85-year-old Tony Bennett shows no signs of slowing down, with his Duets II resting at #1 on the Billboard Album Chart and in the top 5 on iTunes’ album chart. Duets II has sold an incredible 179,000 units during its first week in release, and Bennett’s record label (RPM Records/Columbia Records) announced plans to release the “labels’ most extensive boxed set collection in their history.”
Tony Bennett: The Complete Collection will be available on November 8, featuring 73 CDs and 3 DVDs (only at Barnes and Noble and tonybennett.com).
Tony’s son and manager, Danny, stated, “It’s an unprecedented and historical event that an artist at the age of 85 has topped the charts. He’s remained at the top of his game without having ever compromised his integrity and standard of excellence.”
“The number one success of Duets II pays tribute to the enduring genius of Tony Bennett,” commented Steve Barnett, Chairman, Columbia Records. “It is a true testament to Tony’s artistry that he continues to top the charts while at the same time reaching a broader fan base and breaking new ground.”
Listen to Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga perform “The Lady is a Tramp:”
More on Duets II [Courtesy of RPM Records/Columbia Records]:
Nearly twenty years after making ground-breaking headlines with his “Steppin’ Out” video being added to MTV in 1993, Bennett has once again been added across all MTV Networks worldwide with the premiere of the Amy Winehouse duet of “Body and Soul.” Widespread listener response to the Duets II‘s Lady Gaga and Amy Winehouse tracks across all radio formats has garnered major airplay on Top 40, Hot AC and AAA stations. “Body and Soul” has broken into Billboard’s Hot 100 Singles charts.
The entire six month recording process for Duets II, during which Bennett recorded live with each duet partner in the studio, was documented on film by Academy Award winning cinematographer Dion Beebe. Footage from sessions held in New York, Los Angeles, London, Nashville and Italy was distributed to a variety of online outlets.
Clips were tailored, often as exclusives, to iTunes, Vevo, MTV and Barnes and Noble among others, resulting in over 100 million impressions online and will become the basis of a documentary “The Zen of Tony Bennett,” an intimate look into the artist’s creative process as he reflects over his 60 year career within the context of his latest recording project.
Duets II was produced by Phil Ramone and Bennett’s son, Dae Bennett. It features a celebrated roster of many of today’s greatest artists–including Lady Gaga, Michael Buble, John Mayer, Carrie Underwood and Amy Winehouse–performing with Tony, showcasing his catalog of greatest hits. Duets II is a follow-up to Bennett’s highly successful Duets CD, which was released for the singer’s 80th birthday, received three Grammy Awards and became his best-selling record to-date.
A concentrated catalog campaign was also initiated, resulting in Duets return to the charts, with top five placement at Amazon and Barnes and Noble.
