The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Skyscraper Blues

The song of the day for Monday, November 3, 2025, is “Skyscraper Blues.”

About This Song

“Skyscraper Blues” was written by Gordon Jenkins and Tom Adair for the 1949 musical revue Along Fifth Avenue. Nancy Walker and Jackie Gleason were members of the cast.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Skyscraper Blues” was recorded 67 years ago on November 3, 1958, for the album Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Skyscraper Blues,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Because Of You

The song of the day for Sunday, November 2, 2025, is “Because Of You.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to honor k.d. lang on her birthday, November 2. She sang with Tony Bennett on Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged, A Wonderful World, Playin’ With My Friends, Duets: An American Classic, and Duets II.

About This Song

“Because Of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson. Tony Bennett first recorded it in 1951 and it was a major hit.

Bennett tells this story about that 1951 recording:

By the spring of 1951, I was told that if I didn’t get a hit soon, I’d be dropped from the label. I went into Percy’s [Percy Faith] office and he said, “In this next session you really have to deliver. We have three songs ready, so we need another song.” I remember that he looked through a bunch of sheet music on his desk, grabbed a song, and said, “Well, let’s do this one.” That song was ‘Because of You.’ I was doing a lot of dramatic singing on my early records, but Percy said to me, “Just relax. Use your natural voice and sing the song.” I took his advice.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Because Of You” on February 10, 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Because Of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available on Apple Music.

Duets: An American Classic won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

On the Sunday after Tony Bennett died on July 21, 2023, k.d. lang sang “Because Of You” as a tribute to him on CBS Sunday Morning.

586K views · 21K reactions | On this weekend we"re remembering Tony Bennett, we could think of no more fitting tribute than to hear one of the songs that made him famous, Because of You," performed by legend, k.d. lang. (Thanks to NightBird Recording Studios in West Hollywood, CA) https://cbsn.ws/3OonVJ0 | CBS Sunday Morning

On this weekend we"re remembering Tony Bennett, we could think of no more fitting tribute than to hear one of the songs that made him famous, Because of You," performed by legend, k.d. lang. (Thanks...

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Song of the Day: The Second Time Around

The song of the day for Saturday, November 1, 2025, is “The Second Time Around.”

About This Song

“The Second Time Around” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn for the 1960 movie High Time, starring Bing Crosby and Tuesday Weld. In the film, Bing Crosby decides to go back to college (at the age of 51) and experiences the generation gap first-hand. But he wins everyone over and gets his degree, having a great time along the way, including falling in love with his French professor. Bing Crosby introduced “The Second Time Around” in the movie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Second Time Around” on December 27, 1965, for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. Al Cohn wrote the arrangement.

“The Second Time Around,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Capitol City

The song of the day for Friday, October 31, 2025, is “Capitol City.”

About This Song

“Capitol City,”(aka “Dancin’ Homer”) was written in 1990 by Alf Clausen and Jeff Martin for The Simpsons television show.

About This Version

Tony Bennett was the first guest star to appear as himself on The Simpsons in the episode “Dancin’ Homer,” “ the 5th episode in Season 2 of The Simpsons. It originally aired on November 8, 1990. The recording was released in 1997 on the album Songs in the Key of Springfield.

“Capitol City,” (aka “Dancin’ Homer”) as well as Songs in the Key of Springfield, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the clip from that epipsode:

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble’s a Bubble)

The song of the day for Thursday, October 30, 2025, is “Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble’s a Bubble).”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble’s a Bubble)” was written in 1924, with music by Lewis Gensler and lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. It was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese, and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble’s a Bubble)” on April 20, 1967, for his album For Once In My Life. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“Keep Smiling at Trouble (Trouble’s a Bubble),” as well as For Once. In My Life, is available on Apple Music.