The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Saturday, October 21, 2017 is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard 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 this version of “Dancing in the Dark” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, which featured songs introduced by Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon created the arrangement.

Dancing In the Dark

Listen to Dancing In the Dark on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1993


“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our video this Saturday, here are Cyd Charisse and Fred Astaire dancing to this number from the 1953 film The Band Wagon.

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Song of the Day: Cheek To Cheek

The song of the day for Thursday, October 5, 2017 is “Cheek To Cheek.”

About This Song

“Cheek To Cheek” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where it was introduced (beautifully) by Fred Astaire. Though the song was nominated for an Academy Award (it lost to “Lullaby Of Broadway”), it became a hit in 1935 and has remained popular to this day. Significant recordings include those by Harry James, Glenn Miller, Roy Eldridge, Bing Crosby and many, many more. Fans of the Tom Hanks’ movie The Green Mile might remember this song, as Top Hat is viewed in the prison. For many, it is one of the very first songs that comes to mind when one thinks of Fred Astaire and the 1930s Hollywood musical.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Cheek To Cheek” in 2014 for the album Cheek To Cheek. It’s a very nice rendition of this song.

Cheek To Cheek

Listen to Cheek To Cheek on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014


“Cheek To Cheek,” as well as the album Cheek To Cheek, is available from iTunes.

I have a video special for today, featuring some dancer named Fred Astaire. I hear he’s pretty good. 🙂

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Saturday, August 19, 2017 is “By Myself.”

About This Song

“By Myself” was written for the 1937 musical Between the Devil by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz, 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 has recorded “By Myself” twice. His first recording was made in 1958 for his album Hometown, My Town. The second recording, which I’ve chosen for the song of the day, was made in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, consisting of songs Fred Astaire introduced.

By Myself

Listen to By Myself on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1993


“By Myself,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our Saturday video is Fred Astaire’s performance of “By Myself” from The Band Wagon.

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

The song of the day for Thursday, June 15, 2017 is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwarz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show, where it 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 more often sung with Plans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Guess I’ve Have To Change My Plan” in 1993 for the album Steppin’ Out. This album consists of songs sung by Bennett’s friend Fred Astaire.

I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plan

Listen to I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plan on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1993


“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

And here’s a little Fred Astaire …

"I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plan" from The Band Wagon 1953

"I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plan" is a popular song performed by Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan with a tap dance in the musical film "The Band Wagon (1953)".

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Song of the Day: Isn’t This a Lovely Day?

The song of the day for is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” in 1935 for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoors gazebo. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” in 1987 for his album of Irving Berlin songs, Bennett/Berlin.

Isn"t This a Lovely Day

Listen to Isn"t This a Lovely Day on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1987


“Isn’t This a Lovely Day?,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from iTunes.

Here is that clip from Top Hat!

I must say that Miss Rogers kills in those jodhpurs.