The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Sunday, May 31, 2026, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1950 by Hank Williams.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Cold, Cold Heart” 75 years ago on May 31, 1951, featuring an arrangement by Percy Faith. It was hit for Bennett, charting for 27 weeks on Billboard. Bennett’s recording of “Cold, Cold Heart” was significant, as it was one of first Country-Western songs to cross over to popular audiences, bringing wider audience to the genre and Hank Williams.

Bill Janovitz, a writer for Allmusic wrote:

That a young Italian singing waiter from Queens could find common ground with a country singer from Alabama’s backwoods is testament both to Williams’ skills as a writer and to Bennett’s imagination and artist’s ear.

“Cold, Cold Heart,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the original 1951 recording of “Cold, Cold Heart” by Hank Williams.

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Song of the Day: So Many Stars

The song of the day for Saturday, May 30, 2026, is “So Many Stars.”

About This Song

“So Many Stars” was written by Sergio Mendes, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman, for the Sergio Mendes and the Brasil 66 album Look Around, released in 1968. Since then, the song has found great popularity with popular, jazz and cabaret artists including Kathleen Battle, Lee Konitz, Sarah Vaughan, Earl Klugh, Cleo Laine, and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “So Many Stars” in January 1986 for The Art of Excellence, his first album upon returning to Columbia Records. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“So Many Stars,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s “So Many Stars” from Sergio Mendes and the Brasil 66 album Look Around. It was arranged by Dave Grusin; Lani Hall, married to Herb Albert since 1974, is the singer.

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Song of the Day: Who Cares?

The song of the day for Friday, May 29, 2026, is “Who Cares?”

About This Song

“Who Cares?” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1931 Broadway musical Of Thee I Sing which won the 1932 Pulitzer Prize for Drama. It’s one of their very popular songs with many fine recordings, including those by Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, and Judy Garland.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Who Cares?” for his 2018 album Love Is Here To Stay. He was accompanied by The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap, piano; Peter Washington, bass; Kenny Washington, drums). Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement.

“Who Cares?,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, May 28, 2026, is “.”

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. The song was popular from the start, with recordings by Glenn Miller and Judy Garland in 1942. The song has been used in films and television, including Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe, and Star Trek Voyager, where it was sung by Jeri Ryan, portraying Seven of Nine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” live 63 years ago on August 28, 1962. Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet had both been invited by President John F. Kennedy to perform at a concert honoring that year’s group of summer interns. Originally, the concert was planned for the Rose Garden at the White House, but due to so much interest, it was moved to the Sylvan Theatre on the Mall, near the Washington Monument.

Brubeck with his quartet (Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, Joe Morello on drums) opened the concert. Next was Tony Bennett and The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, Billy Exiner on drums) who performed. After Bennett’s set, Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett did an unplanned improv set, joined by Eugene Wright and Joe Morello.

The concert was taped, but over time it had become lost in the vaults. They were discovered, misfiled in the Classical Music section, in December 2012, just a few weeks after Dave Brubeck’s death. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 was finally released 13 years ago; May 28, 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett made a short video about the experience.

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Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 27, 2026, is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

“This Can’t Be Love” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse. It is one of their most joyous and least ironic love songs. Both Benny Goodman and Eddy Duchin recorded the song in the late 1930s. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording here, “This Can’t Be Love” has also been recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded “This Can’t Be Love” in July 1973. The recording was originally released in Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs; additional songs recorded at that session were released on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart. Songs from both albums, as well as some alternate takes were released on Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook by Concord Records in 1986.

“This Can’t Be Love,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.