• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Videos
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

December 6, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Once Upon a Time

The song of the day for Thursday, December 7, 2017 is “Once Upon a Time.”

About This Song

“Once Upon a Time” was written for the 1962 Ray Bolger musical All American by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams. The song was introduced by Bolger and Eileen Herlie. While the musical was not a major smash hit, the song is quite lovely. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording, it was also recorded by Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Howard Keel, Bobby Darrin and Mandy Patinkin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Once Upon a Time” in 1962, with an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was first released as a single on the A side; the B side was some song about San Francisco … “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Needless to say, “Once Upon a Time,” which was and still is a beautiful recording, was outshone by the B side. Both songs were later released on the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco. When I first heard this song and this recording, I thought it was one of the romantic songs I had ever heard. Well, I was only 12, but it is a very nice song.

Once Upon a Time

Tony Bennett · I Left My Heart In San Francisco · Song · 1962


“Once Upon a Time,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: All American, Charles Strouse, I Left My Heart in San Francisco, Lee Adams, Marty Manning, Tony Bennett

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Videos
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2025 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress