The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Time: Just In Time

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 12, 2024, is “Just In Time.”

About This Song

“Just In Time” was written by Jule Styne, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the 1956 Broadway musical Bells Are Ringing. The song was introduced by Judy Holliday and Sydney Chaplin; Holliday and Dean Martin it in the 1960 film version.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just In Time” on September 19, 1956, featuring an arrangement by Percy Faith. It was released as a single in 1956 and was included on the 1962 album Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits.

“Just In Time,” as well as Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Monday, December 2, 2024, is “Some Other Time.”

About Today

We are remembering the great Adolph Green, who co-wrote today’s song with Leonard Bernstein and Betty Comden, who was born on December 2, 1914. He was a noted lyricist and playwright. Green met Betty Comden in 1938 and they formed a troupe called The Revuers; the other members were Leonard Bernstein and Judy Holliday. Comden and Green partnered with Leonard Bernstein to write the book and lyrics for On The Town, which opened in 1944. The pair wrote for many Broadway musicals, including Wonderful Town, Peter Pan, and Bells Are Ringing. They also wrote the script for Singin’ In The Rain.

Green, with Betty Comden, received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1991. Others honored that year were Fayard and Harold Nicholas, Roy Acuff, Gregory Peck, and Robert Shaw.

Adolph Green died on October 23, 2002.

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written by Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the 1944 Broadway musical On The Town.

About This Version

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

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

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Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Monday, November 4, 2024, 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. It was one of the hit songs from the 1956 musical Bells Are Ringing and was introduced by Judy Holliday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” 66 years ago today on November 4, 1958, for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town. The album was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns; it was their first time to work together. Bennett continued to work with Burns up to Bennett’s 1999 album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool.

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

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Song of the Day: Lucky To Be Me

The song of the day for Friday, September 27, 2024, is “Lucky To Be Me.”

About September 27-30, 2024

For the next four days, we are focusing on the album Together Again, released in 1977. In those four days, Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded the songs for their second album and we’ll be featuring songs from that album.

About This Song

“Lucky To Be Me” was written by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green for the 1944 Broadway musical On The Town. The song (as were most of the songs from the original 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 album Together Again. The album was released on Bennett’s Improv label.

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

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 3, 2024, 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 musical Do Re Mi, which 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” live at The Washington Monument on August 28, 1962, with the Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums). Bennett and The Dave Brubeck Quartet were invited by President John F. Kennedy to play at the White House, but there was so much interest in the concert that it was moved to the Washington Monument. concert was taped, but the masters were lost in the Columbia vaults (misfiled in the Classical section) and were only located in 2012. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 was released in 2013.

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