August 21, 2001 – Having celebrated his 75th birthday at a gala event at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art earlier this month, singer Tony Bennett will complete this milestone year with the release of a new album, Playin' With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues (Columbia Records), due in stores November 6. The album is a collection of 15 classic blues songs, many featuring duets with special guest artists including Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel, Diana Krall, B.B. King, k.d. lang, Bonnie Raitt, Kay Starr and Stevie Wonder.

The all-star lineups that joined Bennett in recording Sessions -- held both in Los Angeles and New York -- were overseen by legendary music producer Phil Ramone who commented, "It was such a joy coming together with everyone to make the music on this album. It is one of the highlights of my life." Bennett, a nine-time Grammy winner, had a wonderful time making the album and commented, "The blues is about spontaneity and communicating an immediate feeling. The studio was set up like a live club so when each artist came in it was very relaxed and intimate. It was great fun for everyone involved."

The Ralph Sharon Quartet -- who perform with the singer on his concert tours -- provided stellar musical accompaniment on the sessions along with musical embellishments by Stevie Wonder on harmonica and B.B. King and Bonnie Raitt on guitar. The album's title, "Playin' With My Friends," originates from a song written by blues great Robert Cray; Bennett and his guest artists are featured on the track which closes the album. Danny Bennett, the singer's son and manager, is the Executive Producer on the project.

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang have been receiving rave reviews for their joint 23-city concert tour which kicked off in July and will culminate with two performances at New York's famed Radio City Music Hall September 28 and 29. The two will appear on the Today Show's popular concert series this Friday, August 24, when audiences will get a sneak preview of one of the album's tracks, "Keep The Faith, Baby," which Bennett recorded with lang.

Playin' With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues Track Listing:

"Alright, Okay, You Win" (with Diana Krall)
"Everyday (I Have The Blues)" (with Stevie Wonder)
"Don't Cry Baby"
"Good Morning Heartache" (with Sheryl Crow)
"Let the Good Times Roll" (with B.B. King)
"Evenin'" (with Ray Charles)
"I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues" (with Bonnie Raitt)
"Keep the Faith, Baby," (with k.d. lang)
"Old Count Basie Is Gone"
"Blue and Sentimental" (with Kay Starr)
"New York State of Mind" (with Billy Joel)
"Undecided Blues"
"Blues in the Night"
"Stormy Weather" (with Natalie Cole)
"Playin' With My Friends" (with various duet artists)