The song of the day for Wednesday, March 3, 2024, is “Sentimental Journey.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is remembering Doris Day, who first recorded today’s song with Les Brown and His Band of Renown. Doris Day was born in Cincinnati, Ohio on April 3, 1922, and died at 97 on May 13, 2019, in Carmel Valley, California. She began her career as a big band singer with Les Brown in 1939; “Sentimental Journey” was one of her #1 recordings in 1946. In addition to her singing career, Doris Day was a movie star in the 1950s and 1960s.

About This Song

“Sentimental Journey” was written in 1944 by Les Brown and Ben Homer, with lyrics from Ben Green. The song was a hit record for Les Brown and His Band of Renown; it featured Doris Day as vocalist and this song was her first #1 hit song. The song was popular in the US as soldiers returned home at the end of World War II. The song is a well-known standard and has been recorded by Rosemary Clooney, Ella Fitzgerald, and The Ames Brothers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sentimental Journey” in July 1995 for his album songs associated with the great women singers, Here’s To The Ladies. “Sentimental Journey” was Miss Day’s representation on that album. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

Here’s To The Ladies won the 1995 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

Here’s Miss Day’s 1946 recording of “Sentimental Journey” with Les Brown and His Band of Renown: