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 Tuesday, December 30, 2025, 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.

Regarding the show in Hot Springs, Arkansas: A young high school saxophone player couldn’t afford to see the show and hung out by the windows in the venue to listen. His name was Bill Clinton.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Bill Charlap on solo piano, recorded this version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Bennett made just two studio recordings of the song: the first with Ralph Sharon in 1962 and this one with Charlap in 2006.

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

On July 30, 1963, Tony Bennett taped an episode on The Judy Garland Show and sang “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

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Song of the Day: Because Of You

The song of the day for Sunday, November 2, 2025, is “Because Of You.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to honor k.d. lang on her birthday, November 2. She sang with Tony Bennett on Tony Bennett: MTV Unplugged, A Wonderful World, Playin’ With My Friends, Duets: An American Classic, and Duets II.

About This Song

“Because Of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson. Tony Bennett first recorded it in 1951 and it was a major hit.

Bennett tells this story about that 1951 recording:

By the spring of 1951, I was told that if I didn’t get a hit soon, I’d be dropped from the label. I went into Percy’s [Percy Faith] office and he said, “In this next session you really have to deliver. We have three songs ready, so we need another song.” I remember that he looked through a bunch of sheet music on his desk, grabbed a song, and said, “Well, let’s do this one.” That song was ‘Because of You.’ I was doing a lot of dramatic singing on my early records, but Percy said to me, “Just relax. Use your natural voice and sing the song.” I took his advice.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Because Of You” on February 10, 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Because Of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available on Apple Music.

Duets: An American Classic won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

On the Sunday after Tony Bennett died on July 21, 2023, k.d. lang sang “Because Of You” as a tribute to him on CBS Sunday Morning.

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Song of the Day: The Very Thought Of You

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 18, 2025, is “The Very Thought Of You.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is happy to wish Sir Paul McCartney a very happy birthday! He was born 83 years ago on June 18, 1942, in Liverpool, England.

About This Song

“The Very Thought Of You” was written in 1934 by Ray Noble. This ballad by the British composer and band leader Noble has been popular since it was written in 1934. Noble recorded it with his own orchestra; Bing Crosby also recorded it that same year. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney recorded “The Very Thought Of You” in March 2006 at Abbey Road Studios for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

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“The Very Thought Of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the official video for this recording:

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Song of the Day: The Very Thought of You

The song of the day for Saturday, may 24, 2025, is “The Very Thought of You.”

About This Song

“The Very Thought of You” was written in 1942 by the British composer and band leader Ray Noble. Noble recorded it with his own orchestra; Bing Crosby also recorded it that same year. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney recorded “The Very Thought of You” in March 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Duets: An American Classic won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.
Tony Bennett won the 2007 Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for Tony Bennett: An American Classic.

“The Very Thought of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available on Apple Music.

We’re happy to include the VEVO video of Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney recording “The Very Thought of You” at the Abbey Road Studios in London.

Here’s the 1942 Ray Noble recording of “The Very Thought of You,” with vocals by Al Bowlly.

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Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun?

The song of the day for Saturday, February 15, 2025, is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?.”

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain for the 1939 George White’s Scandals. White produced these Broadway revues from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Elvis Costello recorded “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” on February 15, 2006, for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Duets: An American Classic won the 2007 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album. Tony Bennett won the 2007 Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for Tony Bennett: An American Classic, featuring the songs and duet partners for the album.

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” as well as Duets: An American Classic is available on Apple Music.

We have the official video for “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” from Duets: An American Classic: