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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

October 17, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Close Your Eyes

The song of the day for Friday, October 17, 2014 is “Close Your Eyes.”

About This Song

Today’s song was written by Bernice Petkere in 1933. Petkere was named by Irving Berlin as the “Queen of Tin Pan Alley.” A vaudeville performer as a child, she sold her first song in 1931, “Starlight,” recorded by Bing Crosby. “Close Your Eyes” is her most well-known song. The song started getting jazz treatments in the 1950s, starting with a great duet from Coleman Hawkins and Milt Jackson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Close Your Eyes” in April, 1961 for the album My Heart Sings. The song was arranged by and the orchestra conducted by Ralph Burns, who arranged this past Wednesday’s version of “Rules of the Road” and Bennett’s 1959 masterpiece album Hometown, My Town.

Close Your Eyes

Listen to Close Your Eyes on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.


“Close Your Eyes,” as well as the album My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes.

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Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bernice Petkere, My Heart Sings, Ralph Burns

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