The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 18, 2026, is “A Sleepin’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleepin’ Bee” was written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote for the 1954 musical House of Flowers, based on the Truman Capote novella. Set in Haiti, the production featured a trio of steel drummers (more precisely known as pannists) from Trinidad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon recorded “A Sleepin’ Bee” on October 28, 1959, for their album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961. The album used just voice and piano; no other instruments were used. They came to the session with a briefcase of music; they’d pick a song, set the key, and record in just one or two takes. They recorded 16 songs at that session, 12 of which were released on Tony Sings For Two.

“A Sleepin’ Bee,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Saturday, March 8, 2025, is “Don’t Like Goodbyes.”

About This Song

“Don’t Like Goodbyes” was composed by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers, based on Capote’s novella of the same name. The song was introduced by Pearl Bailey. While the musical was not well-reviewed, the Arlen-Capote score is quite wonderful, including not only today’s song but the exquisite “A Sleepin’ Bee,” which Tony Bennett has recorded twice (in 1959 for Tony Sings For Two and at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert). “Don’t Like Goodbyes” has been recorded by Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement.

The Art of Romance won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Monday, June 17, 2024, is “Don’t Like Goodbyes.”

About This Song

“Don’t Like Goodbyes” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers, based on Capote’s novella of the same name. The song was introduced by Pearl Bailey. While the musical was not well-reviewed, the Arlen-Capote score is quite wonderful, including not only today’s song but the exquisite “A Sleepin’ Bee,” which Tony Bennett has recorded twice (in 1959 for Tony Sings For Two and at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert). “Don’t Like Goodbyes” has been recorded by Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” in 2004 for the album The Art of Romance. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrabgenebt,

“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Monday, April 11, 2022, is “Don’t Like Goodbyes.”

About This Song

“Don’t Like Goodbyes” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers, based on Capote’s novella of the same name. The song was introduced by Pearl Bailey. While the musical was not well-reviewed, the Arlen-Capote score is quite wonderful, including not only today’s song but the exquisite “A Sleepin’ Bee,” which Tony Bennett has recorded twice (in 1959 for Tony Sings For Two and at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert). “Don’t Like Goodbyes” has been recorded by Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” in 2004 for his wonderful album The Art of Romance. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

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Album of the Week: Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen

The album of the week starting on February 12, 2022, is Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen.

Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen was Tony Bennett’s first album dedicated to a composer and that composer was one of his favorites: Harold Arlen. The orchestral arrangements are quite beautiful. Bennett remembers this album in The Good Life:

Later on that year I did my first, and for many years my only, songbook album, A String of Harold Arlen. The son of a cantor, Harold grew up in Buffalo. He became the musical director of the Cotton Club and originally wrote many jazz compositions. But his pop songs were dramatic and right up my alley. Arlen was known for the jazzy quality of his melodies, but Mitch thought it would be novel to give his songs a lush, symphonic treatment. He brought in Glenn Osser, a veteran record and show orchestrator, and his charts were just right. I felt free singing to Glenn’s arrangements. We used a big orchestra of mainly classical players, and they really enjoyed the recording session. That’s the only album I ever made where the musicians actually applauded after each take.

 

Album Facts

Release Date March 30, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Mitch Miller
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements Glenn Osser

Listen to Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen

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