The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: When Do the Bells Rings For Me?

The song of the day for Monday, October 26, 2026, is “When Do the Bells Rings For Me.”

About This Song

“When Do the Bells Rings For Me?” was written by cabaret artist Charles DeForest.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “When Do the Bells Rings For Me?” live on April 12, 1994, for Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged, which was aired on June 1, 1994. It was the final song of the show. The album MTV Unplugged was released on June 28, 1994.

Tony Bennett was accompanied by The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Doug Richeson on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums).

MTV Unplugged won the 1995 Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“When Do the Bells Rings For Me?” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: All Of You

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 29, 2025, is “All Of You.”

About This Song

“All Of You” was written by Cole Porter in 1954 for the musical Silk Stockings, where it was introduced by Don Ameche. Bill Evans played it live on his legendary 1961 album Sunday at the Village Vanguard. Other significant recordings include those by Ella Fitzgerald, Miles Davis, Bobby Darin, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All Of You” in April 12, 1994, for his live appearance on MTV Unplugged. Accompanying Bennett was The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Doug Richeson on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums. Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged, the album of that appearance, was released on June 28, 1994.

Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged won the 1994 Grammy Awards for Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“All Of You,” as well as Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the video of “All Of You” from MTV Unplugged.

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Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Monday, April 14, 2025, is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had To Be You” was written in 1924, with music by Isham Jones and lyrics by Gus Kahn. The song is a popular standard with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edwards, and Frank Sinatra. It has also been used in several films, such as Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with his trio (Ralph Sharon, piano; Doug Richeson, bass; Clayton Cameron, drums), performed the songs for MTV Unplugged on April 12, 1994. The album MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett – Live was released in July 1994.

MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett – Live won two 1994 Grammy Awards:

  • Album of the Year
  • Best Traditional Pop Performance

“It Had To Be You,” as well as MTV Unplugged: Tony Bennett – Live, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the video from the television program:

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Song of the Day: Body and Soul

The song of the day for Sunday, November 17, 2024, is “Body and Soul.”

About This Song

“Body and Soul” was written in 1930, with music by Johnny Green and lyrics by Edward Heyman, Robert Sour, and Frank Eyton.

Ted Gioia, in his book The Jazz Standards, says that Body and Soul

is the granddaddy of jazz ballads, the quintessential torch song, and the ultimate measuring rod for tenor sax players of all generations. Even in the new millennium, this 1930 composition continues to serve as the cornerstone of the repertoire.

Louis Armstrong recorded the song first, followed in the 1930s by recordings from primarily white society bands, such as those led by Paul Whiteman. That said, some early recordings by jazz artists, including Benny Goodman and especially Art Tatum, started to cement this song as a serious jazz standard (in fact, it’s rated #1 on the jazzstandards.com website). However, the Coleman Hawkins recording from 1939 is widely acknowledged to have made the song a true jazz standard. The Hawkins recording was followed by great jazz recordings by Charlie Parker, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Thelonious Monk, Art Pepper, Dave Brubeck, and many more. Fine vocal recordings include those by Billie Holiday and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Body and Soul” in his ground-breaking MTV Unplugged concert, recorded on April 12, 1994, and subsequently aired on MTV. Bennett appeared with his trio: Ralph Sharon on piano, Doug Richeson on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums. The album MTV Unplugged was released in June 1994.

MTV Unplugged won two 1994 Grammy Awards: Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Body and Soul,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available on Apple Music.

We have the video of this performance:

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Song of the Day: Old Devil Moon

The song of the day for Sunday, August 13, 2023, is “Old Devil Moon.”

About This Song

“Old Devil Moon” was written by Burton Lane and Yip Harburg for the 1947 musical Finian’s Rainbow, which also gave us “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?” While Alec Wilder was no fan of “How Are Things in Glocca Morra?”, in America Popular Song, he praises “Old Devil Moon” as “a well-written, wholly convincing song. It drives, and its initial intensity is sustained throughout.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett (with Ralph Sharon on piano, Doug Richeson on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums) recorded their show for MTV Unplugged on April 12, 1994. The concert was released later that year on the album Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged.

The album won two Grammy Awards: Album of the Year and Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Old Devil Moon,” as well as MTV Unplugged is available on Apple Music.

We’re also happy to include the video of Tony Bennett’s entrance and performance of “Old Devil Moon.”