The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Take The Moment

The song of the day for Saturday, March 22, 2025, is “Take The Moment.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the birth of Stephen Sondheim, who was born in New York City on March 22, 1930. He died at his country home in Roxbury, Connecticut on November 26, 2021. I just want to say that the very first musical I saw on Broadway was Company, and it changed my world.

About This Song

“Take The Moment” was written by Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim, who wrote the lyrics, for the 1965 Broadway musical Do I Heart a Waltz?. The production was troubled from the start. Oscar Hammerstein passed away as the writing of the piece was started. Stephen Sondheim was a protege of Hammerstein and was asked by Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book, and Mary Rodgers, daughter of Richard Rodgers, to write the lyrics, Richard Rodgers and Sondheim did not mesh and their working relationship was not happy for either artist.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Take The Moment” on January 4, 1965, for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“Take The Moment,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

Bruce Weber interviewed Stephen Sondheim for the New York Times in June 2008. It was published with his obituary in the Times.

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Song of the Day: Two By Two

The song of the day for Friday, March 22, 2024, is “Two By Two.”

About Today

We honor the late Stephen Sondheim, who co-wrote today’s song with Richard Rodgers. Sondheim was born on March 22, 1930, and died on November 26, 2021. My very first Broadway show was the original production of Company. He was one of the greatest composers who ever wrote for the musical theatre.

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim wrote “Two By Two” in 1965 for the musical Do I Hear a Waltz?, though it was cut before the production opened. Sondheim was mentored by Oscar Hammerstein, and recommended to both Rodgers and Sondheim that they should work together after Hammerstein died in 1960. Do I Hear a Waltz? was based on Arthur Luarents’ book The Time of the Cuckoo and wrote the book for the musical. Laurents and Mary Rodgers (daughter of Richard Rodbgers and a close friend of Sondheim) asked Sondheim to write lyrics. Laurents had previously worked with Sondheim on West Side Story, for which he also wrote the book.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Two By Two” on February 19, 1965, for If I Ruled the World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“Two By Two,” as well as If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set/em>, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Two By Two

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 9, 2022, is “Two By Two.”

About This Song

“Two By Two” was written by Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim for the musical Do I Hear A Waltz?, which opened in 1965, although the song was cut from the score before the show opened. Oscar Hammerstein, Rodgers’s writing partner and Sondheim’s mentor, said as he was dying that he wanted the two of them to work together on a project. Unfortunately, the partnership was not good for either of them and the production was not well-received by the critics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Two By Two” in 1965 for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. It was arranged and conducted by Don Costa.

“Two By Two,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Two By Two

The song of the day for Thursday, February 26, 2015 is “Two By Two.”

About This Song

“Two By Two” was written in 1965 by Richard Rodgers (music) and Stephen Sondheim (lyrics) for the musical Do I Hear a Waltz?, although the song was cut before the production opened on Broadway. Do I Hear a Waltz? was a difficult experience for both men. Rodgers long-time partner, Oscar Hammerstein II, had just died; Hammerstein’s dying wish was that Stephen Sondheim, whom Hammerstein had mentored for many years, collaborate with Rodgers on this piece. In addition, Mary Rodgers, Richard’s daughter, was a close friend of Sondheim and encouraged her father to use Sondheim as well. Rodgers and Sondheim were not able to form a trusting relationship; nor was Rodgers happy working with Arthur Laurents, who wrote the book. In spite of the issues, the production had a decent run of 220 performances and was nominated for three Tony Awards, including Best Original Score, but did not win.

About This Version

With this recording in early 1965, Tony Bennett’s version of “Two By Two” on If I Ruled The World was probably the first recording of this song. It’s a terrific, up-tempo number that was last song on the album, though a bonus track was added for the CD release later.

Two By Two

Tony Bennett · If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set · Song · 1965

“Two By Two,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs for the Jet Set, is available from iTunes.