The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Dream A Little Dream Of Me

The song of the day for Friday, August 4, 2023, is “Dream A Little Dream Of Me.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is proud to celebrate the great Louis Armstrong, who was born in New Orleans, LA on August 4, 1901.

About This Song

“Dream A Little Dream Of Me” was written in 1931 by Fabian Andre and Wilbur Schwandt, with lyrics by Gus Kahn. It was first recorded in 1931 by Ozzie Nelson and also by Wayne King and His Orchestra. The song has remained popular over the decades, with recordings by Kate Smith, Frankie Laine, Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Shore, Doris Day, and even The Mamas and The Papas, with Mama Cass. Louis Armstrong first recorded the song in 1950.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Dream A Little Dream Of Me” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World, consisting of songs associated with Louis Armstrong.

“Dream A Little Dream Of Me,” as well as A Wonderful World is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Through With Love

The song of the day for Thursday, April 13, 2023, is “I’m Through With Love.”

About This Song

“I’m Through With Love” was written in 1931 by Fud Livingston, Matty Malneck and Gus Kahn. The song has been popular since it was written, with recordings by Nat Cole, Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sarah Vaughan, among others. Marilyn Monroe sang the song in the 1959 film Some Like It Hot.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Through With Love” on October 28, 1959, with just Ralph Sharon on piano. The resulting album, Tony Sings For Two, was released in 1961.

“I’m Through With Love,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: My Baby Just Cares For Me

The song of the day for Saturday, July 23, 2022, is “My Baby Just Cares For Me.”

About This Song

“My Baby Just Cares For Me” was written by Walter Donaldson and Gus Kahn for the 1930 film version of Whoopee! with Eddie Cantor. Though recorded by many artists, the song is widely associated with Nina Simone, who recorded it for her 1958 debut album Little Girl Blue.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “My Baby Just Cares For Me” on December 22, 1954, and released in 1955 on the album Cloud 7. Charles Panely did the arrangement,

“My Baby Just Cares For Me” as well as Cloud 7 is available on Apple Music.

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Album of the Week: My Heart Sings

The album of the week starting on February 27, 2022, is My Heart Sings.

My Heart Sings

Tony Bennett remembers My Heart Sings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Ralph Burns and I got together again to do some singles, including “Smile,” and for our next album we changed gears again. Instead of the lush, ballad-style arrangements we had used on Hometown, My Town, we switched to a cookin’ jazz sound. The album is called My Heart Sings, and I simply love Ralph’s writing on this one. It’s really beautiful music.

This album is a preview of 1962, which was an outstanding year for Tony Bennett, including his concert at Carnegie Hall and winning his first Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

My Heart Sings was recorded in 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days: April 4, April 5, and April 6, 1961.

Album Facts

Release Date August 7, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements, Conductor Ralph Burns
Piano Bernie Leighton
Bass Milt Hinton
Drums Herb Lovelle
Guitar Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne, Mundell Lowe
Saxophone Danny Bank, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque, Jerry Sanfino
Trumpet Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen
Trombone Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak
Vibes Eddie Costa

Songs on My Heart Sings

Song Composers
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Dancing in the Dark Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
I’m Comin’ Virginia Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
My Heart Sings Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin
It Never Was You Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
You Took Advantage of Me Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Close Your Eyes Bernice Petkere
Stella By Starlight Victor Young, Ned Washington
More Than You Know Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
My Ship Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin
Lover Man Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
Toot, Toot, Tootsie Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, Dan Russo

Listen to My Heart Sings

You can also listen to My Heart Sings on

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Song of the Day: Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye

The song of the day for Wednesday, Ju e 16, 2021, is “Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye.”

About This Song

“Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye” was written in 1922 by Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, and Dan Russo, The song is best known by its appearance in The Jazz Singer, the first “talking picture” that revolutionized Hollywood filmmaking overnight. “Toot, Toot Tootsie” was sung by Al Jolson, playing the role of a young jazz singer known as Jack Robin nee Jakie Rabinowitz.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye” for his 1961 album My Heart Sings, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns. He sang it at his June 9, 1962 performance at Carnegie Hall, captured on Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall.

Toot Toot Tootsie (Goodbye) (From "Bombo") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962

Listen to Toot Toot Tootsie (Goodbye) (From "Bombo") - Live at Carnegie Hall, New York, NY - June 1962 on Spotify. Tony Bennett, Ralph Sharon & His Orchestra · Song · 1962.

“Toot, Toot, Tootsie Goodbye,” as well as Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall is available on Apple Music.

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