Released 40 years ago
The Art of Excellence
Tony Bennett · 1986
42 min · 12 tracks · jazz
Smooth jazz melodies intertwine with heartfelt lyrics, showcasing Bennett's timeless vocal prowess and emotional depth.
Top tracks — play these first
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Why Do People Fall in Love Start here — This opening track sets the tone for the album with its lush instrumentation and contemplative lyrics, embodying themes of love and vulnerability that resonate throughout.
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How Do You Keep the Music Playing — A standout ballad, this track showcases Bennett's emotive vocal delivery against a backdrop of sophisticated arrangements, highlighting the album’s introspective nature.
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So Many Stars — This track features an elegant melody and poignant lyrics that reflect on hope and longing, exemplifying Bennett's ability to convey deep emotion through song.
Elevation
Our rating, out of 100 — and why.
AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.
The album blends smooth jazz with heartfelt lyrics, showcasing Bennett's vocal talent but lacks a strong cohesive arc.
What we noticed
- The first half of the album maintains a consistent mid-tempo feel, while the second half introduces more varied tempos and dynamics.
- Composition 25% of the score
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6/10
- Craft 20% of the score
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7/10
- Durability 25% of the score
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6/10
- Distinctiveness 18% of the score
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6/10
- Sequencing 12% of the score
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5/10
the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics
production, performance, arrangement
whether it rewards returning to it
whether it sounds like itself
running order, pacing, length
Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.
Is this for you?
Good fit if you like
- intimate evening listening vibes
- reflective moments of nostalgia
- smooth, soothing background ambiance
- gentle storytelling through music
Where this album fits
- In the catalog
- Breakthrough — Revitalized Bennett's career, marking his return to mainstream recognition.
- Themes
- 1980s romantic longing· orchestral elegance
- Career context
- Released in 1986, The Art of Excellence marked a significant point in Tony Bennett's career as it was his first album after re-establishing himself in the mainstream following a period of declining popularity. This album came at a time when Bennett was reinventing his image, blending traditional jazz with contemporary influences, which helped him attract a new generation of listeners.
- Stylistic neighbors
- Frank Sinatra· Nat King Cole· Ella Fitzgerald
Tracklist
- 1 Why Do People Fall in Love Start here 4:05
- 2 Moments Like This 2:47
- 3 What Are You Afraid Of? 3:01
- 4 When Love Was All We Had 5:08
- 5 So Many Stars 3:44
- 6 Everybody Has the Blues 3:37
- 7 How Do You Keep the Music Playing 4:20
- 8 City of the Angels 2:24
- 9 Forget the Woman 3:16
- 10 A Rainy Day 2:59
- 11 I Got Lost in Her Arms 4:27
- 12 The Day You Leave Me 2:46
If this landed
Records by other artists that run on the same instinct.
Reference: Wikipedia · MusicBrainz · Wikidata
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