'Duets II': Tony Bennett's First Number One Album

After 60 years and over 70 albums, Tony Bennett finally has a number one album.

The 15-time Grammy winner, who celebrated his 85th birthday at a major party last Sunday, is set to take the top slot on the Billboard 200 chart with the release of his album, "Duets II." The record pairs Bennett with a series of young singers -- including "Body and Soul," the famous duet with the late Amy Winehouse -- and is estimated to sell 170,000 copies in its first week out. The album also includes his duet with Lady Gaga on "The Lady Is A Tramp."

It is the first time Bennett has ever had a number one album; his first "Duets" album, released in 2006, hit #3 on the chart. The crooner, most famous for his signature song, "I Left My Heart In San Francisco," has sold over 50 million records, and has placed three singles at the number one slot in the Billboard chart.

WATCH:

PHOTOS:

Comments

[thefool2u]

11:57 AM on 10/02/2011

I would like to hear singers sing, see actors act, artists do their art work, entertainers do their craft well and we in the audience can enjoy the show. When they try to spew their political opinions they usually are not worth listening to. They have the free speech right to say so and I have the free speech right to say it is usually garbage that comes out and that they should just stick to their craft. If I held a grudge or stopped buying their stuff or watching - then I would not see much entertainment at all.

[KobraKai7474]

03:15 AM on 09/26/2011

I love it when conservative rhetoric backfires. All week we heard that people were going to boycott Tony Bennett's new album because he not only had the unmitigated gall to become a pacifist after experiencing war firsthand during World War II but because he also had temerity to actually take advantage of first amendment rights and express himself. Instead, all the boycott talk did was give a very deserving man a hit record. Bravo, Mr. Bennett, both for the album and for being a great American.

[Carolab]

02:09 AM on 09/26/2011

Beautiful album from what I have heard so far on the radio and YouTube.

[WhirledTraveler]

01:47 AM on 09/26/2011

It's a shame that Amy did not live long enough to enjoy the moment...this moment. Such a lovely duet.

[jwallstrom]

01:33 AM on 09/26/2011

Welcome to the "hate and blame America" club, Mr Bennett.

[KobraKai7474]

03:07 AM on 09/26/2011

Welcome to the new United States where the only acceptable opinions and the only acceptable free speech is that espoused by the tea party.

[Hareega]

09:57 PM on 09/25/2011

I have to say that the first time I listened to Bennett was on Howard Stern, and from there decided to listen to everything he says

[greora2]

08:50 PM on 09/25/2011

I hear he may do Duet with Admehijhad in front of the chamber of Ayatollas for Rock and Rolla - paid for by a cool $million in ransom money..

[kapalabhati]

07:10 AM on 09/26/2011

Ohfercrissakes. What are you 12?

I see the Fixsux nuze talking points have been published already.

[alone ranger]

09:26 PM on 09/25/2011

exactly

[Huah]

09:58 PM on 09/25/2011

You critics should hope to accomplish one/one thousandth of what Tony has done. Sing on, Mr B!! It's heartbreaking to see Amy and Tony singing so well here and she's looking so healthy and foxy.

[gene2kelly]

08:09 PM on 09/25/2011

The music of Tony Bennett isn't depended on what he said politically about the reasons for 9-1-1. Our behavior towards the people in that part of the world did allow the extremists to recruit "martyrs'' ... Did the victims of 9-1-1 deserve what they got? NO! But the corporate/govt connection of the United States cause mischief in that part of the world? YES!

[Lilybelle]

07:45 PM on 09/25/2011

Congratulations Mr Bennett. Aged to perfection, just like the finest wine.

[Drew2U]

07:01 PM on 09/25/2011

The duet with Amy Winehouse is heartbreaking--she never sounded more lovely.

[beverlyamy1]

05:26 PM on 09/25/2011

congrats to tony,you are the man.

[FranklinD]

09:11 AM on 09/26/2011

I once again became a fan of Tony Bennett about 20 years ago after being a fan of his in my childhood. During the interim i was a fan of rock and started picking up on Jazz in the late 1960s.

Thanks for keeping the songs coming Tony. I also liked your album a few years back entitled "the Art of Love.'

[Beginner]

04:37 PM on 09/25/2011

Wonderful rendition of "Body and Soul" by two great singers from two different generations. Also a poignant eulogy for Amy. Tony is just immortal and deserves all the accolades from his new album.

[Lat24]

04:23 PM on 09/25/2011

From my youth in early 1950, Southern California, I recall Mr. Bennet's first record "Boulevard of Broken Dreams" on radio. A trip to Wallach's Music City, Sunset & Vine sunk the allowance that week. I was only 5 ... but even at that age, his voice had a style all his own. Then came "Because of You", "Cold, Cold Heart" ... Ed Sullivan's "Toast of the Town", the Jack Benny Show and Playboy After Dark (yep .. I was up watching that one!). While others of my wee age were diggin' Elvis and that strange stuff called "Rock & Roll" ... I was hooked on Jazz and the likes of Herbie Mann. Mr. Bennett certainly did his part on furthering my education. I'm now an amazed senior citizen (when did this happen??) retired .. on Social Security .... and on those days

[Lat24]

06:03 PM on 09/25/2011

when I'm out walking this small island, with the trusty Ipod powered up with 55 or so years of beloved classic American Music ... I have Mr. Bennett providing me a PhD course on timeless cool.

[WorkhelpWorkhelp]

11:13 PM on 09/25/2011

You're 19 and don't forget it.

[jnzcram]

04:05 PM on 09/25/2011

After last weeks comments on the howard Sten show one has to wonder if Tony left more than his heart in San Francisco like perhaps his brain.

[lmab]

04:51 PM on 09/25/2011

Maybe....but he's more inteligent than you are.....even without one.

[KobraKai7474]

03:04 AM on 09/26/2011

Personally, I wonder how the tea party got the first amendment repealed for everyone but themselves. When a man gets excoriated for expressing an honest opinion... an opinion based on experiences gained while serving his country and risking life and limb while doing it... I have to wonder if our nation has left its collective brains somewhere else.