• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

May 3, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 4, 2022, is “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.”

About This Song

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” (“Corcovado” in the original Portuguese) written by Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1960 is one of the great early bossa nova songs. The English lyrics were written by Gene Lees. 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” for his 1963 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.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Corcovado, Gene Lees, I Wanna Be Around, Marty Manning, Tony Bennett

April 22, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Good Life

The song of the day for Saturday, April 23, 2022, is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

“The Good Life” was written in 1962 by Sacha Dietel and Jack Reardon. Originally titled “La Belle Vie,” the song was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Though the song is widely identified with Tony Bennett, other fine recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carman 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” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: I Wanna Be Around, Jack Reardon, Marty Manning, Sacha Distel, Tony Bennett

February 2, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Thursday, February 3, 2022, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Around” was written in 1959 by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt.

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody breaks your 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” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: I Wanna Be Around, Johnny Mercer, Marty Manning, Sadie Vimmerstedt, Tony Bennett

August 11, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Once Upon a Summertime

The song of the day for Thursday, August 12, 2021, is “Once Upon a Summertime.”

About This Song

“Once Upon a Summertime” was composed in 1954 by Michel Legrand and Eddie Barclay, with French lyrics bby Eddie Marnay. Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics. Blossom Dearie recorded the first English version of “Once Upon a Summertime” in 1958 for her album of the same name. Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan recorded it in 1963, followed by Bill Evans in 1964.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Once Upon a Summertime” in 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning wrote the arrangment.

Once Upon A Summertime

Listen to Once Upon A Summertime on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“Once Upon a Summertime” as well as I Wanna Be Around is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Eddie Barclary, Eddie Marnay, I Wanna Be Around, Johnny Mercer, Marty Manning, Michel Legrand, Tony Bennett

July 25, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: It Was Me

The song of the day for Monday, July 26, 2021, is “It Was Me.”

About This Song

“It Was Me” (“C’etait Moi” in the original French) was written in 1960 by Gilbert Bécaud and Maurice Vidalin; Norman Gimbel wrote the English lyrics. It’s a beautiful love song that brings memories of summers past and, maybe, to come. In 2009, Tony Bennett named this as his favorite summer song in an NPR interview.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Was Me” in 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning did the arrangement.

It Was Me

Listen to It Was Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

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

Here’s that 2009 NPR story.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Gilbert Becaud, I Wanna Be Around, Marty Manning, Maurice Vidalin, Norman Gimbel, Tony Bennett

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 12
  • Next Page »

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites

  • Song of the Day: The Good Life
  • Song of the Day: Once Upon a Time
  • Song of the Day: The Right To Love
  • Song of the Day: Yesterday I Heard The Rain
  • Song of the Day: Love, Look Away
  • Song of the Day: Return To Me (Regresa a Mi)
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2022 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress

Posting....