The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: From This Moment On

The song of the day for Friday, November 28, 2025, is “From This Moment On.”

About This Song

“From This Moment On” was written in 1950 by Cole Porter. Porter wrote this song for his musical Out Of This World, but it was dropped the score. he song was used in the 1999 Broadway stage revival of Kiss Me Kate. Doris Day recorded this song as a single in 1950; the Frank Sinatra 1957 recording for his A Swingin’ Affair! was instrumental in the popularity of this song. It has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne. and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra and Candido on percussion, recorded “From This Moment On” live on November 28, 1958, at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia, PA. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

After Tony Bennett and Count Basie recorded their first album, Basie Swings, Bennett Sings, they decided it to record a live album. Tony Bennett wrote about the experience in hi autobiography The Good Life.

We opened at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia on November 28, 1958, and did tremendous business. There was barely room in that tiny club for Frank Laico to set up his console, and he finally had to rig it up in the basement kitchen. I thought the recording came out wonderfully, but stereo recording had just been discovered and Al Ham, the producer, was unhappy that we had recorded in mono. It was his call, so the following month, we rerecorded the album in the studio in stereo, adding the crowd noise and applause to make it sound “live.” But of all things, Ham put the audience applause in the wrong places. What a mess! We titled the album In Person! and released it in early 1959.

“From This Moment On,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun?

The song of the day for Thursday. September 11, 2025, is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?.”

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain for the 1939 George White’s Scandals. George White produced these Broadway revues from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and his Orchestra, recorded “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” on January 5, 1959, for Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Sunday, June 22, 2025, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the 1942 film Iceland, starring Sonja Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” on December 30, 1958, for the 1959 album In Person! Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement. The musicians playing with Basie include Eddie Jones, Sonny Payne, Freddie Green, and Thad Jones.

“There Will Never Be Another You” as well as In Person! is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: With Plenty of Money and You

The song of the day for Friday, March 18, 2025, is “With Plenty of Money and You.”

About This Song

“With Plenty of Money and You” was written by Harry Warren and Al Dubin for Gold Diggers of 1937, starring Dick Powell and Joan Blondell and choreographed by Busby Berkeley. Interestingly, the score for the film was to have been written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg, but Berkeley didn’t like what they had written and brought in Warren and Dubin for this song and several other songs. Some Arlen and Harburg songs were used in the film as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “With Plenty of Money and You” on January 5, 1959, for the album Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“With Plenty of Money and You,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Pennies From Heaven

The song of the day for Sunday, March 23, 2024, is “Pennies From Heaven.”

About This Song

“Pennies From Heaven” was written in 1936 by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke. The song was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name. It’s one of the classic Great Depression songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Pennies From Heaven” on December 30, 1958, for the 1959 album In Person! It was originally planned to be a live album and was recorded on November 28, 1958, at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia. However, the tape from the concert had poor quality and couldn’t be used, so the entire album was re-recorded at the CBS 30th Street Studio.

“Pennies From Heaven,” as well as In Person! is available on Apple Music.