The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Friday, March 15, 2024, is “Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by Burton Lane and Yip Harburg for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Old Devil Moon” on August 6, 1954, for his first LP album, Cloud 7, which was released in 1955. It was arranged by Chuck Wayne, who also played guitar for the album.

“Old Devil Moon,” as well as Cloud 7, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lost in the Stars

The song of the day for Sunday, July 2, 2023, is “Lost in the Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars” was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1949 musical of the same name, based on the 1948 novel by Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country. Set in South Africa in an era when apartheid seemed as if it would never end, the plot concerns a black priest whose son kills, in a robbery attempt, a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lost in the Stars” on June 6, 1956. It was released on Bennett’s album, Tony, released in 1957. It was arranged and conducted by Percy Faith. Bennett was joined on this album by guitarist Chuck Wayne, whom he worked with on Cloud 7; on Tony, Wayne provides a wonderful guitar accompaniment to “Lost in the Stars.”

“Lost in the Stars,” as well as Tony is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Saturday, June 3, 2023, is “Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by Burton Lane and Yip Harburg for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Old Devil Moon” on August 6, 1954, for his album Cloud 7, released in 1955. It was arranged by Chuck Wayne.

“Old Devil Moon,” as well as Cloud 7 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Darn That Dream

The song of the day for Friday, April 14, 2023, is “Darn That Dream.”

About This Song

“Darn That Dream” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Eddie DeLange for the 1939 musical Swingin’ the Dream, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. The cast had many big names: Louis Armstrong playing Bottom, Maxine Sullivan as Titania, Bill Bailey, and Dorothy Dandridge. It only ran for 13 performances and is considered to be a flop. Fortunately, “Darn That Dream” proved to be a big hit and earned some money for the investors.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Darn That Dream” on August 11, 1954, for his first album, Cloud 7, released in 1955. It was arranged by Chuck Wayne, who also played guitar on the album.

“Darn That Dream,” as well as Cloud 7 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 20, 2022, is “Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by Burton Lane and Yip Harburg for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “old Devil Moon” on August 6, 1954, and was released in 1955 on the album Cloud 7. Chuck Wayne wrote the arrangement.

“Old Devil Moon,” as well as Cloud 7 is available on Apple Music.