The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Night and Day

The song of the day for is “Night and Day.”

About This Song

“Night and Day” was written by https://www.coleporter.org/bio.html for the 1932 Broadway musical Gay Divorce, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The musical was adapted for the 1934 film, this time titled The Gay Divorcee, starring Astaire and Ginger Rogers. “Night and Day” is different from the standard 32-bar choruses, divided into four 8-bar sections. Porter used a 48-bar chorus instead.The verse is also unusual as it consists of a single note repeated 35 times. Porter is said to have been influenced by the Muslim call to prayer.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Night and Day” in June 1992 for his tribute to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. He was accompanied by The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums). Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Night and Day,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

I’ve got three YouTube videos that you may find interesting.

First, is the 1932 recording that Fred Astaire made with Leo Reisman and his orchestra.

Next is Frank Sinatra’s 1942 recording, arranged by Alex Stordahl.

And finally, the scene from the 2004 film DeLovely, where Kevin Klein (playing Cole Porter) teaches John Barrowman how to sing “Night and Day.”

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 22, 2026, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a wonderful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Last Night When We Were Young” in June 1992 for his tribute to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangements and led his trio (Sharon: piano, Paul Langosch (bass), and Joe LaBarbera: drums).

Perfectly Frank won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

Frank Sinatra recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” for In The Wee Small Hours, released in 1955. Nelson Riddle wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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Song of the Day: New York, New York

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 15, 2026, is “New York, New York.”

About This Song

“New York, New York” was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb for Martin Scorsese’s 1977 film New York, New York, starring Robert DeNiro and Liza Minnelli.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra recorded “New York, New York” in 1993 for Frank Sinatra: Duets, using Don Costa‘s original 1997 arrangement for Sinatra’s Trilogy: Past, Present, Future.

“New York, New York,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights Vol 2, is available on Apple Music.

Liza Minnelli, who acted in Scorsese’s film New York, New York, made the first recording of today’s song. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted. Here’s that recording.

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Song of the Day: I See Your Face Before Me

The song of the day for Monday, August 24, 2026, is “I See Your Face Before Me.”

About This Song

“I See Your Face Before Me” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 Broadway musical Between The Devil. Two recordings reached the charts soon after the movie opened: Guy Lombardo and His Royal Canadians reached #12 and Glen Gray and The Casa Loma Orchestra made it to #13. Frank Sinatra, with a Nelson Riddle arrangement, recorded it in 1955 In the Wee Small Hours.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I See Your Face Before Me” in June 1992 with The Ralph Sharon Trio, for Perfectly Frank.

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best TraditionalPop Vocal Performance.

“I See Your Face Before Me,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the Frank Sinatra 1955 recording of “I See Your Face Before Me” from In The Wee Small Hours:

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Song of the Day: New York, New York

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 24, 2026, “New York, New York.”

About This Song

“New York, New York” was written by in 1977 by John Kander and Fred Ebb for the 1977 film New York, New York, directed by Martin Scorsese. Liza Minelli performed the song in the film. Frank Sinatra recorded it in 1979 for his 1980 album Trilogy: Past Present Future.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Frank Sinatra recorded “New York, New York” in 1993 for Frank Sinatra: Duets. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“New York, New York,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights,Vol. 2, is available on Apple Music.

We are pleased to include Liza Minnelli’s performance of “New York, New York” from the film:

We are also pleased to include Sinatra’s first recording of the song that became so closely identified with him.