The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive

The song of the day for Monday, September 29, 2025, is “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive.”

About This Song

“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in 1944 for the movie Here Comes The Waves, starring Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton. This charming song was written in the style of sermon with the message of being positive is the key to happiness. Mercer is said to have heard a sermon by Father Divine, who said “you got to accentuate the positive and eliminate the negative.” Significant recordings include those by Bing Crosby, Kay Kyser, Artie Shaw, Ella Fitzgerald, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” in June 1998 for his album for children, The Playground, which was released 27 years ago on September 29, 1998.

“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive,” as well as The Playground, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About Today

Perfectly Frank was released thirty-three years ago on September 15, 1992.

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg in 1935. 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 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 album in tribute to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

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

Here’s Frank Sinatra’s 1955 recording of “Last Night When We Were Young” from In The Wee Small
Hours. Nelson Riddle wrote the arrangement.

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Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, August 28, 2025, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. The song was popular from the start, with recordings by Glenn Miller and Judy Garland in 1942. The song has been used in films and television, including Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe, and Star Trek Voyager, where it was sung by Jeri Ryan, portraying Seven of Nine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” live 63 years ago on August 28, 1962. Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet had both been invited by President John F. Kennedy to perform at a concert honoring that year’s group of summer interns. Originally, the concert was planned for the Rose Garden at the White House, but due to so much interest, it was moved to the Sylvan Theatre on the Mall, near the Washington Monument.

Brubeck with his quartet (Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, Joe Morello on drums) opened the concert. Next was Tony Bennett and The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, Billy Exiner on drums) who performed. After Bernnett’s set, Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett did an unplanned improv set, joined by Eugene Wright and Joe Morello.

The concert was taped, but over time it had become lost in the vaults. They were discovered, misfiled in the Classical Music section, in December 2012, just a few weeks after Dave Brubeck’s death. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 was finally released in May 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 short video about the experience.

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Song of the Day: Come Rain or Come Shine

The song of the day for Friday, August 15, 2025, is “Come Rain or Come Shine.”

About This Song

“Come Rain or Come Shine” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1946 musical St. Louis Woman. The song itself is rather unusual in that the same note is repeated 12 times in the first two measures. Despite that repetition, or perhaps because of it, the song works very well for the singer. Al Gioia in Jazz Standards says that “this composition tends to resist grandstanding, and instead appeals to the more introspective improviser.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Come Rain or Come Shine” 65 years ago on August 15, 1960, for his album Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, released in 1961. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Come Rain or Come Shine,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Out Of This World

The song of the day for Thursday, July 31, 2025, is “Out Of This World.”

About This Song

“Out Of This World” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1945 film Out Of This World. The film starred Eddie Bracken, though Bing Crosby dubbed the vocals for Bracken. Alec Wilder was a fan of this song, praising its ethereal quality and the excellent lyrics by Mercer.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Out Of This World” on January 18, 1967, for his album For Once In My Life. Marion Evans wrote the very fine arrangement.

“Out Of This World,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available on Apple Music.

We’re happy to present Bing Crosby’s 1945 recording of today’s song: