The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Life is a Song

The song of the day for Thursday, October 31, 2024, is “Life is a Song.”

About This Song

“Life is a Song” was written in 1935 by Fred Ahlert and Joe Young. It’s been recorded by Rudy Vallee, Joe Hayames, Ruth Ettings, and Bob Crosby, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Count Basie Orchestra, recorded “Life is a Song” on January 5, 1959, for the album Basie Swings, Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangment.

“Life is a Song,” as well as Basie Swings, Bennett Sings, 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.

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Song of the Day: Lost In The Stars

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 23, 2024, 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 this version of “Lost In The Stars” on December 22, 1958, for his album with Count Basie and His Band, In Person! Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Lost In The Stars,” as well as In Person!, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Blue and Sentimental

The song of the day for Sunday, January 29, 2023, is “Blue and Sentimental.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the life of the late Kay Starr, who was born on July 21, 1922, in Oklahoma. At the age of 7, she placed third in a talent contest and was given a 15-minute radio show. By the age of 10, she was making $3 a night, which was good money in the Great Depression. She started out singing mostly Western Swing and Country and Western music. She soon branched out to include pop and jazz songs. Starr died on November 3, 2016, at the age of 94 from complications of Alzheimer’s disease.

About This Song

“Blue and Sentimental” was written in 1938, with music by Count Basie and lyrics by Jerry Livingston and Mack David. It was initially recorded by The Count Basie Orchestra in 1938. It has since been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Nat Cole, and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Kay Starr recorded “Blue and Sentimental” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues won the 2004 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.
“Blue and Sentimental,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues is available on Apple Music.

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Poor Little Rich Girl

The song of the day for Thursday, July 11, 2024, 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 and His Count Basie Orchestra recorded “Poor Little Rich Girl” on January 9, 1959, for Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

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