The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Thursday, September 19, 2024, is “Rules of the Road.”

About Today

Today is your author’s birthday, and so I am featuring my most favorite Tony Bennett: “Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“Rules of the Road” was written in 1961 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole, and Rosemary Clooney.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Rules of the Road” on April 6, 1961. It was initially released as a single and added to his 1962 album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“Rules of the Road,” as well as I Left My Heart In San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Tender is the Night

The song of the day for Friday, September 6, 2024, is “Tender Is The Night.”

About This Song

“Tender is the Night” was written by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster for the 1962 film of the same name, based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. The film starred Jason Robards and Jennifer Jones. “Tender Is the Night” received an Oscar nomination for Best Song, but lost to “Days of Wine and Roses” by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. I remember watching this film on Sunday Night at the Movies when I was a kid.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Tender is the Night” on September 6, 1961, for the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“Tender Is The Night,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Smile

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 14, 2024, is “Smile.”

About This Song

“Smile” was written in 1936 by Charlie Chaplin for his last silent film, Modern Times. John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons wrote the lyrics, which were added later. The final scene of the film shows Chaplin and his costar Paulette Goddard, walking hand-in-hand up the road as the sun rises and as this song plays, in one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Smile” on June 24, 1959, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns. It was released as a single in 1959; the recording was added to the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, released in 1962.

“Smile,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the ending of Modern Times with Paulette Goddard and Charlie Chaplin:

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Song of the Day: Once Upon a Time

The song of the day for Sunday, February 4, 2024, is “Once Upon a Time.”

About This Song

“Once Upon a Time” was written by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams for the 1962 Ray Bolger musical All American, where it was introduced by Bolger and Eileen Herlie. While the musical was not a major smash hit, the song is quite lovely. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording, it was also recorded by Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams, Howard Keel, Bobby Darrin, and Mandy Patinkin.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Once Upon a Time” on January 23, 1962, at the same session when he recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” arranged by Marty Manning. “Once Upon a Time” was originally released on A-side of a 45 single, with “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” relegated to the B-side. Later that year, both songs were released on the album, I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

“Once Upon a Time,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 23, 2024, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross, two homesick San Franciscans.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience.

After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It was his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” on January 23, 1962. It was first released as a single; after it became popular it was released on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco, released on June 18, 1962.

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the albumI Left My Heart In San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Tony singing “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” accompanied by Ralph Sharon, from the Ed Sullivan Show, aired on November 22, 1964.

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