The Year of Tony Bennett

Song of the Day: It Was Me

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The song of the day for Sunday, June 25, 2017 is “It Was Me.”

About This Song

“It Was Me” was written by Gilbert Becaud in 1960 as “C’etait Moi,” with English lyrics by Norman Gimbel. It’s a beautiful love song that brings memories of summers past and, maybe, to come.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Was Me” in 1962 for his great album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. This recording was also used on the 1971 album Summer of ’42. Marty Manning did the arrangement.


“It Was Me,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

In 2009, Tony Bennett named this as his favorite summer song on NPR; you can listen to the interview here.

Song of the Day: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)

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The song of the day for Tuesday, January 17, 2017 is “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars,” was written in 1960 by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with English lyrics by Gene Lees. Known in the original Portuguese as “Corcovado,” this is one the great early bossa nova songs. The song has a serene quiet feeling and the English title fits the mood of the song perfectly. Both Stan Getz and Miles Davis recorded jazz versions of “Quiet Nights.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Quiet Nights Of Quiet Stars” in 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning did the arrangement.


“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

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The song of the day for Monday, January 9, 2017 is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I Wanna Be Around,” was written in 1959 by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt. The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces, when somebody breaks yours heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wanna Be Around” in 1962 for the 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning did the arrangement.


“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

Song of the Day: The Good Life

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The song of the day for Wednesday, November 2, 2016 is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

“The Good Life” was written in 1962 by Sacha Distel and Jack Reardon. Originally titled “La Belle Vie,” the song was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life;” other good recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Good Life” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. The arrangement is by Marty Manning.


“The Good Life,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.

Song of the Day: I’ve Got Your Number

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The song of the day for Sunday, August 21, 2016 is “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got Your Number” is from the 1962 Broadway musical Little Me, the second musical that Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh wrote (the first being Wildcat, written for Lucille Ball). Little Me starred Sid Caesar and Virginia Martin, both of whom introduced “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Your Number” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. The arrangement is by Marty Manning. “I’ve Got Your Number” is just one of the many Broadway-bound songs that Bennett recorded, starting with “Stranger in Paradise.”


“I’ve Got Your Number,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from iTunes.