The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Monday, September 18, 2023, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written in 1929 by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show, where it was introduced by Clifton Webb.
It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant. Even though the original title was “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” it is sometimes sung with plans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

We have this video of Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan performing today’s song from the 1953 film The Band Wagon.

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Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 23, 2023, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for the 1936 film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. It is used in the early part of the film when Astaire pretends to not be able to dance and asks for Ginger Rogers as his dance instructor just so he can dance with her. This song has been widely recorded, including those by Nat King Cole, Anita O’Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Pick Yourself Up” for his album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, released in 2015. It was arranged by Bill Charlap. The Bill Charlap Trio (Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, Kenny Washington on drums) accompanied Bennett.

“Pick Yourself Up,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s today’s song with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers:

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Song of the Day: Nice Work If You Can Get It

The song of the day for Saturday, August 19, 2023, is “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

About This Song

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film Damsel In Distress, starring Fred Astaire, who introduced the song. It has been widely recorded by artists including Astaire, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nice Work If You Get It” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, consisting of songs identified with Fred Astaire. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“Nice Work If You Can Get It,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Fred Astaire from Damsel in Distress, performing today’s song:

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 9, 2023, is “By Myself.”

About This Song

By Myself” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 musical Between the Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. Another great Schwartz-Dietz song from Between the Devil was “I See Your Face Before Me.” This song was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” in June 1993 for his album in honor of Fred Astaire, Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“By Myself,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Astaire’s performance of “By Myself” from the 1953 film The Band Wagon:

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Sunday, July 30, 2023, is “Dancing in the Dark”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Schwartz and Dietz. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song describes it as “… a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” in July 1993 for his album dedicated to Fred Astaire: Steppin’ Out. Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Dancing in the Dark” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here are Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse dancing to today’s song, from the 1953 file The Band Wagon.

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