The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 16, 2022, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song describes it as “a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recordedv “Dancipng in the Dark” on April 6, 1961, for his album My Heart Sings. The wonderful arrangement was written by Ralph Burns.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as My Heart Sings is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan

The song of the day for Friday, August 5, 2022, is “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show and was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant. Even though the original title was “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” it is often sung with Plans. And in spite of the sub-title on the cover of the sheet music, I have no idea what the blue pajama business is all about.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan” on January 3, 1959, with an arrangement by Ralph Sharon. It was released on the 1959 album Basie Swings/Bennett Sings.

“I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Monday, April 18, 2022, is “By Myself.”

About This Song

“By Myself” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 musical Between the Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. Another great Schwartz-Dietz song from Between the Devil was “I See Your Face Before Me.” This song was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, his tribute to the songs sung by Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“By Myself,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: A Shine On Your Shoes

The song of the day for Thursday, March 31, 2022, is “A Shine On Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“A Shine On Your Shoes” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1932 Broadway musical Flying Colors. The same song was used for the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Shine On Your Shoes” in 1993 for his album “Steppin’ Out,” which consisted of songs that Fred Astaire introduced. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“A Shine On Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here are Fred Astaire and Leroy Daniels performing “A Shine On Your Shoes” from The Band Wagon.

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Album of the Week: My Heart Sings

The album of the week starting on February 27, 2022, is My Heart Sings.

My Heart Sings

Tony Bennett remembers My Heart Sings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Ralph Burns and I got together again to do some singles, including “Smile,” and for our next album we changed gears again. Instead of the lush, ballad-style arrangements we had used on Hometown, My Town, we switched to a cookin’ jazz sound. The album is called My Heart Sings, and I simply love Ralph’s writing on this one. It’s really beautiful music.

This album is a preview of 1962, which was an outstanding year for Tony Bennett, including his concert at Carnegie Hall and winning his first Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

My Heart Sings was recorded in 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days: April 4, April 5, and April 6, 1961.

Album Facts

Release Date August 7, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements, Conductor Ralph Burns
Piano Bernie Leighton
Bass Milt Hinton
Drums Herb Lovelle
Guitar Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne, Mundell Lowe
Saxophone Danny Bank, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque, Jerry Sanfino
Trumpet Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen
Trombone Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak
Vibes Eddie Costa

Songs on My Heart Sings

Song Composers
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Dancing in the Dark Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
I’m Comin’ Virginia Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
My Heart Sings Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin
It Never Was You Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
You Took Advantage of Me Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Close Your Eyes Bernice Petkere
Stella By Starlight Victor Young, Ned Washington
More Than You Know Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
My Ship Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin
Lover Man Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
Toot, Toot, Tootsie Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, Dan Russo

Listen to My Heart Sings

You can also listen to My Heart Sings on

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