The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Monday, July 13, 2020, is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“The 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. As far as I am concerned, Tony Bennett owns this song.

About This Version

Today features Bennett’s first recording of “The Rules of the Road,” made in 1961 and released on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco, released in 1962. Ralph Burns wrote the very excellent arrangement.

It appears today marks the 20th time I’ve named “The Rules of the Road” as song of the day. All I can say is that yes, I do love this song that much.

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

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 10, 2020, is “The Man That Got Away.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is celebrating America’s greatest female entertainer–Judy Garland. Judy was born as Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She died on June 22, 1969, in London, England from an overdose of barbiturates.

We’ve got lots of extra media of Miss Garland following our customary link to Tony’s recording.

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” was written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for Judy’s spectacular 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” in 1959, with Ralph Sharon, for the album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Here is Judy’s performance of our song from her concert at Carnegie Hall on April 23, 1961:

Of course, no topic about “The Man That Got Away” would be complete without the scene from A Star Is Born:

Judy Garland had a television program, The Judy Garland Show, that ran in 1962 and 1963 on CBS. My mother and I used to watch it every Sunday night. Tony Bennett appeared on the show and they sang about the city of San Francisco:

I love seeing their affection for each other in this clip.

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Song of the Day: Smile

The song of the day for Friday, March 20, 2020, is “Smile.”

About This Song

Charlie Chaplin wrote “Smile” in 1936 for his last silent film, Modern Times, which 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. The lyrics by John Turner and Geoffrey Parsons were added later.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Smile” as a single in 1959, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns. The single was included on Bennett’s 1962 album I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

“Smile,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

And here’s that beautiful scene from Modern Times, with Charles Chaplin and Paulette Goddard.

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Song of the Day: Once Upon a Time

The song of the day for Friday, February 7, 2020, 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” in 1962, featuring an arrangement by Marty Manning. In fact, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was recorded at the same session, also arranged by Marty Manning. It was decided to release the two songs on a 45 RPM single, with “Once Upon a Time” on the A-side; the thought was that “Once Upon a Time” might help sell the San Francisco song. Well, we all know how that turned out. “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” became the big hit and remains a hit to this day. I’ve been to fair number of Tony Bennett concerts and the reaction of the audience when Bennett sings “I left my heart …” is always an audible sound of love.

These two songs, as well as a number of other recordings by Bennett, were released on the 1962 album I Left My Heart In San Francisco.

“Once Upon a Time,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Friday, January 10, 2020, is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“The Rules of the Road” was written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1961. 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 “The Rules of the Road” in 1961, featuring a very fine arrangement by Ralph Burns, who also orchestrated My Heart Sings. Today’s recording was released on the 1962 album I Left My Heart in San Francisco.

“The Rules of the Road,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

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