The song of the day for Saturday, March 23, 2024, is “Pennies From Heaven.”
About Today
In Person! with Count Basie and His Orchestra was released sixty-five years ago today on March 23, 1959. It was planned as a live album and was recorded in a club with the Count Basie Orchestra. However, the tape from the concert had poor quality and couldn’t be used. They re-recorded all of the songs in the studio and, oddly, released it with the original planned title, In Person!.
About This Song
“Pennies From Heaven” was written in 1936 by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 movie of the same name. It’s one of the classic Great Depression songs.
About This Version
Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Pennies From Heaven” on December 30, 1958, for In Person!, released on March 23, 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.
“Pennies From Heaven,” as well as In Person is available on Apple Music.