The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Ain’t Misbehavin’

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 21, 2025, is “Ain’t Misbehavin’.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating one of the composers of today’s song: Thomas Wright (Fats) Waller, born on May 21, 1904, in New York City.

About This Song

“Ain’t Misbehavin’” was written by Fats Waller and Harry Brooks, with lyrics by Andy Razaf, for the 1929 musical revue Hot Chocolates, staged at Connie’s Inn in Harlem. Razaf said that Waller wrote the entire song in just 45 minutes. It has become one of Waller’s most well-known songs, perhaps due to the wildly successful Broadway musical revue Ain’t Misbehavin’, which opened in 1978 and won the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Louis Armstrong was the orchestra director for Hot Chocolates and played a trumpet solo for “Ain’t Misbehavin'” in that production.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ain’t Misbehavin'” on March 26, 1964, for the album When Lights Are Low, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Sharon. Accompanying Bennett were. Sharon (piano), Hal Gaylord (bass), and Billy Exiner (drums).

“Ain’t Misbehavin’,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Make Believe

The song of the day for Tuesday, may 20, 2025, is “Make Believe.”

About This Song

“Make Believe” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1927 Broadway musical Show Boat. The song is sung in Act One by Gaylord Ravenal and Magnolia Hawks (daughter of Cap’n Andy, owner of the show boat).

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Make Believe” in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bennett is accompanied by Bill Charlap, who also produced the album.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 58th Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Make Believe,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Monday, May 19, 2025, is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written by Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by John LaTouche, in 1941 (though Duke Ellington was also listed as the co-composer on the first recording of the song,  it is widely accepted to be written by Strayhorn). The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this one by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” on May 25, 1964. “Day Dream” is one of five song Bennett recorded with Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks a Tony Bennett album with these musicians would have been extraordinary. They were released on the Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 disc included in the Tony Bennett Complete Collection box set released in 2011.

“Day Dream,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the 1941 recording of “Day Dream,” with Strayhorn and Johnny Hodges.

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Song of the Day: Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me

The song of the day for Sunday, April 18, 2025, is “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me.”

About This Song

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the musical By Jupiter in 1942. Directed by Joshua Logan, it starred Ray Bolger, Vera-Ellen and Constance Moore. It was their last full-length work. In American Popular Music, Alec Wilder called this song “one of the loveliest songs Rodgers or any other theater writer has ever written. In the area of this form of music it is a masterpiece.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” on October 28, 1959, for his album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961. For this album, Bennett and Ralph Sharon booked the Columbia 30th Street Studio and, with only. Sharon accompanying him on piano, recorded sixteen songs, with twelve songs released on the album. There were no formal arrangements; they sat down and chose songs from music books and recorded them in one or two takes.

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Saturday, May 17, 2025, is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” was written by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green for the 1960 musical Do Re Mi. The song concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the jukebox business with some gangster pals. ”Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Make Someone Happy” in September 1976 for their second album Together Again, released in 1977.

“Make Someone Happy,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.