The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Do It Again

The song of the day for September 26, 2024, is “Do It Again.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the birth of the great George Gershwin, born on September 26, 1989, in Brooklyn, NY. He See Gershwin.com to learn more about his work.

About This Song

“Do It Again” was written in 1922 by George Gershwin and Buddy DeSylva. Gershwin was in a meeting with his publisher, Max Dreyfus, when DeSylva walked in and said “Let’s write a hit!” Gershwin started composing on the spot. DeSylva listened for a few minutes and then sang “Oh, do it again.” Gershwin played the song at parties when it was heard by Irene Bordoni, who wanted to perform it in her show The French Doll. It’s been widely recorded, including a wonderful Judy Garland recording from her 1961 concert at Carnegie Hall, released on Judy at Carnegie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “Do It Again” for their 2018 album Love Is Here To Stay. The Bill Charlap Trio backed the singers on this album and Charlap wrote the arrangement.

“Do It Again,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: They Didn’t Believe Me

The song of the day for Sunday, August 11, 2024, is “They Didn’t Believe Me.”

About This Song

“They Didn’t Believe Me” was written by Jerome Kern and Herber Reynolds for the 1914 musical The Girl From Utah. The song became a standard, including it being reused in the 1949 movie The Midnight Kiss, in a duet with Mario Lanza and Kathryn Grayson. It has been widely recorded by singers, including Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, and Bing Crosby. Instrumental recordings include those by Marian McPartland, Charlie Parker, and Stan Kenton.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “They Didn’t Believe Me” with The Bill Charlap Trio for his 2015 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlp wrote the arrangement.

“They Didn’t Believe Me,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Old Fashioned

The song of the day for Monday, May 6. 2024, is “I’m Old Fashioned.”

About This Song

“I’m Old Fashioned” was written by Jerome Kern and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film You Were Never Lovelier, starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth. Astaire recorded the song first, in 1942 with John Scott Trotter and his orchestra. Other significant recordings include those by Blossom Dearie, Dave Brubeck, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland, John Coltrane, and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Old Fashioned” with The Bill Charlap Trio in 2015 for The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Charlap wrote the arrangement as well as leading the trio on piano. The trio also featured Peter Washington on bass and Kenny Washington on drums.

“I’m Old Fashioned,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, May 4, 2024, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About Today

We’re remembering Douglass Cross, who wrote the lyrics to “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” was born 104 years ago on May 4, 1920.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by Douglass Cross and George Cory.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters constantly gave Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience

After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 2006 with Bill Charlap on piano for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett won the Record of the Year Grammy Award in 1962 for his initial recording of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

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Song of the Day: The Last Time I Saw Paris

The song of the day for Thursday, April 18, 2024, is “The Last Time I Saw Paris.”

About This Song

“The Last Time I Saw Paris” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein in 1940. Unlike many songs by Jerome Kern, it wasn’t written specifically for a film or Broadway musical. However, it was used in the 1941 film Lady Be Good, where it was sung by Ann Sothern; the song won the Academy Award for Best Song that year. It also inspired the 1954 film of the same name, starring Elizabeth Taylor and Van Johnson. Significant recordings include those by Kate Smith, Bud Powell, Dinah Shore, Dean Martin, and Connie Francis.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Last Time I Saw Paris” in 2015 for the album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement and led The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap on piano; Peter Washington on bass; Kenny Washington on drums) which accompanied Bennett for this recording.

“The Last Time I Saw Paris,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.