Mr. Bennett has recorded (to my knowledge) four different versions of this song.

	Recorded on July 30, 1960. Orchestra conducted by Cy Coleman. Released as a single; see The Columbia Singles, Vol 6 I Left My Heart in San Francisco 1962
	Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall 1962 With Ralph Sharon and His Orchestra Recorded Live on June 9, 1962
	Duets An American Classic 2006 Sung with Diana Krall. With Lee Musiker, Gray Sargent, Paul Langosch, and Harold Jones Arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli
	iTunes Festival: London 2010 – EP  2010 With Lee Musiker, Gray Sargent, Marshall Wood, and Harold Jones

I am featuring The Best Is Yet To Come for several reasons: it’s a great song and I never tire of hearing it.

This song, as much as any other song in his catalog, shows a quality of Tony that draws so much love and adoration from his fans: his innate and glorious sense of optimism. When Tony sings this song, I truly believe, along with the rest of the audience, that the best is yet to come: the best of Tony’s singing, the best of myself, and the best of the world.

Some people in our cynical world may say that this kind of optimism is Pollyanna-like and not grounded in reality. The complete opposite is true. Only a man filled with love for everything around him can give us that knowledge that the best is indeed yet to come. Likely not all at once, certainly with challenges along the way, but I come away from this song believing in its truth and the truth and honesty of the man who sings it at every concert of his I’ve ever attended. I hope and pray that he never stops singing it, because it’s a message that more people need to hear.

So thank, Tony Bennett. Out of the tree of life, I just picked me a plum.

I’m hard pressed to pick my favorite version, but there is something quite magical about this performance in the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert, recorded with Ralph Sharon conducting the orchestra.  The other three are also quite wonderful. It’s great song, sung by a singer who seems to love singing it.

Click here to view a video of Tony singing this song at the Newport Jazz Festival in 2002. Many thanks to Wolfgang’s Vault.

The Best Is Yet To Come

Music: Cy Coleman

Lyrics: Carolyn Leigh

Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum
You came along and everything’s started to hum
Still, it’s a real good bet, the best is yet to come

The best is yet to come and babe, won’t it be fine?
You think you’ve seen the sun, but you ain’t seen it shine

Wait till the warmup’s underway
Wait till our lips have met
And wait till you see that sunshine day
You ain’t seen nothing yet

The best is yet to come and babe, won’t it be fine?
The best is yet to come, come the day you’re mine

Come the day you’re mine
I’m gonna teach you to fly
We’ve only tasted the wine
We’re gonna drain the cup dry

Wait till your charms are right for these arms to surround
You think you’ve flown before, but  you ain’t left the ground

Wait till you’re locked in my embrace
Wait till I draw you near
Wait till you see that sunshine place
Ain’t nothing like it here

The best is yet to come and babe, won’t that be fine?
The best is yet to come, come the day you’re mine

Out of the tree of life I just picked me a plum …