The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Moonlight in Vermont

The song of the day for Thursday, January 1, 2015 is “Moonlight in Vermont.”

About This Song

“Moonlight in Vermont” was written in 1944 by Karl Suessdorf (music) and John Blackburn (lyricist). The song was made famous by Margaret Whiting, who recorded it in 1944 with Billy Butterfield and his Orchestra. It has been popular ever since, with other recordings by Frank Sinatra, Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Moonlight in Vermont” in 1995 for his album Here’s To The Ladies. In this album, he sings songs associated with American’s finest jazz and popular female singers. This song was for Margaret Whiting.

About Today

Even though I live in Oregon, I was born and raised in the South. So it will be hoppin’ john, cornbread and some football tomorrow. Go Ducks. Roll Tide. Happy New Year, everyone.

Moonlight In Vermont

Listen to Moonlight In Vermont on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1995.


“Moonlight in Vermont,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Saturday, December 20, 2014 is “Over the Rainbow.”

About This Song

“Over The Rainbow” is, of course, written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg in 1939 for The Wizard of Oz. As beloved as this song is, it was cut during previews by studio executives who felt that it slowed down the movie and was out of character for the role played by Judy Garland. Fortunately, cooler heads prevailed and the song was put back into the film before its official opening.

The song is ranked first on the “Songs of the Century” list compiled by the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment for the Arts. The American Film Institute also ranked “Over the Rainbow” the greatest movie song of all time on the list of “AFI’s 100 Years…100 Songs.” Judy Garland sang it in all of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Over the Rainbow” in 1995 for his album Here’s to the Ladies. In this album, he sings the great standards associated with America’s finest female singers. This song, of course, is for Judy Garland.

Somewhere over the Rainbow

Listen to Somewhere over the Rainbow on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1995.


“Over The Rainbow,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

As a bit of an early Christmas present, we have two videos. The first is from Tony Bennett and the second is from the song’s lyricist, Yip Harburg.

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Song of the Day: Cloudy Morning

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 1, 2014 is “Cloudy Morning.”

About This Song

“Cloudy Morning” was written in 1958 by Marvin Fisher (music) and Joseph Allen McCarthy, Jr. (lyrics). This song is favorite of jazz and cabaret performers including Julie London, Peggy Lee and Carmen McRae.

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s album Here’s To The Ladies, in which he sings songs that are strongly identified with female singers. “Cloudy Morning” is for Carmen McRae, who recorded it in 1965 on her album Second To None. The liner notes for Here’s To The Ladies says this about Carmen McRae:

Carmen was an original. She played such sensible piano that she became her own finest accompanist. She was a great musician with impeccable taste–and courage in finding new songs to sing.

I’ve been a Carmen McRae fan for years. The first version of “A New York State Of Mind” that I ever heard was by her on her 1971 album Ms. Magic. 40+ years later, that version still thrills me as does most of her work.

http://open.spotify.com/track/14vvYjnv03hHNyCLGy1qWZ
“Cloudy Morning,” as well as the album Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Maybe This Time

The song of the day for Friday, April 25, 2014 is “Maybe This Time.”

About This Song

“Maybe This Time” was written by John Kander and Fred Ebb. It appeared in the film version of Cabaret. It was not written for the original Broadway production. Nor was it written especially for the film version; Kander and Ebb had written the song in 1963 for Kaye Ballard. It was therefore not eligible for consideration for an Academy Award. The song is, of course, widely associated with Liza Minnelli, who sang it in the film version of Cabaret.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Maybe This Time” is from Bennett’s 1995 album Here’s To The Ladies. He also recorded it in 1972 for With Love. Mr. Bennett sings this song regularly in his live concerts and it has stopped the show at every concert I’ve attended.

http://open.spotify.com/track/5fAPRVP8nsyXFYvRIuzZJ3
“Maybe This Time,” as well as the album Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Daybreak

The song of the day for Monday, March 24, 2014 is “Daybreak.”

About This Song

The music for “Daybreak” is from Ferdé Grofé’s Mississippi Suite, a classical suite, written in 1926. Lyricist Harold Adamson wrote lyrics for the last movement in the suite, entitled “Mardi Gras.” Frank Sinatra recorded the song with Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra in 19

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Daybreak” for his album Here’s To The Ladies. In this album, he recorded songs associated with many of the great singers of the American Songbook. “Daybreak” is in honor of Dinah Washington, who recorded the song on her album I Concentrate On You, released in 1960.

http://open.spotify.com/track/3EY8jNZJif3FeroSAfSlCG
“Daybreak,” as well as the album Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

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