The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: A Shine On Your Shoes

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 7, 2020, is “A Shine On Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“A Shine On Your Shoes” was written by Howard Dietz and Arthur Schwartz 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” for his 1993 album Steppin’ Out, which features songs sung (and danced) by Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon arranged the song.

Steppin’ Out won the Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

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“A Shine On Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

And now Fred Astaire!

“For the “Shine on My Shoes” number, Fred Astaire wanted to dance with the bootblack. They found the real thing in Leroy Daniels, a dancing shoeshine man working in downtown Los Angeles. ReelRundown has an excellent story about Leroy Daniels.

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Saturday, October 12, 2019, 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.” “By Myself” was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” in 1958 fo the album Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns arranged and conducted all of the songs on this short, but quite exceptionally fine album.

“By Myself,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

It’s been two weeks since I saw the film Judy and I’m still in a Judy Garland mode. Thanks to The Judy Garland Experience and YouTube, I am happy to present this video of Judy Garland singing “By Myself” on her own television show in 1964. I’m still kind of amazed at how much sound she was able to deliver, being only 4 feet, 11 inches tall. Her exit at the end of the song is, quite literally, the most powerful things I’ve ever seen in on a stage.

If you’re still in the mood for some more Judy, here’s “The Man That Got Away.” You’re welcome.

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 22, 2019, 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.” Today’s song was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” in 1958 for his album Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns arranged and conducted the orchestra. Burns returned to work with Tony in 1961 for My Heart Sings.

By Myself – 2011 Remaster

By Myself – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“By Myself,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Shine On Your Shoes

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 4, 2019, is “Shine On Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“A Shine On Your Shoes” was written for the 1932 Broadway musical Flying Colors by Arthur Schwartz (music) and Howard Dietz (lyrics). 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 the album Steppin’ Out. This album consists of songs either introduced or made famous by Fred Astaire. The arrangement was written by Tony and his pianist Ralph Sharon.

Shine On Your Shoes

Shine On Your Shoes, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Shine On Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

We also have a video of Astaire’s performance of “A Shine On Your Shoes” from The Band Wagon.

Shine On Your Shoes

Fred Astaire and Leroy Daniels. “For the “Shine on My Shoes” number, Fred Astaire wanted to dance with the bootblack. They found the real thing in Leroy Daniels, a dancing shoeshine man working in downtown Los Angeles.” – from tcm.com

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 1, 2019, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

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

About This Version

Today I’m featuring Tony Bennett’s first recording of “Dancing in the Dark” for the 1961 album My Heart Sings. The excellent arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

Dancing in the Dark

Dancing in the Dark, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes.

I can’t help but include this clip from the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, featuring Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse dancing to this song in Central Park. It’s one of my favorite Astaire dances. I’m spending New Year’s Eve watching That’s Entertainment on TCM and, as always, my breath always stops for a moment due to the beauty of this dance.

FRED ASTAIRE and CYD CHARISSE – Dancing in the dark, at the Central Park

Uploaded by CiroBossi on 2009-08-14.

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