The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The song of the day for Thursday, March 29, 2018 is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 1953 by two homesick songwriters from San Francisco: Douglass Cross and George Cory.

About This Version

Yet another recording of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco”? Well, yes. You can’t really talk about Tony Bennett and 1962 without talking about this song from Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.

When I first listened to this album, this recording completely blew me away, perhaps it’s because of all at the techniques that Tony Bennett draws upon in his live performances, this is the Tony Bennett I love the most. It’s this song sung as heartfelt, deeply personal and introspective ballad. He touches each note quietly–perfectly–with exquisite diction. This version brings me to tears. I think it may be my favorite recording of all the recordings and performances of this song. Certainly the audience feels much the same way; after the customary knowing applause whenever Tony Bennett sings this song live, they too quiet down and are drawn into the emotional core of this song and the performer’s heart.

I Left My Heart In San Francisco - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to I Left My Heart In San Francisco - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2013


” I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Sunday, March 25, 2018 is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance and in January, 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

Author Bill Christine released a biography of the songwriters in October, 2017 titled They Left Their Hearts in San Francisco: The Lives of Songwriters George Cory and Douglass Cross. This book available at Amazon as well as other fine booksellers.

About This Version

The single of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was recorded in January, 1962 and released in early February. By June, 1962 the tune was a huge hit and enjoyed wide popularity. I love the somewhat self-effacing introduction Bennett provides about this song at his concert at Carnegie Hall.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (with Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra) - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (with Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra) - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.23..

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The song of the day for Saturday, February 10, 2018 is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by two homesick songwriters from that city by the bay: George Cory and Douglass Cross. The song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song.

It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience.

After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance and in January, 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, I Left My Heart in San Francisco started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

No discussion of Tony Bennett’s career in 1962 can be held without acknowledging the impact his original recording in 1962 had on his stature in the music business. It’s a pretty well perfect recording, made on January 23, 1962 and released on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco on June 18, 1962, just nine days after his legendary Carnegie Hall concert. The arrangement was written by Marty Manning. I don’t think you need to listen past the first couple of notes to know what a great listen you have in store.

https://open.spotify.com/track/1bYItjcPRtxZs6Ir71O5RBhttps://open.spotify.com/track/1bYItjcPRtxZs6Ir71O5RB
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today I’m pleased to include a segment of an 1963 episode of “The Judy Garland Show,” featuring a duet between Garland and Bennett of today’s song. Tony Bennett and Judy Garland were good friends and it’s a joy to see their affection for each other in this clip.

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The song of the day for Thursday, September 14, 2017 is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it.

Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance and in January, 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” at his 1962 Carnegie Hall concert, recorded on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. At that time, the song had been released for six months. I love how he introduces it as “a brand-new popular song.” Popular indeed.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (with Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra) - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco (with Ralph Sharon & his Orchestra) - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · 1962


“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The song of the day for Thursday, May 4, 2017 is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by Douglass Cross and George Cory.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, I Left My Heart in San Francisco was a huge hit at the performance and in January, 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.”

But gradually, I Left My Heart in San Francisco started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

We are all, of course, quite familiar with Bennett’s original recording of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Today, I’m featuring a newer version made in 2006 with Bill Charlap on piano. This version was released on Duets: An American Classic.

Tony did a very nice interview on NPR about this new version, which I’m happy to present here.

I Left My Heart in San Francisco

Listen to I Left My Heart in San Francisco on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2006


“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of the composer of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” George Cory, who was born on May 4, 1920. He and his partner, Douglass Cross, were San Franciscans who came to New York to make it big as songwriters. It did take them a while, but “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” made them famous and wealthy. Cory died in 1978, preceded by the death of Cross in 1975.

The Year of Tony Bennett has been contacted by an author who is writing a book about Cross and Cory, which should be a good read. I believe it’s due to come out later this year, but I’ll be sure to let you know when I learn more about the publication date.

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