• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

January 8, 2023 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Sentimental Journey

The song of the day for Monday, January 9, 2023, is “Sentimental Journey.”

About This Song

“Sentimental Journey” was written in 1944 by Les Brown and Ben Homer, with lyrics by Bud Green. It 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 and released that year on Here’s To The Ladies. The song is in tribute to Doris Day, who first recorded the song. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

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

Here’s the 1944 recording of “Sentimental Journey” by Les Brown and His Band of Renown, featuring Doris Day.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Ben Homer, Bud Green, Doris Day, Here's To The Ladies, Jorge Calandrelli, Les Brown, Tony Bennett

January 7, 2023 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Honeysuckle Rose

The song of the day for Sunday, January 8, 2023, is “Honeysuckle Rose.”

About This Song

“Honeysuckle Rose” was written in 1929 by Thomas “Fats” Waller and Andy Razaf. This song one of Waller’s better-known tunes and for good reason. The tune is very well written and Razaf’s lyric is delightful. Waller recorded the song in 1934 and that recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The song has been recorded steadily throughout the years, including the one by Lena Horne in 1963.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Honeysuckle Rose” in July 1995 and released that year on Here’s To The Ladies. The song is in tribute to Lena Horne. It was arranged and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

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

Here’s Lena Horne singing “Honeysuckle Rose” live at The Waldorf Astoria.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Here's To The Ladies, Jorge Calandrelli, Lena Horne, Thomas Waller, Tony Bennett

June 9, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Friday, June 10, 2022, is “Over The Rainbow.”

About Today

Please join The Year of Tony Bennett in remembering the great Judy Garland, who was born in Grand Rapid, Minnesota exactly 100 years ago today, June 10, 1922.

I choose to say just one thing about her: I think she was the greatest female singer of the 20th century and her music will never grow old or tired or dated.

About This Song

“Over the Rainbow” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1939 movie The Wizard of Oz and is one of the most widely known songs by Arlen or Harburg. Interestingly, the producers wanted to cut the song from the film, as they felt it slowed downed 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 this version of “Over The Rainbow” in July 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies, which honors the great female singers of the 20th century. It was arranged by Bill Holman.

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

Of course, we have Judy singing today’s song from the 1939 classic The Wizard Of Oz.

I’d like to close with a clip of Tony’s visit to The Judy Garland Show, aired on July 30, 1963. You can see here how fond they were of each other.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Holman, Happy Birthday Judy Garland, Harold Arlen, Here's To The Ladies, Judy Garland, The Wizard of Oz, Tony Bennett, Yip Harburg

November 21, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’m In Love Again

The song of the day for Monday, November 22, 2021, is “I’m In Love Again.”

About This Song

“I’m In Love Again” was written in 1964 by Cy Coleman, Bill Schluger, and Peggy Lee. 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 1995 for his album Here’s to the Ladies, where Bennett sings songs associated with great 20th century female singers. This song is, of course, for his friend Miss Peggy Lee.

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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Schluger, Cy Coleman, Here's To The Ladies, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett

May 27, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Honeysuckle Rose

The song of the day for Friday, May 28, 2021, is “Honeysuckle Rose.”

About This Song

“Honeysuckle Rose” was written in 1929 by Thomas “Fats” Waller and Andy Razaf. It’s one of Waller’s better known tunes and for good reason. The tune is very well written and Razaf’s lyric is delightful. Waller recorded the song in 1934 and that recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1999. The song has been recorded steadily throughout the years, including the one from Lena Horne in 1963.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Honeysuckle Rose” in 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies. On this album, Bennett sings songs associated with the great 20th century female singers. He chose this song in honor of Lena Horne. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

Honeysuckle Rose

Listen to Honeysuckle Rose on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1995.

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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Andy Razaf, Fats Waller, Here's To The Ladies, Jorge Calandrelli, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 9
  • Next Page »

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites

  • Song of the Day: Georgia Rose
  • Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy
  • Song of the Day: Maybe This Time
  • Song of the Day: The Right To Love
  • Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance
  • Song of the Day: Where Do You Start
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2023 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress