The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: A Cottage For Sale

The song of the day for Saturday, August 8, 2025, is ” A Cottage For Sale.”

About This Song

“A Cottage For Sale” was written by Willard Robison and Larry Conley in 1929. his song is a rather sweet and sad ballad about the lovely cottage for sale after the relationship breaks up. This song was first recorded by the composer Robison with his orchestra, The Deep River Orchestra. Other early recordings include those by The Revelers and Bernie Cummins with the New Yorker Orchestra. In later years, the recordings by Frank Sinatra and Billy Eckstine were very popular.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Cottage For Sale” on April 9, 1958, for his 1958 album Long Ago and Far Away. Frank Devol wrote the arrangement.

“A Cottage For Sale,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Fools Rush In

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 28, 2026, is “Fools Rush In.”

About This Song

“Fools Rush In” was written by Rube Bloom and Johnny Mercer. Bloom wrote the song, then known as “Shangrila,” in 1936 for a production number at Chez Paree, Chicago. He wanted to have the song recorded, but the publisher balked; he liked the tune, but suggested new lyrics. Johnny Mercer wrote the new lyrics in 1940. There were several excellent recordings in 1940: Tony Martin, Glenn Miller with Ray Eberle, Tommy Dorsey with Frank Sinatra, and Harry James. It’s been widely recorded since, including a recording by Ricky Nelson in 1963, which was a big hit.

The line in the song, “Fools rush in where angel fear to tread,” was from An Essay on Criticism, written by Alexander Pope in 1711.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Fools Rush In” on April 9, 1958, for his album Long Ago and Far Away. Frank DeVol wrote the arrangement.

“Fools Rush In,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Put On a Happy Face

The song of the day for Monday, July 13, 2026, is “Put On a Happy Face.”

About This Song

“Put On a Happy Face” was written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams for the 1960 musical Bye, Bye Birdie, based loosely on the story of Elvis Presley being drafted into the Army in 1957. Dick Van Dyke introduced the song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Put On A Happy Face” on May 6, 1960, with an arrangement by Frank DeVol. It was released as a single in 1960 and was added to Bennett’s 1962 compilation of Broadway songs he recorded between 1953 and 1961: Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits.

“Put On A Happy Face” as well as Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits is available on Apple Music.

We have a video of Dick Van Dyke and Janet Leigh performing “Put On a Happy Face” from the 1963 film version of Bye, Bye Birdie.

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Song of the Day: Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye

The song of the day for Sunday, March 8, 2026 is “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye.”

About This Song

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” was written by Cole Porter for the 1944 Billy Rose musical revue Seven Lively Arts. The song is well known for the phrase “change from major to minor” as the song itself changed from A-flat major to A-flat minor, matching the lyric perfectly. It has always been a strong jazz standard. Significant recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Mabel Mercer, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye” on April 8, 1958, for his album Long Ago and Far Away. Frank DeVol wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Ev’ry Time We Say Goodbye,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye

The song of the day for Thursdayi, November 20, 2025, is “Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye.”

About This Song

“Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye” was written by Cole Porter for the 1944 Billy Rose musical revue Seven Lively Arts. The song is well known for the phrase “change from major to minor” as the song itself changed from A-flat major to A-flat minor, matching the lyric perfectly. It has always been a strong jazz standard. Significant recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Mabel Mercer, Sonny Rollins, Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Dinah Washington, and Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye” on April 8, 1958, for his fourth album Long Ago and Far Away. Frank DeVol wrote the arrangement and conducted The Frank Devol Orchestra for this recording.

“Ev’rytime We Say Goodbye,” as well as Long Ago And Far Away, is available on Apple Music.