The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Concentrate On You

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 30, 2019, 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 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, consisting of songs that his friend Fred Astaire featured in his films.

I Concentrate on You

I Concentrate on You, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“I Concentrate On You,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Just One of Those Things

The song of the day for Sunday, March 10, 2019, is “Just One Of Those Things.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “Just One of Those Things” 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 Caulfield, 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” for his 1957 jazz album The Beat of My Heart. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon. This album featured drummers and percussionists from all over the world. This recording feature Art Blakey.

Just One Of Those Things

Just One Of Those Things, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Just One Of Those Things,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

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It Was Just One of Those Things

Tony Bennett sang this charming song by Irving Berlin, written in 1915, on his Grammy-winning performance on MTV Unplugged: “I Love a Piano.”

I Love a Piano – Live

I Love a Piano – Live, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

Today’s New York Times had this article about the restoration of Cole Porter’s piano. It was a gift from the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, where Porter made his home when he moved back to the US from Europe in the mid-1930s and was his piano until his death in 1964. The piano continued to live at the Waldorf Astoria, where it was played in a piano lounge.

The Steinway Corporation is refurbishing this storied piano. The article is quite charming!

Delightful, De-Lovely and Deconstructed: Cole Porter’s Piano Is Being Rebuilt

Grace Notes [What you need to know to start the day: Get New York Today in your inbox .] The piano arrived with a scrap of paper inside, a relic from when it did cocktail-hour duty. On the torn-off page, “Misty” was written in large letters and “please” in smaller letters below.

Just One Of Those Things

Just One Of Those Things, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

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Song of the Day: Love For Sale

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 11, 2018, is “Love For Sale.”

About This Song

“Love For Sale” was written by Cole Porter in 1930 for the Broadway musical The New Yorkers. The song was sung by a prostitute advertising her services and was considered rather scandalous at the time. In fact, for the production of The New Yorkers, it was supposed to be sung by the white star Kathryn Crawford, but the song was assigned to an African-American singer instead. In spite of being banned from play on the radio, “Love For Sale” has had many fine recordings, including those by Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday, Dinah Washington, and Miles Davis.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Love For Sale” for his 1957 album The Beat of My Heart. This album featured noted percussionists and drummers; this recording featured Candido, Sabu, and Bennett’s regular drummer Billy Exiner.

Love for Sale

Love for Sale, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Love For Sale,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Just One of Those Things

The song of the day for Friday, July 20, 2018 is “Just One of Those Things.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “Just One of Those Things” 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 J.D. 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” in 1957 for his album The Beat of My Heart. The arrangement was done by Ralph Sharon.

For this album, Bennett gathered world-class drummers and percussionists to participate in the album. Today’s recording featured a spectacular band, including Art Blakey (drums), Milt Hinton (bass), Al Cohn (tenor saxophone) and Nat Adderly (trumpet). It’s a great recording of a great song.

Just One Of Those Things

Listen to Just One Of Those Things on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1957


“Just One of Those Things,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

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