The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: My Love Went To London

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 3, 2024, is “My Love Went To London.”

About This Song

“My Love Went To London” was written in 1991 by Anthony Scibetta and John Wallowitch for Blossom Dearie. She recorded this song in 1991 on the album Tweedledum and Tweedledee with Mike Renzi who served as Tony Bennett’s musical director in 2014.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “My Love Went To London” in July 1995 for Here’s To The Ladies. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement. In this album, Bennett recorded songs associated with popular female singers in the 20th century. This song was sung in tribute to Blossom Dearie, who was born 1924 and is being celebrated for her centennial.

“My Love Went To London,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Georgie Fame

The song of the day for Sunday, April 28, 2024, is “Sweet Georgie Fame.”

About Today

Today we are honoring the great Blossom Dearie, born on April 28, 1924. She is primarily known as a jazz singer and pianist. She died of natural causes on February 7, 2009. You can learn about Blossom Dearie at blossomdearie.com.

If you’re interested in her work, I highly recommend her 1959 album Blossom Dearie Sings Comden and Green. There are some great songs on this album, including “Some Other Time” and “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“Sweet Georgie Fame” was written in 1967 by Blossom Dearie and Sandra Harris.

Dearie told The New York Times in 1981 “I was in London in 1966, when a bass player told me I should go hear the skiffle, rock, blues and jazz singer Georgie Fame, He said I’d like him, and I did – very much. Then I was visiting a friend, where Georgie Fame’s records were on, and her kids were dancing to them. I got a melody from that, and my friend’s sister, Sandra Black (Harris) wrote words to it.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Georgie Fame” on February 26, 1968, for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

“Sweet Georgie Fame,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Blossom Dearie singing “Great Georgie Fame” live at Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Club in London in 1967.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Georgie Fame

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 12, 2022, is “Sweet Georgie Fame.”

About This Song

“Sweet Georgie Fame” was written in 1966 by Blossom Dearie and Sandra Harris.

Dearie told The New York Times in 1981:

I was in London in 1966, when a bass player told me I should go hear the skiffle, rock, blues and jazz singer Georgie Fame, He said I’d like him, and I did – very much. Then I was visiting a friend, where Georgie Fame’s records were on, and her kids were dancing to them. I got a melody from that, and my friend’s sister, Sandra Black (Harris) wrote words to it.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Georgie Fame” on February 26, 1968, for the album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

“Sweet Georgie Fame,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Saturday, August 7, 2021, is “Some Other Time.”

About This Week

Today marks the end of our special week-long celebration of Tony Bennett’s birthday. I saved what I think is the best for last: “Some Other Time” from The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. Thank you for joining me in honoring the great Tony Bennett on this special birthday. And remember: every year is the year of Tony Bennett.

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written in 1944 by Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green for the Broadway musical On The Town, the story of three sailors on a 24-hour leave in New York and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the very end of the show by two of the couples, as they say goodbye and hope to catch up again, some other time. For reasons unknown, this song was omitted from the 1949 film version of On The Town.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time” for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, released in 1975. Evans had been playing the song for some time prior to their including it on this first of the two albums they would make together.

Some Other Time

Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975

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

This is Bill Evans’s 1959 recording of “Some Other Time” from Everybody Digs Bill Evans.

Some Other Time

Listen to Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Bill Evans · 1959

In case you’re interested, here is a recording of “Some Other Time” from a studio cast recording of On The Town. The lyricists, Betty Comden and Adolph Greene, sing in this recording. It’s really lovely..

On the Town: Act II: Some Other Time

Listen to On the Town: Act II: Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Nancy Walker, Adolph Green, Cris Alexander · 1959

Do I love this song? I absolutely do. I have a playlist of 20 or so recordings of “Some Other Time.” Try the Blossom Dearie version from Blossom Dearie Sings Comden and Greene, also from 1959.

Some Other Time

Listen to Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Blossom Dearie · 1959

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Monday, May 2, 2021, is “Some Other Time.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Betty Comden, who was born on May 17, 1917, in Brooklyn, New York. She studied drama at New York University, graduating in 1938, the same year she met Adolph Green, with whom she would co-write lyrics and screenplays with Adoph Green, with whom she would work until his death in 2002. Their first major show was On The Town, with music by Leonard Bernstein. The pair also wrote the lyrics for Bells Are Ringing with Jule Styne. They also wrote the screenplay for the 1952 movie Singin’ In The Rain. Betty Comden died in 2006.

About This Song

Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green wrote “Some Other Time” for the 1944 Broadway musical On The Town, the story of 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 June 1975 for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. Today we are featuring take #7 of the song, which is included on the CD release of the album.

Some Other Time - Take 7

Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975

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

I love this song so much that I’m included a couple of other versions.

First is from Blossom Dearie from her album Blossom Dearie Sings Comden and Green, released in 1959.

Some Other Time

Listen to Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Blossom Dearie · 1959

We also have this lovely version from the 1960 studio recording of On The Town, featuring vocals by Betty Comden, Nancy Walker, Adolph Green, and Cris Alexander.

On the Town: Act II: Some Other Time

Listen to On the Town: Act II: Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Leonard Bernstein, Betty Comden, Nancy Walker, Adolph Green, Cris Alexander · 1959