Tony Bennett Handpicks The Classics

Quintessential Career-Spanning Collection Set For US Release on January 28, 2014 on RPM/Columbia/Legacy Recordings

The Classics Available in Standard & Expanded Deluxe Editions

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Dec 16, 2013, 01:07 ET

NEW YORK, Dec. 16, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- RPM/Columbia/Legacy Recordings will release The Classics, a newly compiled collection of twenty Tony Bennett recordings, each personally selected by the artist, providing definitive takes on "a song that sounds like it was written yesterday even though it may have been written 500 years ago or 50 years ago." Tony Bennett's The Classics is available for pre-order now and will be in stores on January 28.

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When approached to curate an anthology of classic recordings drawn from across his career, Bennett kept "two things in mind: choosing songs that exemplify to the highest degree a timeless quality, while selecting a performance of those songs that present them in a very immediate and 'live' approach. I feel that songs I selected for The Classics absolutely meet both of these criteria."

The Classics opens in 1951 with "Because of You," Tony's first Columbia Records single and first #1 record, includes the "solo tracks that I felt most closely represented the highest level of musical craftsmanship that has been my mandate as I have built my recording catalog" and spotlights some of the finest of Bennett's acclaimed duets, sung "with artists who I admire and have loved working with over the years." The Classics finds Tony Bennett sharing songs with Frank Sinatra, Ray Charles, k.d. lang, Barbra Streisand, Juanes, Diana Krall, Stevie Wonder, John Mayer, Michael Buble, Lady Gaga, and Amy Winehouse.

The Classics is the latest Tony Bennett Legacy entry which has already enjoyed two highly acclaimed releases early this year: the never before released, Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 and the much-anticipated Tony Bennett Live At the Sahara, Las Vegas 1964. Additionally, Tony Bennett's entire catalog was made available for the first time on i-Tunes this past fall.

Tony Bennett's The Classics is available in an expanded deluxe edition featuring ten additional tracks.

TONY BENNETT – THE CLASSICS (Standard Edition)

1. Because Of You
2. Just In Time
3. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
4. I Wanna Be Around
5. The Good Life
6. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
7. How Do You Keep The Music Playing
8. When Do The Bells Ring For Me
9. New York, New York - Duet with Frank Sinatra
10. Evenin' - Duet with Ray Charles
11. What A Wonderful World - Duet with k.d. Lang
12. Smile - Duet with Barbra Streisand
13. The Shadow Of Your Smile - Duet with Juanes
14. The Best Is Yet To Come - Duet with Diana Krall
15. For Once In My Life - Duet with Stevie Wonder
16. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Duet with John Mayer
17. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Duet with Michael Buble
18. The Lady Is A Tramp - Duet with Lady Gaga
19. Body And Soul - Duet with Amy Winehouse
20. Steppin' Out With My Baby - Duet with Christina Aguilera

TONY BENNETT – THE CLASSICS (Deluxe Edition)

1. Boulevard of Broken Dreams
2. Because Of You
3. Cold, Cold Heart
4. Blue Velvet
5. Rags To Riches
6. Stranger In Paradise
7. Just In Time
8. The Way You Look Tonight
9. Put On A Happy Face
10. I Left My Heart In San Francisco
11. I Wanna Be Around
12. The Good Life
13. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)
14. Of I Ruled The World
15. My Favorite Things
16. How Do You Keep The Music Playing
17. When Do The Bells Ring For Me
18. New York, New York - Duet with Frank Sinatra
19. Evenin' - Duet with Ray Charles
20. What A Wonderful World - Duet with k.d. lang
21. Smile - Duet with Barbra Streisand
22. The Shadow Of Your Smile - Duet with Juanes
23. The Best Is Yet To Come - Duet with Diana Krall
24. For Once In My Life - Duet with Stevie Wonder
25. One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Duet with John Mayer
26. Don't Get Around Much Anymore - Duet with Michael Buble
27. The Lady Is A Tramp - Duet with Lady Gaga
28. Body And Soul - Duet with Amy Winehouse
29. It Had To Be You- Duet with Carrie Underwood
30. Steppin' Out With My Baby - Duet with Christina Aguilera