The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Sunday, April 9, 2023, 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 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 Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

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

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Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Saturday, April 8, 2023, is “Over The Rainbow.”

About Today

Isidore Hochberg, known professionally as E.Y. (Yip) Harburg, was born on April 8, 1896, in New York City to Russian immigrants. He attended high school with Ira Gershwin and the two became life-long friends. After college, Harburg, now married with two children, became a co-owner of an electrical appliance company, which went bankrupt following the crash of 1929, while writing light verse for local newspapers. His friend Ira Gershwin suggested that he start writing song lyrics. Within in just a few years, he wrote one of the great songs about The Great Depression: “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime.” Harburg went on to become one of the best and most sought-after lyricists in Hollywood, as well as Broadway. His films and movies include The Wizard of Oz, Bloomer Girl, and Finian’s Rainbow. Though never a member of the Communist Party, Harburg was blacklisted from film, television, and radio from 1950 to 1962.

Happy birthday to the great Yip Harburg.

About This Song

“Over The Rainbow” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz. Just before the film opened, the producers wanted to cut the song from the film, as they felt it slowed down the movie. Thankfully, the preview audiences preferred the movie with the song. “Over The Rainbow” ranked as the #1 song of the 20th century per the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment of the Arts. The song has always been closely associated with Judy Garland. In a letter to Harold Arlen, Judy Garland wrote that the song

has become part of my life. It’s so symbolic of everybody’s dreams and wishes that I’m sure that’s why some people get tears in their eyes when they hear it. I’ve sung it thousands of times and it’s still the song that’s closest to my heart.

Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg won the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song for “Over The Rainbow.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Over The Rainbow” on August 15, 1960, for his album Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. This song, as well as the entire album, was arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser.

“Over The Rainbow,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got a couple of videos today. First up is an appearance by Harburg on television where he talks about “Over The Rainbow.”


And what post about “Over The Rainbow” is complete without Judy Garland singing “Over The Rainbow.”

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 15, 2023, is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” was written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin or Judy Garland for the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Ralph Sharon on piano, recorded “The Man That Got Away” on October 28, 1959, in a single recording session where Bennett and Sharon recorded 16 songs, 12 of which were released on Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

And here’s that famous scene from the 1954 A Star Is Born:

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Song of the Day: I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues

The song of the day for Monday, January 30, 2023, is “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues.”

About This Song

“I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1932 Broadway show, Earl Carroll’s Vanities. It has been a blues and jazz standard ever since. Notable recordings include those by Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lean Horne, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bonnie Raitt recorded “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues.

“I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, January 21, 2023, is “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive.”

About This Song

“Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” was written in 1944 by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1944 movie Here Come The Waves, starring Bing Crosby and Betty Hutton.

This charming song was written in the style of a sermon with the message that 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.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate The Positive” in June 1998 for his album for children, The Playground.

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

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