The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves a Harold Arlen Song

The playlist of the week of June 23 is Tony Loves a Harold Arlen Song.

Harold Arlen is widely considered to be one of America’s finest songwriters. Bennett’s recordings of his work are all wonderful.

Tony Loves a Harold Arlen Song

Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, from The Playground

A Sleepin’ Bee, with lyrics by Truman Capote, from Tony Sings For Two

Blues in the Night, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, from Playin’ With My Friends

Don’t Like Goodbyes, with lyrics by Truman Capote, from The Art of Romance

Ill Wind (You’re Blowin’ Me No Good), with lyrics by Ted Koehler, from Tony Bennett On Holiday

Last Night When We Were Young, with lyrics by Yip Harburg, from Perfectly Frank

One for My Baby (And One More for the Road), with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, on Perfectly Frank

So Long, Big Time, with lyrics by Dory Langon Previn, on The Many Moods of Tony

That Old Black Magic, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, from Bennett & Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962

The Man That Got Away, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, from Tony Sings For Two

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Song of the Day: So Long, Big Time

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 17, 2018 is “So Long, Big Time.”

About This Song

“So Long, Big Time” was written in 1963 by Harold Arlen and Dory Langdon Previn. One of Arlen’s later songs, “So Long, Big Time” is about the “player” who’s run out of luck and is giving up the fast life and knows when it’s time to walk away. The Bill Evans Trio and Monica Zetterlund recorded this song in 1964 for the album Waltz For Debby.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “So Long, Big Time” in 1963 for the album The Many Moods of Tony.

So Long, Big Time!

Listen to So Long, Big Time! on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.


“So Long, Big Time,” as well as The Many Moods of Tony, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: So Long, Big Time!

The song of the day for Sunday, October 29, 2017 is “So Long, Big Time!”

About This Song

“So Long, Big Time!” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Dory Langdon Previn, in 1963. One of Arlen’s later songs, “So Long, Big Time!” is about the “player” who’s run out of luck and is giving up the fast life and knows when it’s time to walk away. The Bill Evans Trio and Monica Zetterlund recorded this song in 1964 for the album Waltz For Debby.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “So Long, Big Time!” in 1963 for his 1974 album The Many Moods of Tony. Marty Manning did the arrangement.

So Long, Big Time!

Listen to So Long, Big Time! on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.


“So Long, Big Time!,” as well as The Many Moods of Tony, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: So Long, Big Time!

The song of the day for Saturday, February 27, 2016 is “So Long, Big Time!”

About This Song

“So Long, Big Time!” was written in 1963 by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Dory Langdon Previn. One of Arlen’s later songs, the song is about the “player” who’s run out of luck and is giving up the fast life and knows when it’s time to walk away. The Bill Evans Trio and Monica Zetterlund recorded this song in 1964 for the album Waltz For Debby.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “So Long, Big Time!” in 1963 for his album The Many Moods of Tony. It was arranged by Marty Manning and conducted by the composer, Harold Arlen.

So Long, Big Time!

Listen to So Long, Big Time! on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.


“So Long, Big Time!,” as well as The Many Moods of Tony, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Once again it’s Saturday and once again I have video. This video was recorded in the studio when today’s song was recorded. Watch for smile from Arlen at about 2:20 into the video. It’s glorious.

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Song of the Day: So Long, Big Time

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 14, 2015 is “So Long, Big Time.”

About This Song

One of Harold Arlen’s later songs, “So Long, Big Time” is about the ‘player’ who’s run out of luck and is giving up the fast life and knows when it’s time to walk away. The lyrics are by Dory Langdon Previn. The song has not been widely recorded, but it was recorded by The Bill Evans Trio with Monica Zetterlund in 1964 for the album Waltz For Debby.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1963, the year it was written. It was conducted by the composer … here’s a video from the recording session, held at the CBS 30th Street Studio. Keep an eye on Harold Arlen at 2:20 into the clip … his glorious smile is wonderful.

So Long, Big Time!

Listen to So Long, Big Time! on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.


“So Long, Big Time,” as well as The Many Moods Of Tony, is available from iTunes.

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