The Year of Tony Bennett

Song of the Day: Anything Goes

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The song of the day for Wednesday, April 26, 2017 is “Anything Goes.”

About This Song

In Anything Goes, Cole Porter and book writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse created one of the great musical comedy characters of all time: Reno Sweeney, played by Ethel Merman in the original 1934 production. The score contains many of Porter’s most popular songs, including “I Get a Kick Out You,” “You’re The Top,” and “Blow, Gabriel, Blow.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Anything Goes” in 1959 for the album Basie/Bennett. Today, however, we feature the Marion Evans arrangement for Mr. Bennett and Lady Gaga for their album Cheek To Cheek.

“Anything Goes,” as well as Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

Song of the Day: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye

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The song of the day for Thursday, January 5, 2017 is “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.”

About This Song

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” was written by Cole Porter for the 1944 Billy Rose musical revue Seven Lively Arts. The song is well-known for the phrase “change from major to minor” as the song itself changed from A-flat major to A-flat minor, matching the lyric perfectly. It has always been a strong jazz standard. Significant recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Mabel Mercer, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” in 1958 for his album Long Ago and Far Away. This song, as well as the entire album, was arranged by Frank DeVol.


“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available from iTunes.

Song of the Day: I Concentrate On You

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The song of the day for Monday, November 21, 2016 is “I Concentrate On You.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “I Concentrate On You” for the film Broadway Melody of 1940. It’s one of Porter’s best songs, with recordings by Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington and Judy Garland among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Concentrate On You” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. The arrangement is by Bennett and Ralph Sharon.


” I Concentrate On You,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

Song of the Day: Just One Of Those Things

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The song of the day for Thursday, November 3, 2016 is “Just One Of Those Things.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “Just One of Those Things” for the 1935 musical Jubilee. It’s one of Porter’s most popular songs and has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song spoke of the lyric as ‘a trip to the moon on gossamer wings’ and “that it seems impossible that it wasn’t sitting on his piano, waiting for Porter even before he wrote the lyric.” It has a certain literary fame as well: Holden Caulfield, in Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye likes the song and notes that even the “stinking band” in the hotel lounge “couldn’t ruin it entirely.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just One Of Those Things” in 1957 for his album The Beat of My Heart, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Sharon.

For The Beat of My Heart, Bennett gathered the finest jazz percussionists and drummers to perform on the album. Art Blakey is the featured drummer on “Just One Of Those Things.”


“Just One Of Those Things,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

Too Darn Hot!

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According to the weather report …

New York had a high of 94
Portland Oregon, my home, had a high of 97
Dallas Texas went up to 104.

If Tony Bennett had ever recorded this song, it would have been my song of the day. Instead, you get Ella Fitzgerald.