The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: You Don’t Know What Love Is

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 28, 2019, is “You Don’t Know What Love Is.”

About This Song

This song was written by Gene de Paul and Don Raye for a 1941 Abbott and Costello film called Keep ‘Em Flying, but was cut from the film before it opened. The song was finally used in a B picture named Behind the Eight Ball. “You Don’t Know What Love Is” gradually became a jazz standard, as evidenced by the Miles Davis recording from 1954. Other significant jazz recordings included those by Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Anita O’Day, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, and Cassandra Wilson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Don’t Know What Love Is” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

You Don’t Know What Love Is

You Don’t Know What Love Is, a song by Tony Bennett, Bill Evans on Spotify

“You Don’t Know What Love Is,” as well as Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You Don’t Know What Love Is

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 19, 2017 is “You Don’t Know What Love Is.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “You Don’t Know What Love Is,” was written in 1941 by Gene de Paul (music) and Don Raye (lyrics). It was written for a 1941 Abbott and Costello film called Keep ‘Em Flying, but was cut from the film before it opened. The song was finally used in a B picture named Behind the Eight Ball. “You Don’t Know What Love Is” gradually became a jazz standard, as evidenced by the Miles Davis recording from 1954. Other significant jazz recordings included those by Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Anita O’Day, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone and Cassandra Wilson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Don’t Know What Love Is” in September 1976 for their second album Tony Bennett and Bill Evans Together Again, which was released in 1977.

You Don"t Know What Love Is - Remastered 2003

Listen to You Don"t Know What Love Is - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · 1977


“You Don’t Know What Love Is,” as well as Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You Don’t Know What Love Is

The song of the day for Sunday, January 17, 2016 is “You Don’t Know What Love Is.”

About This Song

“You Don’t Know What Love Is” was written in 1941 by Gene de Paul and Don Raye. It was written for a 1941 Abbott and Costello film called Keep ‘Em Flying, but was cut from the film before it opened. The song was finally used in a B picture named Behind the Eight Ball. “You Don’t Know What Love Is” gradually became a jazz standard, as evidenced by the Miles Davis recording from 1954. Other significant jazz recordings included those by Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Anita O’Day and Nina Simone.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Don’t Know What Love Is” in September 1976 for the second, and last, album: Together Again.

You Don"t Know What Love Is - Remastered 2003

Listen to You Don"t Know What Love Is - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · 1977


“You Don’t Know What Love Is,” as well as Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You Don’t Know What Love Is

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 20, 2013 is You Don’t Know What Love Is.

About You Don’t Know What Love Is

This song, a major jazz standard, did not have a promising start. Written by Don Raye and Gene DePaul, You Don’t Know What Love Is was written for the 1941 Abbott and Costello film Keep ‘Em Flying, but was cut from the film. It turned up in a 1942 short B musical movie, Behind the Eight Ball.

In spite of this, the song is a true jazz masterpiece, beginning with the 1954 Miles Davis recording on Walkin’. Other notable recordings are by Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Ella Fitzgerald, Anita O’Day and Billie Holiday among many others.

About This Version

Last summer, some tweeted that he was listening to Tony Bennett and Bill Evans and that the music was “bruised and beautiful.” I had much the same feeling today listening to Together Again, specifically You Don’t Know What Love Is.

All of the songs in Together Again, their second album after The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album, were recorded in September 1976. Critics are split on which of their albums is the best. I love them both, but Together Again is my favorite.  For me, it has deeper, less guarded and more emotional substance from both artists.  When I really listen to this song, as I did today, the pain of the loss is so raw and every nerve is exposed.

I have read that Evans and Bennett did some eighteen takes of this song. Wow.  Just wow.

You Don"t Know What Love Is - Remastered 2003

Listen to You Don"t Know What Love Is - Remastered 2003 on Spotify. Song · Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · 2004

You Don’t Know What Love Is, as well as the remastered Together Again, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You Don’t Know What Love Is

The Song of the Day for Wednesday, November 14, 2012 is You Don’t Know What Love Is.

About You Don’t Know What Love Is

This song was written by Gene de Paul, with lyrics by Don Raye for an Abbot and Costello film, Keep ‘Em Flying, in 1941.The song was cut from the film, but later added to B-movie musical  called Behind the Eight Ball.  In spite of this odd beginning, the song became a jazz standard and has been recorded by musicians including Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Billie Holiday, Keith Jarrett and Anita O’Day.

About This Version

Today, we choose a song from the second Tony Bennett – Bill Evans album, Together Again (here from  The Complete Tony Bennett – Bill Evans Recordings CD set).

I recommend this complete recordings set, as it includes a number of alternate versions of several songs, including this one. The alternate versions are definitely worth listening to. Tony Bennett has stated that he tried to get all of the first session recorded, rehearsals and all, but the recording engineer was concerned about running out of tape. Both of those sessions would be amazing to listen to all, false starts, practicing and all.

If you are a fan of the Tony Bennett – Bill Evans albums, I’d like to recommend that you take a look at Allan Harris’ new album, Convergence, where he, with pianist Takana Miyamote,  sings songs from the sessions. Here’s Mr. Harris singing You Don’t Know What Love Is: