The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 1`, 2021, the eighth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie; the song had a spectacular debut. It was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November, 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by that Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” in 1967 for the album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, which was released the following year. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You Go To My Head

The song of the day for Sunday, November 7, 2021, is “You Go To My Head.”

About This Song

Written in 1938 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie (the same songwriting team that gave us “Santa Claus is Coming To Town”) “You Go to My Head” is a well-respected popular song. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder called it “a phenomenon” and “a minor masterpiece.” Al Gioia in The Jazz Standards notes that “this song comes closer than any tune I know to capturing in musical form the feeling of losing control.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “You Go To My Head” in 1992 with The Ralph Sharon Trio for the album Perfectly Frank.

“You Go To My Head,” as well as Perfect Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You Go To My Head

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 30, 2021, is “You Go To My Head.”

About This Song

“You Go To My Head” was written in 1938 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Written by the same songwriting team that gave us “Santa Claus is Coming To Town,” “You Go to My Head” is a well-respected popular song. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder called it “a phenomenon” and “a minor masterpiece.” Al Gioia in The Jazz Standards notes that “this song comes closer than any tune I know to capturing in musical form the feeling of losing control.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “You Go To My Head” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

You Go to My Head

Listen to You Go to My Head on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992

“You Go To My Head,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

On the ninth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, the song of the day for Tuesday, December 22, 2020, is “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. It had a spectacular debut. The song was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” in 1968 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Santa Claus Is Comin" To Town

Listen to Santa Claus Is Comin" To Town on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1968

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You Go To My Head

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 22, 2019, is “You Go To My Head.”

About This Song

“You Go To My Head” was written in 1938 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Composed by the same songwriting team that gave us “Santa Claus is Coming To Town,” “You Go to My Head” is a well-respected popular song. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder called it “a phenomenon” and “a minor masterpiece.” Al Gioia in The Jazz Standards notes that “this song comes closer than any tune I know to capturing in musical form the feeling of losing control.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “You Go To My Head” in 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank, consisting of songs associated with Frank Sinatra. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement. Mr. Bennett had previously recorded “You Go To My Head” in 1957 for The Beat of My Heart, though it wasn’t released until the 1997 CD re-release of that album.

“You Go To My Head,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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