The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Poor Little Rich Girl

The song of the day for Monday, February 17, 2025, is “Poor Little Rich Girl.”

About This Song

“Poor Little Rich Girl” was written by Noël Coward for the 1925 revue On With the Dance. It is one of his most popular songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Poor Little Rich Girl” on January 5, 1959, for the album Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Poor Little Rich Girl,” as well as Basie Swings, Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Monday, February 10, 2025, is “Taking a Chance on Love.”

About This Song

“Taking a Chance on Love” was composed by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John La Touche and Ted Fetter, for the 1940 musical Cabin in the Sky, where it was introduced by the great Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song works well for both jazz singers and instrumentalists, with significant recordings by Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, and Dizzy Gillespie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Taking a Chance on Love” on December 30, 1958, with Count Basie and His Orchestra for their 1959 album In Person!. The album was planned as a live album and was recorded in a club with the Count Basie Orchestra. However, the tape from the concert had poor quality and couldn’t be used. They re-recorded all of the songs in the studio.

“Taking a Chance on Love,” as well as In Person! is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Anything Goes

The song of the day for Thursday, January 16, 2025, is “Anything Goes.”

About This Song

“Anything Goes” was written in 1934 by Cole Porter. In Anything Goes, Cole Porter and book writers Guy Bolton and P.G. Wodehouse created one of the great musical comedy characters of all time: Reno Sweeney, played by Ethel Merman in the original 1934 production. The score contains many of Porter’s most popular songs, including “I Get a Kick Out You,” “You’re The Top,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow,” and today’s song “Anything Goes.”

Ethel Merman was born on January 16, 1908, in New York City. We’re featuring “Anything Goes” in memory of Ethel Merman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Anything Goes” on January 5, 1959, for their first album Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Anything Goes,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ethel Merman singing “Anything Goes,” from 1954.

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Song of the Day: When I Fall In Love

The song of the day for Friday, October 11, 2024, is “When I Fall In Love.”

About This Song

“When I Fall In Love” was written by Victor Young and Edward Heyman for the 1952 romantic war film One Minute to Zero, starring Robert Mitchum and Ann Blyth. The tagline on the movie poster was “Back of every man of action, there’s a woman made for love.” Well, it was 1952.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When I Fall In Love” on December 30, 1958, for his second album with Count Basie and His Orchestra, In Person, released in 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“When I Fall In Love” as well as In Person!, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 21, 2024, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Count Basie, on the anniversary of his birth in Red Bank, New Jersey on August 21, 1904. Basie collaborated with Tony Bennett on two albums: Basie Swings, Bennett Sings and In Person!

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show and was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” on January 3, 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Basie Sings, Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.