• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

July 9, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: These Foolish Things

The song of the day for Friday, July 10, 2020, is “These Foolish Things.”

About This Song

“These Foolish Things” was written by Jack Strachey, featuring lyrics by Eric Maschwitz (credited as Holt Marvell) in 1936. The song was not an immediate hit. In fact, Maschwitz’ agent refused to publish the song and so Maschwitz himself did. There were several fine recordings in the 1930s, including one by Billie Holiday with the Teddy Wilson Orchestra and Benny Goodman. In the 1950s, the song became even more popular, with recordings by Artie Shaw, Nat King Cole, Art Pepper, and Johnny Hartman.” These Foolish Things” ranks #28 on jazzstandards.org and is still widely played and recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “These Foolish Things” in 1996 for his tribute album to Billie Holiday: Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. Jorge Calandrelli conducted and arranged. The image of Billie Holiday on the cover of the album is from a painting of Lady Day by Tony Bennett, who signs his paintings by his family name, Benedetto.

“These Foolish Things,” as well as Tonhy Bennett On Holiday, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Benedetto, Eric Maschwitz, Eric Maschwitz (as Holt Marvell), Holt Marvell, Jack Strachey, Tony Bennett On Holiday

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites

  • Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance
  • Song of the Day: The Good Life
  • Embrace Me
  • Song of the Day: Yesterday I Heard The Rain
  • Song of the Day: You Must Believe In Spring
  • Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2023 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress