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 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.

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Tony Live! Where Do I Begin

The song of the day for Sunday, June 14, 2020, is “Where Do I Begin.”

About This Song

“Where Do I Begin,” also known as the theme for the movie Love Story, was written in 1970 by Francis Lai and Carl Sigman.

The movie Love Story, released in 1970, was the ultimate romantic weepie for an entire generation. Love Story was about the young Harvard student from a very good (and wealthy) family (Ryan O’Neal) falling in love with a Radcliffe student from a working class family (Ali MacGraw). When Ryan O’Neal marries Ali MacGraw, his father cuts off all financial support and they live the blissful life of a poor young married couple living above the laundromat. (Spoiler alert) Ali MacGraw becomes terminally ill; the movie ends with the deathbed scene of Ali MacGraw and Ryan O’Neal telling his father that “Love means never having to say you’re sorry.” I guess you had to be there.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Where Do I Begin” at his 1971 concert in London with the London Philharmonic Orchestra; the concert was released on the album Get Happy. Marty Manning did the arrangement.

“Where Do I Begin,” as well as Get Happy, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Crazy She Calls Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 13, 2017 is “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Song

Originally called “Crazy He Calls Me,” this song was written in 1949 by Carl Sigman and Bob Russell; it is widely associated with Billie Holiday, but has been sung by many artists, including 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, which was released in 1997.

Crazy She Calls Me

Crazy She Calls Me, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


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

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Song of the Day: Crazy She Calls Me

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 6, 2016 is “Crazy She Calls Me.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Crazy She Calls Me,” was written in 1949 by Carl Sigman, with lyrics by Bob Russell. This song was made famous by Billie Holiday, who recorded it in October, 1949.

Originally called “Crazy He Calls Me,” he is changed to she when sung by a man. 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 1996 for his album Tony Bennett On Holiday, released in 1977. The arrangement is by Jorge Calandrelli.

Crazy She Calls Me

Crazy She Calls Me, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


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

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Song of the Day: Funny Thing

The song of the day for March 9, 2016 is “Funny Thing.”

About This Song

“Funny Thing” was written in 1954 by Jimmy Van Heusen (writing as Arthur Williams) with lyrics by 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; it was released as a single that year.

Funny Thing – 2011 Remaster

Funny Thing – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Funny Thing,” as well as all the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 3, is available from iTunes.

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