The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Crazy She Calls Me

The song of the day for Thursday, April 24, 2025, is “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Song

“Crazy She Calls Me” was written by Carl Sigman and Bob Russell (originally titled “Crazy He Calls Me) in 1949. In addition to Billie Holiday’s recording of this song, it has also been recorded by Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Crazy She Calls Me” in June 1996 for his album Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Crazy She Calls Me,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Billie Holiday’s 1949 recording of “Crazy He Calls Me.”

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Song of the Day: Crazy She Calls Me

The song of the day for Saturday, October 28, 2023, is “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Song

“Crazy He Calls Me” was written in 1949 by Carl Sigman and Bob Russell. Billy Holiday recorded the song with an arrangement by Gordon Jenkins. While her version is the best-known, it has also been recorded by Linda Ronstadt, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, Sam Cooke, Tony Bennett, and Rod Stewart – the male versions changed to “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Crazy She Calls Me” in June 1966 for his album Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

“Crazy She Calls Me,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Billie Holiday’s 1949 recording of today’s song:

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Song of the Day: Funny Thing

The song of the day for Friday, April 1, 2022, is “Funny Thing.”

About This Song

“Funny Thing” was written in 1954 by Jimmy Van Heusen (writing as Arthur Williams) and Carl Sigman. In his autobiography, The Good Life, Tony Bennett wrote “I was especially fond of a song I recorded that year called ‘Funny Thing,’ which was credited to the excellent lyricist Carl Sigman and a little-known composer named ‘Arthur Williams.’ Actually, ‘Arthur Williams’ was a pseudonym for publishing reasons by the great tunesmith and my great friend Jimmy Van Heusen. I thought ‘Funny Thing’ was a great song and a likely hit, and I was disappointed when it didn’t go anywhere

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Funny Thing” in 1954. Percy Faith conducted the orchestra and wrote the arrangement. This song was released as a single.

“Funny Thing,” as well as all the songs collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 3 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Crazy She Calls Me

The song of the day for Monday, March 7, 2022, is “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Song

“Crazy She Calls Me” (originally “Crazy He Calls Me”) was written in 1949 by Carl Sigman and Bob Russell. In addition to Billie Holiday’s recording of this song, it has also been recorded by Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Crazy She Calls Me” for his 1997 tribute to Billy Holiday: Tony Bennett On Holiday. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Crazy She Calls Me,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Billy Holiday’s recording from her album Lover Man.

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Song of the Day: Crazy She Calls Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 9, 2020, is “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Song

“Crazy He Calls Me” (he is changed to she when sung by a man) was written in 1949 by Carl Sigman and Bob Russell. In addition to Billie Holiday’s recording of this song, it has also been recorded by Peggy Lee, Dinah Washington, and Aretha Franklin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Crazy He Calls Me” in 1996 for his tribute album to Lady Day: Bennett On Holiday, released in 1997.

“Crazy She Calls Me,” as well as Bennett On Holiday, is available from Apple Music.

And here’s Billie Holiday singing today’s song.