The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Love For Sale available for pre-order

Love For Sale, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga’s new album, is now available for pre-order.

Lady Gaga on Twitter: "The day we released "Cheek To Cheek" in 2014, @itstonybennett called me and asked me if I wanted to record another album with him, this time celebrating the songs of Cole Porter. I"m always honored to sing with my friend Tony, so of course I accepted the invitation. / Twitter"

The day we released "Cheek To Cheek" in 2014, @itstonybennett called me and asked me if I wanted to record another album with him, this time celebrating the songs of Cole Porter. I"m always honored to sing with my friend Tony, so of course I accepted the invitation.

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Just announced: "Love For Sale" with @ladygaga will be released October 1.Pre-order the album and listen to our first single "I Get A Kick Out Of You" everywhere now:Pre-order: https://t.co/7Qp2K9M9BQListen: https://t.co/I0ANs8VNeg pic.twitter.com/z5NpyXGfZS / Twitter"

Just announced: "Love For Sale" with @ladygaga will be released October 1.Pre-order the album and listen to our first single "I Get A Kick Out Of You" everywhere now:Pre-order: https://t.co/7Qp2K9M9BQListen: https://t.co/I0ANs8VNeg pic.twitter.com/z5NpyXGfZS

Lady Gaga on Twitter: "Today, I am so excited to announce that our new album "Love For Sale" will be released October 1. You can pre-order the album and listen to our first single "I Get A Kick Out Of You" everywhere now!Pre-order: https://t.co/x4phqHuwlVListen: https://t.co/Mq8vZBeWVz pic.twitter.com/7O4T5BH57m / Twitter"

Today, I am so excited to announce that our new album "Love For Sale" will be released October 1. You can pre-order the album and listen to our first single "I Get A Kick Out Of You" everywhere now!Pre-order: https://t.co/x4phqHuwlVListen: https://t.co/Mq8vZBeWVz pic.twitter.com/7O4T5BH57m

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Birthday Greetings

I wasn’t surprised to wake up this morning to Facebook and Twitter full of birthday greetings to Tony Bennett. Here are some of them, in case you missed them today.

Lady Gaga on Twitter: "Today is @itstonybennett"s 95th birthday! To celebrate him and the love all of his fans have for him, I"m making a special video with 95 Reasons Gaga, Little Monsters, and Bennett Monsters Love Tony! pic.twitter.com/nBvUrgY4dX / Twitter"

Today is @itstonybennett"s 95th birthday! To celebrate him and the love all of his fans have for him, I"m making a special video with 95 Reasons Gaga, Little Monsters, and Bennett Monsters Love Tony! pic.twitter.com/nBvUrgY4dX

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Lots of love to Robert De Niro, too. Thanks for the birthday message. #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/4s1go2EApa / Twitter"

Lots of love to Robert De Niro, too. Thanks for the birthday message. #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/4s1go2EApa

Katie Couric on Twitter: "Happy 95th birthday @itstonybennett! We love you xoxoxo ❤️😊🎉 https://t.co/BEcot3Nj5j / Twitter"

Happy 95th birthday @itstonybennett! We love you xoxoxo ❤️😊🎉 https://t.co/BEcot3Nj5j

James Taylor on Twitter: "Put on a happy face... and help us with a very happy 95th birthday to the amazing @ItsTonyBennett! 🎂 🎉📷 @LutchPhoto pic.twitter.com/exOT0Fbq3H / Twitter"

Put on a happy face... and help us with a very happy 95th birthday to the amazing @ItsTonyBennett! 🎂 🎉📷 @LutchPhoto pic.twitter.com/exOT0Fbq3H

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Thanks to another fellow New Yorker, Steve Buscemi for the birthday message! #IGetAKickOutOfYou #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/RFplnqfS1N / Twitter"

Thanks to another fellow New Yorker, Steve Buscemi for the birthday message! #IGetAKickOutOfYou #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/RFplnqfS1N

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Had to share this card from a fellow artist. Thank you @johntravo_ for the birthday wishes 🎂 #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/qyi0kfEO7H / Twitter"

Had to share this card from a fellow artist. Thank you @johntravo_ for the birthday wishes 🎂 #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/qyi0kfEO7H

Jon Bon Jovi on Twitter: "I get a kick out of @itstonybennett, the greatest of the greats. #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/Pmug7IjKBk / Twitter"

I get a kick out of @itstonybennett, the greatest of the greats. #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/Pmug7IjKBk

Carole King on Twitter: "Wishing @itstonybennett a very happy 95th birthday! pic.twitter.com/U5wOBhN8Vw / Twitter"

Wishing @itstonybennett a very happy 95th birthday! pic.twitter.com/U5wOBhN8Vw

Natalie Cole on Twitter: "Happy 95th Birthday to the Incomparable @itstonybennett 🎊. Here are some memorable moments of Natalie and Tony at the 50th Grammy Awards and Natalie"s 60th birthday celebration. pic.twitter.com/jYWKF46jU2 / Twitter"

Happy 95th Birthday to the Incomparable @itstonybennett 🎊. Here are some memorable moments of Natalie and Tony at the 50th Grammy Awards and Natalie"s 60th birthday celebration. pic.twitter.com/jYWKF46jU2

Nat King Cole on Twitter: "Happy Birthday to @itstonybennett -- he turns 95 today! Tony was a guest on the Nat King Cole show in 1957 on October 1, when he was just 31 years old. Happy birthday!#NatKingCole #TonyBennett #Happy95Tony #TonyBennettDay pic.twitter.com/BBZmllqyd8 / Twitter"

Happy Birthday to @itstonybennett -- he turns 95 today! Tony was a guest on the Nat King Cole show in 1957 on October 1, when he was just 31 years old. Happy birthday!#NatKingCole #TonyBennett #Happy95Tony #TonyBennettDay pic.twitter.com/BBZmllqyd8

Stevie Van Zandt on Twitter: "Happy Birthday Tony! ⁦@itstonybennett⁩ pic.twitter.com/RoEfgrxc3b / Twitter"

Happy Birthday Tony! ⁦@itstonybennett⁩ pic.twitter.com/RoEfgrxc3b

Barbra Streisand on Twitter: "Dear @ItsTonyBennett - You always make me "Smile!" Happiest birthday wishes! xo B #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/geHsgVaBgR / Twitter"

Dear @ItsTonyBennett - You always make me "Smile!" Happiest birthday wishes! xo B #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/geHsgVaBgR

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Doesn"t get much cooler than Bono & The Edge singing #IGetAKickOutOfYou on my birthday! Thanks, @U2 #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/gJONVRCw5V / Twitter"

Doesn"t get much cooler than Bono & The Edge singing #IGetAKickOutOfYou on my birthday! Thanks, @U2 #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/gJONVRCw5V

Cyndi Lauper on Twitter: "Happy Birthday @itstonybennett! And Happy #TonyBennettDay! 💗🥂https://t.co/PW59XRSIkl / Twitter"

Happy Birthday @itstonybennett! And Happy #TonyBennettDay! 💗🥂https://t.co/PW59XRSIkl

Billy Joel on Twitter: "Happy birthday to @itstonybennett!"I get a kick out of Tony Bennett because he sings "New York State of Mind" better than anyone - including me." - Billy Joel 📸: @MyrnaSuarez25 📍: @TheGarden pic.twitter.com/yvMiWEknwc / Twitter"

Happy birthday to @itstonybennett!"I get a kick out of Tony Bennett because he sings "New York State of Mind" better than anyone - including me." - Billy Joel 📸: @MyrnaSuarez25 📍: @TheGarden pic.twitter.com/yvMiWEknwc

Paul McCartney on Twitter: "Happy 95th birthday, @itstonybennett! #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/M0a4HMC9Cg / Twitter"

Happy 95th birthday, @itstonybennett! #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/M0a4HMC9Cg

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "It"s officially #TonyBennettDay in NY! As a lifetime New Yorker of now 95 years, this is an honor. Thanks to New York State. pic.twitter.com/jGq7yL561F / Twitter"

It"s officially #TonyBennettDay in NY! As a lifetime New Yorker of now 95 years, this is an honor. Thanks to New York State. pic.twitter.com/jGq7yL561F

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "And an extra thank you to @SonyMusicEnt who have endowed a park bench in my honor today for New Yorkers to enjoy my most cherished place, Central Park. As the plaque says: "Nature is the boss" 🌳 pic.twitter.com/uaDdU3Qx6u / Twitter"

And an extra thank you to @SonyMusicEnt who have endowed a park bench in my honor today for New Yorkers to enjoy my most cherished place, Central Park. As the plaque says: "Nature is the boss" 🌳 pic.twitter.com/uaDdU3Qx6u

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "A birthday note from @officialkeef - you are another true leader. #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/IYych63del / Twitter"

A birthday note from @officialkeef - you are another true leader. #Happy95Tony #IGetAKickOutOfYou pic.twitter.com/IYych63del

Tony Bennett on Twitter: "Thanks to a dear friend, @AlecBaldwln____ for your birthday video. 🎂 #IGetAKickOutOfYou #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/dEHviDxC6b / Twitter"

Thanks to a dear friend, @AlecBaldwln____ for your birthday video. 🎂 #IGetAKickOutOfYou #Happy95Tony pic.twitter.com/dEHviDxC6b

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Song of the Day: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 4, 2021, is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About Today

I hope you all enjoyed Tony Bennett’s 95th birthday! Our 4th of the seven Tony Bennett songs I’m featuring this week is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About This Song

“The Best Is Yet To Come” was written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Some say that “The Best is Yet to Come” was written for Tony Bennett. In any case, the song is strongly identified with him and he sings it at most of his concerts. Other recordings include those by Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Best Is Yet To Come” in 1960; Cy Coleman wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra. It was released as a single in 1960; it was included on the 1962 album I Left My Heart In San Francisco.

The Best Is Yet To Come

Listen to The Best Is Yet To Come on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“The Best Is Yet To Come,” as well as all of the songs collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 6, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 3, 2021, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Tony Bennett a very happy 95th birthday. This blog and our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography, were created out of love for you and your gifts to us as a singer, artist, philanthropist, and humanitarian. Thank you for giving all of your fans so many wonderful recordings and memories.

On this birthday, what other song could we feature than “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” On a side note, the composer of this song, George Cory was also born on August 3.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross in 1953.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” on January 23, 1962. It was first released as a single; later that year it would be the anchor of the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1962.

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco is available on Apple Music.

On July 30, 1963, Tony Bennett appeared on Episode 5 of The Judy Garland Show and sang today’s song.

Judy Garland - Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart In San Francisco

July 30, 1963: Videotaping of "Episode Five" of "The Judy Garland Show" at CBS Television City, Stage 43, Hollywood.Judy"s guests for this episode were Tony...

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Monday, August 2, 2021, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

Tony Bennett Week

Tony Bennett has made many excellent recordings of Harold Arlen songs — so many, in fact, that two of his Arlen songs have made it to my list of Seven of Tony’s greatest recordings. Today’s song is very special.

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder wrote:

This is a most remarkable markable and beautiful song. It is one which goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music. For me, it is a concert song without a trace of trying to be. It hasn’t any artiness about it or pretense. It’s obviously deeply felt, both by the composer and the lyricist, E. Y. Harburg. It is written with such intensity that it gives the illusion of being a song of great range, whereas it is only one step beyond an octave!

All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included it on his excellent album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1992 for his tribute album to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank.

Last Night When We Were Young

Listen to Last Night When We Were Young on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1992.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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