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 Coming to Town

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 18, 2018, is “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.”
Today is the fifth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

About This Song

“Santa Claus Is Coming 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 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” with The Count Basie Big Band for the 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Santa Claus Is Coming to Town,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You Go To My Head

The song of the day for Monday, December 10, 2018, is “You Go To My Head.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “You Go To My Head,” was written in 1938 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie, the same writing 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, an album of songs often associated with Frank Sinatra. Bennett also recorded this same song in 1957 for The Beat of My Heart, though it wasn’t released until 1997 on CD re-release of the album.

You Go to My Head

You Go to My Head, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

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

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus is Coming to Town

On the sixth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, Tuesday, December 19, 2017, the song of the day is “Santa Claus is Coming to Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus is Coming to Town” was written in 1934, with music by John Frederick Coots and lyrics by 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 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 1967 for the album Snowfall, which was released in 1968. The arrangement was done by Robert Farnon.

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, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

Today is the fifth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.
The song of the day for Sunday, December 18, 2016 is “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”

About This Song

Written by the songwriting team of J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie in 1934, “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” 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. It remains a perennial favorite of kids of all ages.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” with the Count Basie Big Band for the 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas. The arrangement is by Bill Holman and features Andy Snitzer on alto saxophone.

Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (feat. Count Basie Big Band)

Listen to Santa Claus Is Coming to Town (feat. Count Basie Big Band) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Count Basie Big Band · 2008


“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” as well as A Swingin’ Christmas, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: You Go To My Head

The song of the day for Monday, September 12, 2016 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, the same songwriting team that wrote “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 has recorded “You Go To My Head” twice: the first in 1957 for The Beat of My Heart and again in 1992 for Perfectly Frank. It’s the 1992 version, arranged by Ralph Sharon, that we’re featuring today.

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 iTunes.

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