The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye

The song of the day for Sunday, March 8, 2026 is “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.”

About This Song

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” was written by Cole Porter for the 1944 Billy Rose musical revue Seven Lively Arts. The song is well known for the phrase “change from major to minor” as the song itself changed from A-flat major to A-flat minor, matching the lyric perfectly. It has always been a strong jazz standard. Significant recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Mabel Mercer, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” on April 8, 1958, for his album Long Ago and Far Away. Frank DeVol wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: More Than You Know

The song of the day for Sunday, March 1, 2026, is “More Than You Know.”

About This Song

“More Than You Know” was composed in 1929 by Vincent Youmans with lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu for the Broadway musical Great Day, which ran for only 36 performances. In spite of its poor run on Broadway, the score was considered very good and so it got sold to Hollywood, where it was to be a starring vehicle for Joan Crawford. Eight weeks into production, the film was shut down and was never released. Thankfully, this song remained popular, in many ways thanks to Fanny Brice, who was married to Billy Rose, and sang the song in her performances with the Ziegfeld Follies. It has been widely recorded by jazz and popular artists since it was written.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “More Than You Know” on April 4, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“More Than You Know,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: More Than You Know

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 12, 2025, is “More Than You Know.”

About This Song

“More Than You Know” was written by Vincent Youmans, with lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu, for the 1929 musical Great Day, which only ran for 36 performances. In spite of its poor run on Broadway, the score was considered very good, and so it got sold to Hollywood, where it was to be a starring vehicle for Joan Crawford. Eight weeks into production, the film was shut down and was never released. Thankfully, this song remained popular, in many ways thanks to Fanny Brice, who was married to Billy Rose, and sang the song in her performances with the Ziegfeld Follies. It has been widely recorded by jazz and popular artists since it was written.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “More Than You Know” on April 4, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the band.

“More Than You Know,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: (It’s Only) A Paper Moon

The song of the day for is “(It’s Only) A Paper Moon.”

About This Song

“(It’s Only) A Paper Moon” was written in 1933 by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg and Billy Rose. Originally written for an unsuccessful play called The Great Magoo, this song was used in the 1933 movie Take a Chance. Paul Whiteman recorded it that year. There were two very fine recordings in the 1940s by Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, which sealed the popularity of the song. Since that time, it has been a popular and jazz favorite that has been widely recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “(It’s Only) A Paper Moon” in The Playground, an album for children. The Ralph Sharon Quartet accompanied Bennett, with Sharon on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums.

“(It’s Only) A Paper Moon,” as well as The Playground, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Loved

The song of the day for Thursday, April 17, 2024, is “I Wanna Be Loved.”

About Today

Today’s song, “I Wanna Be Loved,” was recorded on April 17, 1950, at Tony Bennett’s first recording session at Columbia Records. In addition to “I Wanna Be Loved,” Bennett recorded “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” Let’s Make Love,” and “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Loved” was written in 1933 by Johnny Green, best known for “Body and Soul,” with lyrics by Edward Heyman and Billy Rose. While attending Harvard (he was admitted at the age of 15 in 1923), Green played trombone and did arrangements for Harvard’s Gold Coast Orchestra. Carmen Lombardo (Guy’s brother) hired him to write arrangements between semesters. Encouraged by his father to become a stockbroker, Green quit Wall Street and embarked on a musical career as a composer, arranger, band leader, and pianist. Green was a board member for ASCAP and chairman of the musical branch of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and conducted the orchestra for many Academy Award telecasts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wanna Be Loved” 75 years ago today, April 17, 1950. It was released on Bennett’s first single record as the B side to “Boulevard of Broken Dreams.” Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“I Wanna Be Loved,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.