The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Saturday, August 30, 2025, is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“The Party’s Over” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the 1956 Broadway musical Bells Are Ringing. The song was introduced by Judy Holliday, who won the Tony Award for her performance.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” on November 4, 1958, for Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“The Party’s Over,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Judy Holliday’s recording of “The Party’s Over” from the original cast album of Bells Are Ringing.

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Monday, August 25, 2025, is “Some Other Time.”

About Today

Today, we are remembering Leonard Bernstein, the composer of today’s song. He was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts, on August 25, 1918.

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the 1944 Broadway musical On the Town. The plot concerns three sailors on leave in New York City and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the end by two of the couples. Inexplicably, this beautiful song was cut from the 1949 film version.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time” in July 1975 for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

“Some Other Time,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

In case you’re interested, here’s today’s song from the 1960 studio recording of the score of On the Town conducted by Bernstein. It appears at the end of the show, as the couples say goodbye. Betty Comden and Adolph Green both sing on this recording, joined by Cris Alexander and Nancy Walker.

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Song of the Day: Comes Once in a Lifetime

The song of the day for Thursday, July 24, 2025, is “Comes Once in a Lifetime.”

About This Song

“Comes Once in a Lifetime” was written by Jule Styne, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the 1961 musical Subways Are For Sleeping, based on a true story first reported in Harper’s Magazine of well-dressed homeless people who slept on subways in New York. In addition to Tony Bennett’s recording, it was a favorite song for Judy Garland.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Comes Once in a Lifetime” on September 9, 1961, with an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was first released as a single in 1961; in 1962, the recording was included on Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits.

“Comes Once in a Lifetime,” as well as Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lucky To Be Me

The song of the day for Thursday, July. 17, 2025, is “Lucky To Be Me.”

About This Song

“Lucky To Be Me” was written by Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the 1944 Broadway musical On The Town, where it was introduced by John Battles. The song (as were most of the songs from the score) was cut from the 1949 film.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Lucky To Be Me” in September 1976, for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

“Lucky To Be Me,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

In late 1976, Tony Bennett and Bill Evans did a concert of the songs in Together Again for CBC, the Canadian public broadcasting network, including “Lucky To Be Me.”

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 28, 2025, is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, for the 1960 Broadway musical Do Re Mi. The show 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

Tony Bennett recorded “Make Someone Happy” on August 28, 1962, at the request of President John F. Kennedy to honor that year’s presidential scholars. The concert was originally to held in the Rose Garden at the White House, it was moved to the Mall near the Washington Monument due to so many people wanting to attend.

The first part of the concert was The Dave Brubeck Quartet; the second part was Tony Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. The third part was an improv session with Bennett, Dave Brubeck, Eugene Wright (bass), and Joe Morello on drums.

The concert was recorded by Frank Laico from Columbia Records. “That Old Black Magic,” from the improv set was included on the 1971 album Dave Brubeck: Summit Sessions. The original tapes were long thought lost and were only discovered in 2012, soon after Brubeck’s death (they turned up in the classical music archives). The album Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, was released twelve years ago on May 28, 2013.

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