The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Friday, March 18, 2025, is “With Plenty of Money and You.”

About This Song

“With Plenty of Money and You” was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for Gold Diggers of 1937, starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Interestingly, the score for the film was to have been written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, but Berkeley didn’t like what they had written and brought in Warren and Dubin for this song and several other songs. Some Arlen and Harburg songs were used in the film as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “With Plenty of Money and You” on January 5, 1959, for the album Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Poor Little Rich Girl

The song of the day for Monday, February 17, 2025, is “Poor Little Rich Girl.”

About This Song

“Poor Little Rich Girl” was written by Noël Coward for the 1925 revue On With the Dance. It is one of his most popular songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Poor Little Rich Girl” on January 5, 1959, for the album Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Poor Little Rich Girl,” as well as Basie Swings, Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Anything Goes

The song of the day for Thursday, January 16, 2025, is “Anything Goes.”

About This Song

“Anything Goes” was written in 1934 by Cole Porter. In Anything Goes, Cole Porter and book writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse created one of the great musical comedy characters of all time: Reno Sweeney, played by Ethel Merman in the original 1934 production. The score contains many of Porter’s most popular songs, including “I Get a Kick Out You,” “You’re The Top,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” and today’s song “Anything Goes.”

Ethel Merman was born on January 16, 1908, in New York City. We’re featuring “Anything Goes” in memory of Ethel Merman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Anything Goes” on January 5, 1959, for their first album Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Anything Goes,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ethel Merman singing “Anything Goes,” from 1954.

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Song of the Day: Life is a Song

The song of the day for Thursday, October 31, 2024, is “Life is a Song.”

About This Song

“Life is a Song” was written in 1935 by Fred Ahlert and Joe Young. It’s been recorded by Rudy Vallee, Joe Hayames, Ruth Ettings, and Bob Crosby, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Orchestra, recorded “Life is a Song” on January 5, 1959, for the album Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangment.

“Life is a Song,” as well as Basie Swings, Bennett 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 Wednesday, August 21, 2024, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Count Basie, on the anniversary of his birth in Red Bank, New Jersey on August 21, 1904. Basie collaborated with Tony Bennett on two albums: Basie Swings, Bennett Sings and In Person!

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.

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. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

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