The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 7, 2022, is “There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight.”

About This Song

Hank Williams wrote “There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight” in 1950. Following on the success of “Cold, Cold Heart,” Tony Bennett recorded this Hank Williams song as well. “There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight” has been recorded by Willie Nelson, George Jones and The Drifting Cowboys, in addition to Tony Bennett’s recording.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight” on December 4, 1953; the song was released as a single in 1954. It was arranged by Percy Faith.

“There’ll Be No Teardrops Tonight,” as well as the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 3 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Monday, May 23, 2022, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1950 by country/western singer-songwriter Hank Aaron.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, at the insistence of his producer Mitch Miller, recorded “Cold, Cold Heart” on May 31, 1951, featuring an arrangement by Percy Faith. The recording was quite popular and was on the Billboard charts for 27 weeks, peaking at #1.

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

On Valentine’s Day in 2012, Google featured this charming Google Doodle with Bennett’s recording of “Cold, Cold Heart.”

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 19, 2022, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1951 by Hank Williams. Bennett used Tony Bennett to sing this song regularly in concert and always tells 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 quips. It really is a beautiful and heartfelt song and was a big hit for Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Cold, Cold Heart” in 1951, featuring an arrangement by Percy Faith.

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

We’ve got a very special video today! It’s a Tony Bennett appearance in 1954 on the Ed Sullivan Show. Bennett sings a medley with “Because Of You,” “Cold, Cold Heart,” and “Rags To Riches.”

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Song of the Day: Weary Blues From Waitin’

The song of the day for Thursday, November 5, 2020, is “Weary Blues From Waitin’.”

About This Song

“Weary Blues From Waitin’” was written by Hank Williams in 1951. It was released as a posthumous single after Williams was killed in an automobile accident on New Years Day, 1953.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Weary Blues From Waitin’” in 1957, released as a single that same year. Ray Ellis did the arrangement.

Weary Blues From Waitin"

Listen to Weary Blues From Waitin" on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“Weary Blues From Waitin’,” as well as all of singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5, is available from Apple Music.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves a Piano

The playlist of the week of May 12, 2019, is Tony Loves a Piano. Some of Bennett’s finest recordings have been made with just Tony and a pianist. This week we honor some of the best of those recordings.

Tony Loves a Piano

Some of Tony Bennett's finest recordings have been with only Tony and a pianist. This week we honor some of the best of those recordings.

My Foolish Heart (Victor Young and Ned Washington) with Bill Evans
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart) with Ralph Sharon
Cold, Cold Heart (Hank Williams) with John Bunch
Some Other Time (Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green and Betty Comden) with Bill Evans
The Man That Got Away (Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin) with Ralph Sharon
A Sleepin’ Bee (Harold Arlen and Truman Capote) with Ralph Sharon
Dream Dancing (Cole Porter) with Bill Evans
One For My Baby (by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer)/It Had To Be You (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) with John Bunch
We’ll Be Together Again (Carl T. Fischer and Frankie Laine) with Bill Evans

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