Song of the Day: I Cover The Waterfront

The song of the day for Saturday, January 19, 2013 is I Cover The Waterfront.

About I Cover The Waterfront

Inspired by a book written by newspaper reporter Max Miller, who actually did report on news from the mid-Atlantic waterfront, I Cover The Waterfront was composed in 1932 by Johnny Green with lyrics by Edward Heyman. An instrumental-only version of the song was used in the 1933 film of the same name.

The song has proven popular since the beginning, with performances by Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, Artie Shaw and Art Tatum, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang this song on his brilliant concept album from 1959 Hometown, My Town, in which Bennett pays tribute to his home town of New York City, from skyscrapers and luxury penthouses to the docks described in I Cover The Waterfront.

I Cover The Waterfront, as well as the full Hometown, My Town, is available on iTunes.