The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Shine On Your Shoes

The song of the day for Friday, February 21, 2025, is “Shine On Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“Shine On Your Shoes” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1932 Broadway musical Flying Colors. The same song was used for the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Shine On Your Shoes” in July 1993 for his album in tribute to Fred Astaire: Steppin’ Out. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Shine On Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

Fred Astaire performed “Shine On Your Shoes” in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon. Astaire insisting on using a genuine shoe shiner for the number and Leroy Daniels, who sang and danced while he did shoeshines and worked just by the gates at MGM, was cast.

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 28, 2025, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Schwartz and Dietz. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song describes it as “… a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.” The song was used in the 1953 film The Band Wagon, where it was danced to by Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, a tribute to Fred Astaire.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

Here are Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse performing “Dancing in the Dark” from the 1953 film The Band Wagon:

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Thursday, January 2, 2025, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Steppin’ Out” won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: A Rainy Day

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 5, 2024, is “A Rainy Day.”

About This Song

“A Rainy Day” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1932 Broadway musical revue Flying Colors, which starred Clifton Webb, Patsy Kelly, Imogene Coca, and Buddy and Vilma Ebsen.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Rainy Day” in January 1986 for The Art of Excellence, the first album Bennett made with Columbia after he returned to the label. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Jorge Calandrelli.

“A Rainy Day,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 21, 2024, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Count Basie, on the anniversary of his birth in Red Bank, New Jersey on August 21, 1904. Basie collaborated with Tony Bennett on two albums: Basie Swings, Bennett Sings and In Person!

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show and was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” on January 3, 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Basie Sings, Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.