The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: People

The song of the day for Monday, November 20, 2023, is “People.”

About This Song

“People” was written by Julie Styne and Bob Merrill the 1964 Broadway production of Funny Girl and introduced by Barbra Streisand. It has been popular since it was written. Streisand’s recording was the number-one song in the country for four weeks in 1964.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “People” in July 1995 for the album Here’s To The Ladies, in which Tony Bennett honors the great women singers of the 20th century. The song is in tribute to Barbra Streisand. It was arranged and conducted by Bill Holman.

“People,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m In Love Again

The song of the day for Friday, October 27, 2023, is “I’m In Love Again.”

About This Song

“I’m In Love Again” was written in 1964 by Cy Coleman, Peggy Lee, and Bill Schluger. It’s one of the several songs that Peggy Lee wrote with Cy Coleman. Miss Lee used as the title song for her 1964 album Miss Peggy Lee in Love Again!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m In Love Again” in July 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies, arranged by Jorge Calandrelli. In this album, Bennett sings songs associated with the great female singers of the American Songbook, such as Judy Garland, Sarah Vaughan, Doris Day, and many others. This recording was for Miss Peggy Lee, who cowrote this song.

“I’m In Love Again,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Daybreak

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 30, 2023, is “Daybreak.”

About This Song

The song “Daybreak” was part of a classical suite of songs by Ferde Grofé called Mississippi Suite, composed in 1925. Lyricist Harold Adamson took the theme from the final movement and wrote lyrics for it, resulting in the song “Daybreak.” The song is in honor of Dinah Washington, who sang it regularly.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Daybreak” in July 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies, with an arrangement by Jorge Calandrelli. Bennett recorded this song in honor of Dinah Washington, who recorded “Daybreak” in 1960.

“Daybreak,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Dinah Washington’s 1960 recording of “Daybreak” from her album I Concentrate On You.

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Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Monday, August 14, 2023, is “Over The Rainbow.”

About This Song

“Over The Rainbow” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz.

Interestingly, 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.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Over The Rainbow” in July 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies, consisting of songs associated with some of America’s finest female vocalists. It was arranged and conducted by Bill Holman. This song is, of course, for Judy Garland.

“Over The Rainbow,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies is available on Apple Music.

In 1979, Yip Harburg appeared on a television program called They Write The Songs and sang this beautiful version of “Over The Rainbow.”

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Song of the Day: Honeysuckle Rose

The song of the day for Saturday, May 27, 2023, is “Honeysuckle Rose.”

About This Song

“Honeysuckle Rose” was written in 1929 by Thomas “Fats” Waller, with lyrics by Andy Razaf. It’s one of Waller’s better-known songs and for good reason. The tune is very well written and Razaf’s lyric is delightful. Waller recorded it in 1934 and that recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The song has been recorded steadily throughout the years,

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Honeysuckle Rose” in July 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies, which is comprised of songs associated with the great 20th-century female singers; this song is for Lena Horne. Jorge Calandrelli conducted the orchestra and wrote the arrangement.

Here’s To The Ladies won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Honeysuckle Rose,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies is available on Apple Music.

Here’s a live performance of “Honeysuckle Rose” by Lena Horne in 1957 at the Waldorf Astoria.

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