The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for September 2, 2021, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by two homesick songwriters, George Cory and Douglass Cross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett closed his set at the 1962 White House Sessions concert with his big hit from that year, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” This version was captured on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

I Left My Heart In San Francisco - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to I Left My Heart In San Francisco - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2013

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 1, 2021, is “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road).”

About This Song

“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1943 film The Sky’s The Limit, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Harold Arlen called this song one of his “tapeworms” as at 48 bars, it was longer than the standard 32 bar popular song. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, says that “the honors must go the lyric. Just imagine having the acuity and courage to start a song, as Mercer does, with “It’s a quarter to three”!

About This Version

“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” was the penultimate song in Tony Bennett’s set at the 1962 White House Sessions, held on the National Mall by the Washington Monument and captured on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to One For My Baby (And One More For The Road) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2013

“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road),” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for August 30, 2021, is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” is from the 1960 musical Do Re Mi, by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green. Do Re Mi concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the jukebox business with some gangster pals. ”Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.

About This Version

“Make Someone Happy” was the third song in Tony Bennett’s set at the 1962 concert in Washington, DC. It’s also the third song in the set written by Jule Styne. This song, as well as The Dave Brubeck Quartet’s set, the Bennett and Brubeck improv session, and all of Tony’s songs with The Ralph Sharon Trio can be found on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Make Someone Happy - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Make Someone Happy - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2013

“Make Someone Happy,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Small World

The song of the day for Sunday, August 29, 2021, is “Small World.”

About This Song

“Small World” is from the great 1959 musical Gypsy, written by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, it tells the story of the mother, Rose, and her two daughters, June and Louise, and her obsession to make it in the vaudeville circuit. The role of Rose was written for Ethel Merman and is one of her finest and most complex roles. “Small World” is sung by Rose and Herbie, who has the misfortune to fall in love with Rose. Gypsy is arguably one of the best musicals ever written and has been revived many times on Broadway.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Ralph Sharon Trio, sang Small World at the 1962 concert in Washington, D.C. The concert was taped and released in 2013 as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Small World - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Small World - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2013

“Small World,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, August 5, 2021, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About Today

I don’t think any list of Tony Bennett’s great recordings would be complete without at least one live recording. For me, no other live recording comes close to “That Old Black Magic,” recorded on the grounds of the Washington Monument on August 28, 1962. Remember that this is a completely improvised performance with the Dave Brubeck Trio, not his regular trio. It’s a triumph, at least for me.

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written in 1942 by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer. One of the great songs by Arlen and Mercer, “That Old Black Magic” was written for the 1942 movie Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

On August 28, 1962, Tony Bennett, with his trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited by President Kennedy to perform at a concert for the year’s Presidential Scholars. After they each played their sets, Bennett, Brubeck, Joe Morello (Brubeck’s drummer), and Eugene Wright (Brubeck’s bassist) returned to the stage for a spontaneous improv session of four songs, including today’s song of the day, “That Old Black Magic.” Though the tapes of the concert were lost for many years in the vaults, they were eventually found and released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.

That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to That Old Black Magic (with The Dave Brubeck Trio) - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Dave Brubeck Trio · 2013

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.