The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

The song of the day for Saturday, May 16, 2026, is “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars”

About This Song

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” was written in 1960 by Antonio Carlos Jobim, with English lyrics by Gene Lees. Known in the original Portuguese as “Corcovado,” this is one the great early bossa nova songs. The song has a serene quiet feeling–the English title fits the mood of the song perfectly. Both Stan Getz and Miles Davis recorded jazz versions of “Quiet Nights.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” on December 19, 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Good Life

The song of the day for Monday, February 9, 2026, is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

“The Good Life” was written in 1942 by Sacha Distel (music) and Jack Reardon (lyrics). The song was featured in the 1962 French film The Seven Deadly Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life.” Other notable recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Good Life” on December 19, 1962, for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“The Good Life,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About Today

We are celebrating one of America’s greatest lyricists: John Herndon Mercer, born in Savannah, Georgia on November 19, 1909. In addition to being a lyricist, he was also a composer, singer, and record company executive as a co-founder of Capitol Records.

You can read about Johnny Mercer at johnnymercer.org.

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Around” was written by Johnny Mercer (music and lyrics) and Sadie Vimmerstedt (lyrics).

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was angered when Frank Sinatra left his first wife for Ava Gardner in 1950. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces, when somebody breaks yours heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Wanna Be Around” on October 19, 1962, for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Someone To Love

The song of the day for Sunday, October 12, 2025, is “Someone To Love.”

About This Song

“Someone To Love” was written by Bob Warren in 1943. Warren began his music career soon after graduation from Dartmouth College in 1936. Among his songs were “Someone to Love,” and “Number Ten Lullaby Lane.” As a music arranger, he worked on the Colgate Comedy Hour in the 1950’s and was an arranger for the orchestra leaders Al Goodman and Raymond Paige.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Someone To Love” on October 12, 1962, for his album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Someone To Love,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: If You Were Mine

The song of the day for Monday, September 8, 2025, is “If You Were Mine.”

About This Song

“If You Were Mine” was written by Matty Malneck and Johnny Mercer for the 1935 musical film To Beat The Band. Billie Holiday recorded this song in 1936 with Teddy Wilson and his Orchestra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “If You Were Mine” on October 19, 1962, for I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“If You Were Mine,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the 1936 recording of “If You Were Mine” by Billie Holiday and Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra: