The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Isn’t It Romantic?

The song of the day for Friday, October 9, 2026, is “Isn’t It Romantic.”

About This Song

“Isn’t It Romantic?” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1932 film Love Me Tonight. In the early 1930s, Richard Rodgers, with his wife, Dorothy, and 2-year old daughter Mary, and Larry Hart moved to Los Angeles to write music for films, Mary Rodgers, daughter of Richard Rodgers, said in her 2022 memoir, Shy:

Both she [her mother Dorothy] and Daddy detested it. They had moved there for money and got it, but Daddy was frustrated because everything he and Larry wrote, no matter how good, was thrown out. They didn’t have any hits during those three years except for the ones from Love Me Tonight: “Isn’t It Romantic?” and “Lover.” In California they were contract hacks who, far from celebrated, were silenced.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t It Romantic?” in September 1972 with the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, with Braff on cornet and trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Giuffrida on bass. Two albums were released from the September sessions: Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, which “Isn’t It Romantic?” was on, in 1976 and Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart, released in 1977. Both albums were released on Bennett’s Improv label.

“Isn’t It Romantic,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

I found a video with Jeanette MacDonald singing “Isn’t It Romantic?” from Love Me Tonight on Youtube. It includes some still photographs from the film. The entire film is available on YouTube as well.

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Song of the Day: Skylark

The song of the day for Thursday, October 8, 2026, is “Skylark.”

About This Song

“Skylark” was written by Hoagy Carmichael, based off a Bix Beiderbecke improv, for a musical he wanted to write, using the novel Young Man With a Horn. After the project was abandoned, he asked Johnny Mercer to write the lyrics. Mercer said he struggled with the writing for a year. Then he saw an advertising billboard with the word ‘skylark’ on it and the lyric came quickly.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Skylark” on October 28, 1959. Bennett and Ralph Sharon had reserved a space at The CBS 30th Street Studio. On that afternoon, they came into the studio with a briefcase of sheet music. They’d pick a song, decide on the right key and record it in only one or two takes. In few hours, they had recorded sixteen songs, twelve of which were released on Tony Sings For Two; two more songs were added for the 1995 CD reissue. Tony Sings For Two was released on February 6, 1961.

“Skylark,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s a nice recording of Hoagy Carmichael singing “Skylark.”

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Song of the Day: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, is “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.”

About This Song

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” was written by Cole Porter for the 1944 Billy Rose musical revue Seven Lively Arts. The song is well known for the phrase “change from major to minor” as the song itself changed from A-flat major to A-flat minor, matching the lyric perfectly. It has always been a strong jazz standard. Significant recordings include those by Mabel Mercer, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” on April 8, 1958, for Long Ago and Far Away. Frank Devol wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Autumn in New York

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 6, 2026, is “Autumn in New York.”

About This Song

“Autumn in New York” was written in 1934 by Vernon Duke. Duke offered the song to producer Murray Anderson for his musical Thumbs Up! The song was not published until 1949. Noted recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Autumn In New York” on June 4, 1992, with The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon: piano, Paul Langosch: bass, and Joe LaBarbera: drums). The recording was an outtake from Bennett’s 1992 album Perfectly Frank.

“Autumn in New York,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights Vol 2, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Dream Dancing

The song of the day for Monday, October 5, 2026, is “Dream Dancing.”

About This Song

“Dream Dancing” was written by Cole Porter for the 1941 film You’ll Never Get Rich, starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Dream Dancing” in September 1976. The recording did not appear in the initial release of Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Together Again, but was added to the 1999 Rhino CD release of the album and all subsequent CD releases of Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Together Again.

“Dream Dancing,” as well as Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Together Again, is available on Apple Music.