they know, do they care, That it's only That I'm lonely, And low as can be, And the smile on my face Isn't really a smile at all. So I smoke a little too much, And I drink a little too much, And the tunes I request Are not always the best, But the ones where the trumpets blare So I go at a maddening pace, And I pretend that it's taking her place, But what else can you do at the end of a love affair? So I smoke a little too much, And I drink a little too much, And the tunes I request Are not always the best, But the ones where the trumpets blare So I go at a maddening pace, And I pretend that it's taking her place, But what else can you do at the end of a love affair?
OMG I just stumbled on this. As someone else below mentioned, I had never heard this album. It swings incredibly. Bennett and Kenny Clare kill. So joyful.
New York Times Obituaries Published: July 23, 1984 Edward C. (Bud) Redding, a composer and lyricist who wrote ''The End of a Love Affair,'' died July 19 of cancer in Mount Sinai Hospital. He was 68 years old and lived on Manhattan's West Side. Mr. Redding wrote for Julie Wilson, Jane Morgan, Martha Wright, Jane Pickens, Herb Shriner and others. He is survived by his sister, Ruth Willenbrink of Louisville, Ky.
If Billie Holiday's, Sinatra's or Nat Cole's are "down" versions, Tony's version doesn't conduct for a "suicide mood". It doesn't seem someone had his heart broken...
Great effort, but Billie Holliday and Julie London sang it the way it was meant to be sung. It's not a happy, happy, joy, joy song. It's a sad song. Sing it sad or don't sing it at all. Just sayin'........
So I walked a little too fast And I drive a little too fast, And I'm reckless it's true, But what else can you do At the end of a love affair? So I talk a little too much, And I laugh a little too much, And my voice is too loud When I'm out in a crowd, So that people are apt to stare. Do they know, do they care, That it's only That I'm lonely, And low as can be, And the smile on my face Isn't really a smile at all. So I smoke a little too much, And I drink a little too much, And the tunes I request Are not always the best, But the ones where the trumpets blare So I go at a maddening pace, And I pretend that it's taking her place, But what else can you do at the end of a love affair? So I smoke a little too much, And I drink a little too much, And the tunes I request Are not always the best, But the ones where the trumpets blare So I go at a maddening pace, And I pretend that it's taking her place, But what else can you do at the end of a love affair?
