The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 7, 2026, is “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.”

About This Song

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” was written by Cole Porter for the 1944 Billy Rose musical revue Seven Lively Arts. The song is well known for the phrase “change from major to minor” as the song itself changed from A-flat major to A-flat minor, matching the lyric perfectly. It has always been a strong jazz standard. Significant recordings include those by Mabel Mercer, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” on April 8, 1958, for Long Ago and Far Away. Frank Devol wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Dream Dancing

The song of the day for Monday, October 5, 2026, is “Dream Dancing.”

About This Song

“Dream Dancing” was written by Cole Porter for the 1941 film You’ll Never Get Rich, starring Fred Astaire and Rita Hayworth.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Dream Dancing” in September 1976. The recording did not appear in the initial release of Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Together Again, but was added to the 1999 Rhino CD release of the album and all subsequent CD releases of Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Together Again.

“Dream Dancing,” as well as Tony Bennett & Bill Evans Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Concentrate On You

The song of the day for Saturday, July 11, 2026, is “I Concentrate On You.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “I Concentrate On You” for the film Broadway Melody of 1940. It’s one of Porter’s best songs, with recordings by Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, and Judy Garland among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Concentrate On You” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, which contained songs associated with Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“I Concentrate On You,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Although Fred Astaire didn’t sing “I Concentrate On You” in Broadway Melody of 1940, he recorded a very fine version on his album Steppin’ Out: Astaire Sings.

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Song of the Day: Just One Of Those Things

The song of the day for Sunday, May 24, 2026, is “Just One Of Those Things.”

About This Song

“Just One Of Those Things” was written by Cole Porter for the 1935 musical Jubilee. It’s one of Porter’s most popular songs and has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder in “American Popular Song” spoke of the lyric as ‘a trip to the moon on gossamer wings’ and “that it seems impossible that it wasn’t sitting on his piano, waiting for Porter even before he wrote the lyric.” It has a certain literary fame as well: Holden Caulfied, in Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, likes the song and notes that even the “stinking band” in the hotel lounge “couldn’t ruin it entirely.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just One Of Those Things” on October 14, 1957, for his third album, The Beat of My Heart. For this album, Bennett invited guest drummers and percussionists to play on the album. Art Blakey was the drummer for “Just One Of Those Things.” Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Just One Of Those Things,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye

The song of the day for Sunday, March 8, 2026 is “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.”

About This Song

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” was written by Cole Porter for the 1944 Billy Rose musical revue Seven Lively Arts. The song is well known for the phrase “change from major to minor” as the song itself changed from A-flat major to A-flat minor, matching the lyric perfectly. It has always been a strong jazz standard. Significant recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Mabel Mercer, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” on April 8, 1958, for his album Long Ago and Far Away. Frank DeVol wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available on Apple Music.