The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Blues in the Night

The song of the day for Thursday, January 22, 2026, is “Blues in the Night.”

About This Song

“Blues in the Night” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1941 film Blues in the Night. Arlen wrote the music first and wrote a true blues song. Johnny Mercer, who later wrote the lyrics, drew on his Southern heritage to write the exceptional blues lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blues in the Night” on October 21, 1957, for his album The Beat of My Heart. For The Beat of My Heart, Bennett and Ralph Sharon invited percussionists to participate. Jo Jones was the drummer for “Blues in the Night.” Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Blues in the Night,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available on Apple Music.

I was delighted to find a video from this film Blues in the Night where the song is introduced. The soloist is baritone William Gillespie, who was hired to sing this song,

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Thursday, January 1, 2026, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in June 1992 for his tribute album to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and led The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch. on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Saturday, December 6, 2025, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Dave Brubeck, who was born 105 years ago on December 6, 1920. He was a pianist, composer, and bandleader. There’s an excellent website, davebrubeck.com, which has a thorough biography, information about his compositions, and much more.

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. It’s been recorded many times and used in several films, including the 1956 film Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Dave Brubeck Trio, recorded “That Old Black Magic” live in Washington, DC on August 29, 1962, at the invitation of President John F. Kennedy. The audience was a group of college students who had volunteered to work at White House that summer. At the concert, The Dave Brubeck Quartet played a set, followed by Tony Bennett and The Ralph Sharon Trio. It ended with a improv set, with Bennett, Dave Brubeck (piano), Eugene Wright (bass),and Joe Morello (drums). “That Old Black Magic” is from the improv session.

Columbia Records sent an engineer to record the concert. At some point, the tapes of the concert seem to have disappeared and were thought permanently lost. Thankfully, they were discovered in late 2012, misfiled in the classical music archives. The album Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 was released on May 28, 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett made a very nice video about the concert that evening. It includes some great photographs from that day.

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Song of the Day: This Time The Dream’s On Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 25, 2025, is “This Time The Dream’s On Me.”

About This Song

“This Time The Dream’s On Me” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1941 film musical, Blues in the Night which also featured the title song. Blues in the Night is a film noir musical about a down-on-their-luck band that plays blues music.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “This Time The Dream’s On Me” on August 18, 1960, for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“This Time The Dream’s On Me,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Stormy Weather

The song of the day for Thursday, November 6, 2025, is “Stormy Weather.”

About This Song

“Stormy Weather” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1933. Written during Arlen’s association with Cotton Club, “Stormy Weather” was first sung by Ethel Waters at the Cotton Club in 1933. Lena Horne, who sang with Tony Bennett in the 1970s, recorded this song in 1941 and remains strongly associated with it. It has also been recorded by Kay Starr, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

“Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole recorded “Stormy Weather on June 26, 2001, for Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes arranged the vocals.

Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings The Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Stormy Weather,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.