The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun

The song of the day for Sunday, April 22, 2018 is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun.”

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written for the 1939 George White’s Scandals by Sammy Fain and Jack Yellen. George White produced these Broadway reviews from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Are You Havin’ Any Fun” in 1959 for their album Basie/Bennett. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

Are You Havin" Any Fun? - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Are You Havin" Any Fun? - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“Are You Havin’ Any Fun,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Poor Little Rich Girl

The song of the day for Sunday, December 10, 2017 is “Poor Little Rich Girl.”

About This Song

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

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Poor Little Rich Girl” in 1959 with Count Basie and His Orchestra for the album Basie/Bennett.

Poor Little Rich Girl - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to Poor Little Rich Girl - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“Poor Little Rich Girl,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 22, 2017 is “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face,” is from the very successful 1956 Broadway musical My Fair Lady (2,717 performances), which was made into a film in 1964. Both versions starred Rex Harrison as Professor Henry Higgins, who sings the song at the very end of the show, thinking that Eliza has left for good. We get the happy ending as she walks back into the room as the song ends.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face” in 1959 for the album Basie/Bennett. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

I"ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to I"ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

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

The song of the day for Friday, August 11, 2017 is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” was written in 1929 by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz. This song was written for the 1929 revue The Little Show, where it was introduced by Clifton Webb and was also a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan. Even though the original title was “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” it often sung with Plans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in 1959 with Count Basie and His Orchestra for the album Basie/Bennett.

I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plans - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plans - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.

Even though it’s not yet Saturday, I have a video of today’s song performed by two very talented and very elegant gentlemen: Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan from The Band Wagon:

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Friday, August 4, 2017 is “With Plenty of Money and You.”

About This Song

“With Plenty of Money and You” was written for the 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 recorded “With Plenty of Money and You” in 1959 with Count Basie and His Orchestra for the album Basie/Bennett. The recording was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

With Plenty of Money and You - 1990 Remix / Remaster

Listen to With Plenty of Money and You - 1990 Remix / Remaster on Spotify. Song · Count Basie, Tony Bennett, Tristan Powell · 1959


“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as Basie/Bennett, is available from iTunes.