The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Shining Sea

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 2, 2023, is “The Shining Sea.”

About This Song

“The Shining Sea” was written by Johnny Mandel and Peggy Lee for the 1966 Cold War comedy The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming. The film concerns a Russian submarine that gets trapped on high ground near a New England town. The town gossip causes mass hysteria, but all is well in the end.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shining Sea” at CBS 30th Street Studio in New York on June 11, 1966, for his album A Time For Love. Mandel wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra. The recording features Bobby Hackett on cornet.

“The Shining Sea,” as well as A Time For Love is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Friday, March 17, 2023, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About Today

We are celebrating the birth of Nathaniel Adams Cole, better known as Nat “King” Cole, on March 17, 1919, in Montgomery, Alabama. Cole started his career as a pianist, and gradually started singing as well. Cole tragically died from cancer at the young age of 45 from lung cancer. His daughter, Natalie Cole, carried on the family profession and became a professional singer in her own right.

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. It was written to be used in a vaudeville show. Rudy Vallee and his Heigh-Ho Yale Collegians recorded the song in 1928; the recording made the song popular and was widely recorded by artists including Teddy Wilson, Isham Jones, and Joe Venuti in the 1930s. Nat “King” Cole recorded it in 1940.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Lorraine” on March 11, 1965, with Bobby Hacket on the ukulele and Joe Marsala on clarinet. Bennett included the recording on his 1965 album If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got a video of Nat “King” Cole singing today’s song:

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Song of the Day: The Very Thought Of You

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 27, 2022, is “The Very Thought Of You.”

About This Song

“The Very Thought Of You” was written in 1934 by British composer and band leader Ray Noble. He recorded the song with his own orchestra; Bing Crosby also recorded it in 1934. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, and Nat Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Very Thought Of You” in 1965 for his album A Time For Love. It was arranged by John Keating and features Bobby Hackett on cornet.

“The Very Thought Of You,” as well as A Time For Love is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Thursday, March 17, 2022, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Nat “King” Cole, who was born on March 17, 1919.

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number. Nat “King” Cole had a major hit with this song in 1940.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Lorraine” in 1965 in Chicago. Bennett was working with cornettist Bobby Hackett at the Palmer House. Nat “King” Cole had passed away just the month before and they wanted to do a recording of “Sweet Lorraine,” one of Cole’s early hits. Hackett played the ukulele for the recording and a friend of his, Joe Marsala, played clarinet. The recording was included on If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set is available on Apple Music.

We were very pleased to find a video of Nat Cole and his trio performing “Sweet Lorraine.”

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Song of the Day: Sweet Lorraine

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 17, 2021, is “Sweet Lorraine.”

Today’s song is in honor of Nat “King” Cole, who was born on March 17, 1919. Nat Cole recorded “Sweet Lorraine” in 1940 and it was a big hit for him. Tony Bennett and Nat Cole were good friends, and Bennett dedicated today’s song of the day in Cole’s memory.

About This Song

“Sweet Lorraine” was written in 1928 by Cliff Burwell and Mitchell Parish. It was originally a vaudeville song; the Rudy Valle recording made the song quite popular and a nice, up-tempo jazz number.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Lorraine” on March 11, 1965, with Buddy Hackett on ukulele and Joe Marsala on clarinet. The recording was released on If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, released in 1965.

Sweet Lorraine

Listen to Sweet Lorraine on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1965.

“Sweet Lorraine,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from Apple Music.

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