The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Tangerine

The song of the day for Friday, May 10, 2024, is “Tangerine.”

About This Song

“Tangerine” was written by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 movie The Fleet’s In, which starred Dorothy Lamour, William Holden, Eddie Bracken and introduced Betty Hutton. The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, with vocalists Helen O’Connell and Bob Eberly, made a very successful recording in 1942.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Tangerine” in June 1995 for his album Here’s to the Ladies. For his album, he recorded songs made famous by notable women singers in the 20th century; Tangerine was recorded in tribute to Helen O’Connell. It was arranged and conducted by Bill Holman.

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

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Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Monday, April 8, 2024, is “Over The Rainbow.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the great E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, who was born 128 years ago today on April 6, 1896. Yip Harburg was one of America’s most gifted lyricists, known for songs including “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime,” “April in Paris,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” and, most famously, “Over The Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.

About This Song

“Over The Rainbow” was written in 1939 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Probably the most widely known of all Arlen’s and Harburg’s songs, “Over The Rainbow” is from the 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 Here’s To The Ladies, in tribute to Judy Garland. It was arranged and conducted by Bill Holman.

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

In 1979, Yip Harburg appeared in a television program about the art of songwriting. Here’s an excerpt from that program.

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Song of the Day: Sentimental Journey

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:

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Song of the Day: Honeysuckle Rose

The song of the day for Monday, January 8, 2024, 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 songs and for good reason. The tune is very well written and Razaf’s lyrics are 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.

Tony Bennett and Lena Horne did a show together in 1973 on Broadway. You can read more about here; the article includes a video of the show that they made in England after the Broadway run.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Honeysuckle Rose” in July 1995 for Here’s To The Ladies. For this album, Bennett recorded songs associated with some of the best female singers in the 20th century, including Barbra Streisand, Doris Day, Margaret Whiting, and many more. This song was chosen in honor of Lena Horne. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangements and conducted the orchestra.

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

We’ve got a special treat today! John and Bucky Pizzarelli performing “Honeysuckle Rose” in 2002 at the MAC (Manhatten Association of Cabarets) Awards, followed by “Route 66.” Guitar playing doesn’t get any better than this.

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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.