The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: You Don’t Know What Love Is

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 5, 2025, is “You Don’t Know What Love Is.”

About This Song

“You Don’t Know What Love Is” was written by Gene de Paul and Don Raye for a 1941 Abbott and Costello film called Keep ‘Em Flying, but was cut from the film before it opened. The song was finally used in a B picture named Behind the Eight Ball. “You Don’t Know What Love Is” gradually became a jazz standard, as evidenced by the Miles Davis recording from 1954. Other significant recordings included those by Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Anita O’Day, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, and Cassandra Wilson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Don’t Know What Love Is” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977 on Tony Bennett’s Improv label.

“You Don’t Know What Love Is,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 14, 2025, is “Some Other Time.”

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 musical tells the story of three sailors on leave in New York City and their romantic adventures. “Some Other Time” is sung at the end by two of the couples.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time” in June 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.

Under the direction of Leonard Bernstein, a studio cast album was made in 1960. Here’s the version of “Some Other Time” from that recording.

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Song of the Day: Maybe September

The song of the day for Friday, September 12, 2025, is “Maybe September.”

About This Song

“Maybe September” was written by Percy Faith, with lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, for the 1965 movie The Oscar. Tony Bennett was cast as the good guy, an agent named Hymie Kelly. While the film received mixed reviews, this song is terrific and is beautifully sung by Tony Bennett.

About This Version

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

“Maybe September,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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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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Remembering Bill Evans

I messed up, as I forgot to check my Year of Tony Bennett calendar and so missed honoring Bill Evans on the anniversary of his birth on August 16, 1929.

I want to make it up by featuring one of his piano solos on his second album with Tony Bennett: Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Together Again, released in 1977.

Over the three days when they recorded this album, Evans was working on the theme song from the 1952 film The Bad and the Beautiful. Tony Bennett loved it so much, he asked that it be included on their album. “The Bad and the Beautiful” was written by David Raksin and Dory Langdon.