The Year of Tony Bennett

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.

Song of the Day: All Of You

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The song of the day for Thursday, June 30, 2016 is “All Of You.”

About This Song

“All Of You” was written by Cole Porter in 1954 for the musical Silk Stockings, where it was introduced by Don Ameche. Bill Evans played it at his legendary 1961 album Sunday at the Village Vanguard.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All Of You” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, consisting of songs sung by Fred Astaire, who sang this song in the film version of Silk Stockings. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.


“All Of You,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today marks the end of our tribute to the music of Cole Porter. No hints, but I’m really, really excited about next month’s songwriter and I hope you will be too. Stay tuned for the big release tomorrow.

Song of the Day: Ca C’est L’amour

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The song of the day for Tuesday, June 28, 2016 is “Ca C’est L’amour.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “Ca C’est L’amour” for the 1957 film musical Les Girls.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ca C’est L’amour” on my seventh birthday, that is, September 19, 1957. It was released as a single that same year. The arrangement is by Ray Ellis.


“Ca C’est L’amour,” as well as all of the singles on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5, is available from iTunes.