The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Friday, February 12, 2021, is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden for Motown Record’s Jobete publising company. This song not only found a success as a Motown song, with recordings by Stevie Wonder and Jean duShon, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “For Once In My Life” with Stevie Wonder in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.

For Once in My Life (with Stevie Wonder)

Listen to For Once in My Life (with Stevie Wonder) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2006.

“For Once In My Life” as well as Duets II, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Best is Yet to Come

The song of the day for Monday, November 16, 2020, is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Diana Krall, born on November 16, 1964, a very happy birthday!

About This Song

“The Best is Yet to Come” was written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Some say that “The Best is Yet to Come” was written for Tony Bennett. In any case, the song is strongly identified with him and he sings it at most of his concerts. Other recordings include those by Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Diana Krall and Tony Bennett recorded “The Best is Yet to Come” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic.

The Best Is Yet to Come (with Diana Krall)

Listen to The Best Is Yet to Come (with Diana Krall) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2006.

“The Best is Yet to Come,” as well as Duets: An American Classis, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Very Thought of You

The song of the day for Thursday, June 18, 2020, is “The Very Thought of You.”

About Today

Today we would like to wish Sir Paul McCartney a very happy birthday!

About This Song

“The Very Thought of You” was written in 1934 by bandleader Ray Nobel. This ballad 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 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

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

Tony and Sir Paul made this video, which I am pleased to share.

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Song of the Day: For Once In My Life

The song of the day for Monday, June 8, 2020, is “For Once In My Life.”

About This Song

“For Once In My Life” was written in 1967 by Ron Miller and Orlando Murden. The song was written for the Motown Record’s Jobete publishing company. This song not only found success as a Motown song, with recordings by Stevie Wonder and Jean duShon, but also as a popular standard, starting with Tony Bennett’s recording in 1967. Thanks to Tony Bennett’s original recording of the song, it’s been sung by other popular and jazz singers such as Ella Fitzgerald and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennet and Stevie Wonder recorded “For Once In My Life” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“For Once In My Life,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Because of You

The song of the day for Thursday, January 23, 2020, is “Because of You.”

About This Song

“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson.

About This Version

It was Spring 1951. Tony had been told that he would need a real breakthrough recording or he might be dropped from his contract with Columbia. He was preparing for a recording session with Percy Faith. They had three songs planned, but need a fourth. Percy grabbed the sheet music for “Because of You” from the pile on his piano. And, well, the rest was history. After a slow start, “Because of You” was Bennett’s first song to hit #1 on the charts, thanks in large part to fans playing it on jukeboxes and calling radio stations to play that new song from Tony Bennett. It spent 10 weeks at the top of the charts and charted for 32 weeks and sold over a million copies.

Today, I’ve chosen his recording of this song with k. d. lang on the 2006 album Duets: An American Classic. I love the way Bennett’s and lang’s voice blend so beautifully in their duet recordings. This is one of the best of them.

“Because of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from iTunes.

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