The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Saturday, January 18, 2025, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written by Hank Williams in 1951.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Cold, Cold Heart” on May 31, 1951; it was released as a single on both 45 and 78 RPM records that year, along with While We’re Young. Percy Faith wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Cold, Cold Heart,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Google used this recording of “Cold, Cold Heart” for a Valentine’s Day doodle in 2012. I loved it then and love it even more now.

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Sunday, December 1, 2024, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About Today

We’re honoring John Bunch, born on December 1, 1921, in Tipton, Indiana. Bunch was Tony Bennett’s pianist and musical director from 1966 until 1972. He played piano for many prominent jazz bands, including those led by Bennett Goodman, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, and Pearl Bailey. He was also a member of the New York Jazz Quartet with Bucky Pizzarelli, Joe Cocuzzzo, and Jay Leonhart.

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1951 by Hank Williams. Bennett was unsure about recording the original 1951 version, telling producer Mitch Miller he could sing it as he was not a country and western singer. Bennett recounted at a concert I attended that Mitch told him that “he’d record it even if he (Mitch) had to tie him to a tree. ‘And so he tied me to a tree’ Bennett quipped.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and John Bennett recorded this version of “Cold, Cold Heart” on June 24, 1970, released on Tony Bennett Sings His All-Time Hall of Fame Hits. It’s an elegant and understated recording that is just exquisite.

“Cold, Cold Heart,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Friday, May 31, 2024, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written by Hank Williams in 1951.

Williams subsequently telephoned Bennett to say, “Tony, why did you ruin my song?” But that was a prank – in fact, Williams liked Bennett’s version and played it on jukeboxes whenever he could.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Cold, Cold Heart” seventy-three years ago today on May 31, 1951, featuring an arrangement by Percy Faith. The song was released as a single on July 2, 1951.

Allmusic writer Bill Janovitz said this about the recording:

That a young Italian singing waiter from Queens could find common ground with a country singer from Alabama’s backwoods is testament both to Williams’ skills as a writer and to Bennett’s imagination and artist’s ear.

“Cold, Cold Heart,” as well as , is available on Apple Music.

On Valentine’s Day 2012, Google did this Doodle on their browser home page, featuring Tony’s recording.

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Friday, December 1, 2023, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About Today

We’re celebrating pianist John Bunch, who was born on December 1, 1921, in Tipton, Indiana. Bunch was Tony Bennett’s pianist and musical director from 1966 to 1972. In addition to his work with Bennett, he played with Benny Goodman, Buddy Rich, Gene Krupa, Pearl Bailey, and Scott Hamilton. He led a trio, mostly in England, and made many recordings as a leader, such as with the New York Swing Trio with Bucky Pizzarelli and Jay Leonhart.

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1951 by Hank Williams. Tony Bennett regularly sang this song in his concerts and told the story of how Mitch Miller played the song and asked Bennett to record it. Bennett told him he couldn’t sing it, as he wasn’t a country and western singer. He says that Mitch said he’d record it even if he (Mitch) had to tie him to a tree. “And so he tied me to a tree …” Bennett would quip. It really is a beautiful and heartfelt song and was a big hit for Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Cold, Cold Heart” on June 14, 1970, with pianist John Bunch.

“Cold, Cold Heart,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Sunday, June 25, 2023, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1951 by Hank Williams. Tony Bennett joked in a concert once that when Mitch Miller asked him to record the song, he told Mitch that he couldn’t sing it, as he wasn’t a country and western singer. He said that Mictch said he’d record it even if he had to tie him to a tree. “And so he tied me to a tree” Bennett quipped. Bennett’s 1951 version of “Cold, Cold Heart” was really beautiful and a big hit for him.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Cold, Cold Heart” on June 24, 1970, featuring John Bunch on piano. It was included in a Columbia collection called Tony Bennett Sings His All-Time Hall of Fame Hits. Luckily for us, it was included on the Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 disc in the 2011 Complete Collection.

“Cold, Cold Hart,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.

On Valentine’s Day 2012, Google presented this “doodle” featuring Tony Bennett’s 1951 recording of “Cold, Cold Heart.” It’s quite charming.

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