The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: So Beats My Heart For You

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 26, 2020, is “So Beats My Heart For You.”

About This Song

“So Beats My Heart For You” was written in 1930 by Fat Ballard, Charles Henderson, and Tom Waring. As one of the songwriters, Tom Waring, was the brother of Fred Waring, “So Beats My Heart For You,” was recorded by Fred Waring and His Pennsylvanians.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “So Beats My Heart For You” in 1957 for his second jazz album, The Beat of My Heart. For this album, Bennett featured noted percussionists; this song featured Chico Hamilton. This was his first album that featured pianist Ralph Sharon. The entire album was conceived and arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“So Beats My Heart For You,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Crazy Rhythm

The song of the day for Thursday, April 11, 2019, is “Crazy Rhythm.”

About This Song

“Crazy Rhythm” was composed by Joseph Meyer and Roger Wolfe Kahn (music) and Irving Caesar (lyrics) in 1929 for the musical Here’s Howe. It’s been a popular standard since it was written and has been heavily recorded, not just by jazz and popular artists, but other genres including hillbilly. Significant recordings include those by Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Stan Getz, Bing Crosby, Bix Beiderbecke, and Whispering Jack Smith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Crazy Rhythm” for Bennett’s 1957 album The Beat of My Heart. For this album, Bennett assembled the best jazz drummers and percussionists to perform on this album. “Crazy Rhythm” features Chico Hamilton.

Crazy Rhythm

Crazy Rhythm, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Crazy Rhythm,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Friday, February 3, 2018 is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in 1942 for the movie Star Spangled Rhythm. The popularity of the song has long outlived the movie it was written form. Glenn Miller made the first recording in 1942. Over the years, it has been recorded many times by many artists. It has also been used in other films, notably the 1956 Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” three times 1962. Two were live recordings (one from his Carnegie Hall concert in June and the other at the White House in August). Today I’m featuring his first version, recorded on March 13, 1962, along with several other songs, all for the unreleased On The Glory Road. Thankfully, that album is now available, at least for downloading. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra. This recording also features Chico Hamilton on drums.

That Old Black Magic – 2011 Remaster

That Old Black Magic – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“That Old Black Magic,” as well as On The Glory Road, is available from iTunes.

About Today

I found this nice video of Tony and his quartet performing “That Old Black Magic” on the Rachel Ray show from 2013. Enjoy!

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Caravan

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 12, 2016 is “Caravan.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington and Juan Tirol wrote “Caravan” in 1936, with lyrics by Irving Mills. Caravan is one of the most popular Duke Ellington songs and has been recorded steadily over the years. In Jazz Standards, Al Gioia attributes its popularity as a jazz song due to “the composition’s adaptability to a modernistic, modal-based approach.”

About This Version

Today’s recording is from 1962 and was almost lost forever. It’s from Tony Bennett’s album On The Glory Road, which was due to be released in 1962 but was pulled at the last moment. Thankfully, the album was released in the 2011 Complete Collection boxed set and is now also available on iTunes. “Caravan” was arranged and conducted by Ralph Sharon and features percussion by Chico Hamilton.

Caravan – 2011 Remaster

Caravan – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Caravan,” as well as On The Glory Road, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 20,2014 is “Lazy Afternoon.”

About This Song

“Lazy Afternoon” was written for the 1954 musical The Golden Apple by Jerome Moss (music) and John Latouche (lyrics), which uses mythological Greek characters from Ulysses but set in the state of Washington (at Mount Olympia, of course) in the United States. This song, as well as the entire score, is quite beautiful. This song was introduced in the production, which opened Off-Broadway and then transferred to Broadway, by Kaye Ballard and Jonathan Lucas.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song for his 2nd jazz album (and 3rd LP album), The Beat of My Heart, released in 1957. This album featured collaborations with some of the world’s greatest drummers and percussionists; this song featured Chico Hamilton on drums and John Pisano on guitar (we saw Mr. Pisano on the Diana Krall Live in Paris DVD just a few nights ago). The entire album was arranged and conceived by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon. It was Sharon’s first album with Bennett.

Lazy Afternoon

Lazy Afternoon, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify


“Lazy Afternoon,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites