Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues

Tony Bennett | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 6, 2001)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B00005QVV2
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (49 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #84,932 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Alright, Okay, You Win - with Diana Krall

2. Everyday (I Have The Blues) - with Stevie Wonder

3. Don't Cry Baby

4. Good Morning, Heartache - with Sheryl Crow

5. Let The Good Times Roll - with B.B. King

6. Evenin' - with Ray Charles

7. I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues - with Bonnie Raitt

8. Keep The Faith, Baby - with k.d. lang

9. Old Count Basie Is Gone

10. Blue And Sentimental - with Kay Starr

11. New York State Of Mind - with Billy Joel

12. Undecided Blues

13. Blues In The Night

14. Stormy Weather - with Natalie Cole

15. Playin' With My Friends - with various duet artists

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

51 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Tasteful and at his prime, November 27, 2001

By 

Joshua Dressler (Columbus, Ohio United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues (Audio CD)

I have listened to EVERY Tony Bennett album/cd he has ever done over the years, so needless to say I am a fan. But, I cannot express how amazingly good this CD (album, for people from my era) is. I truly think it is Bennett's best. He is at his prime.

Every song on the CD is excellent, all jazz, all done tastefully, and his selection of "friends" only adds to the pleasure of the CD. I especially liked Sheryl Crow and B.B. King, but everyone -- Diana Krall, Ray Charles, Bonnie Raitt, k.d. lang, Kay Starr, Billy Joel, and Natalie Cole worked smoothly and well with TB.

I cannot imagine anyone who likes Tony Bennett's sound who will not find this listening experience truly wonderful. And, i would expect that some who are not his fans will finally see why so many of us think of him as one of the greatest singers of the past five decades.

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Hey- it worked pretty well for Sinatra and B.B. King!, December 16, 2001

By 

Shaz "oi-you!" (Naples, FL USA) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues (Audio CD)

I love Tony Bennett- he's talented without being a megalomaniac (unlike Frank Sinatra). "Playin With My Friends" brings Tony together with the likes of Billy Joel, B.B. King, Bonnie Raitt, Stevie Wonder, Sheryl Crow and Ray Charles. Tony and Diana Krall have a wonderful sound together on the first track "Alright, Okay, You Win". The most enjoyable factor of these types of CD's is hearing younger artists truly showcase their talents through older songs. It seems more and more kids are warming up to music from several generations ago simply because they recognize newer vocalists on the album. Overall, an entirely scrumptious and delectable CD for evenings in or dinner parties.

19 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Still going strong, still greatly versatile, August 19, 2002

By 

Neal C. Reynolds (Indianapolis, Indiana) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Playin' with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues (Audio CD)

I never truly considered Tony Bennett one of the great singers of the late 40's and the 50's, and have become amazed at his longevity as a performer and at his continuing popularity.

All this is well earned, as this CD shows. He maintains an upbeat style and while it's wonderful to hear him with a veteran such as Kay Starr on "Blue and Sentimental", he is still a good match for such gals as Diana Krall, Sheryl Crow, and Bonnie Raitt.

Most outstanding, though, in my mind is "New York State of Mind", a great duet with Billy Joel. And for real low down blues, "Evenin'" with Ray Charles can't be beat. Another master blues musician, B. B. King, really backs Tony up, and easily shares the spotlight on "Let The Good Times Roll".

This is good blues, although with the Tony Bennett upbeat interpretation, it isn't always at its most soulful...often a blending of Bennett's smooth and upbeat voice with generally soulful vocal or instrumental accpaniment from the great guest stars.