The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Saturday, April 11, 2026, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written in 1942 by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the Sonja Henie film Iceland, starring Miss Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” on December 28, 1958, for his second album with Basie, In Person! Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as In Person! is available on Apple Music.

We have Bennett’s live improv with The Dave Brubeck Trio (Brubeck on piano, Eugene Wright on bass, and Joe Morello on drums) of “There Will Never Be Another You” from Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, released in 2013.

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Song of the Day: Taking A Chance On Love

The song of the day for Monday, March 23, 2026, is “Taking A Chance On Love.”

About This Song

“Taking A Chance On Love” was written by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John LaTouche and Ted Fetter, for the 1940 musical Cabin in the Sky, where it was introduced by the great Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song works well for both jazz singers and instrumentalists, with significant recordings by Benny Goodman, Dave Brubeck, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Taking A Chance On Love” on December 30, 1958, for his 1959 album In Person! Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Taking A Chance On Love,” as well as In Person! is available on Apple Music.

We have a nice video of “Taking A Chance On Love” from the 1943 film of Cabin In The Sky, with Ethel Waters and Eddie Anderson:

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Song of the Day: Lost in the Stars

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 6, 2025, is “Lost in the Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars” was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1949 musical Lost in the Stars. The musical was based on Cry, the Beloved Country, by Alan Paton (I was assigned to read this book as a ninth grader in Birmingham, Alabama, during the 1960s; somehow, I doubt this book is being assigned to many students in Alabama these days). The book and the musical were set in South Africa during the height of apartheid. The plot concerns a black priest whose son kills, in a robbery attempt, a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lost in the Stars” on December 22, 1958, for the album In Person!, released in 1959, and recorded with Count Basie and His Band. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Lost in the Stars” as well as In Person is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Sunday, June 22, 2025, is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

“There Will Never Be Another You” was written by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon for the 1942 film Iceland, starring Sonja Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill. Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “There Will Never Be Another You” on December 30, 1958, for the 1959 album In Person! Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement. The musicians playing with Basie include Eddie Jones, Sonny Payne, Freddie Green, and Thad Jones.

“There Will Never Be Another You” as well as In Person! is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Pennies From Heaven

The song of the day for Sunday, March 23, 2024, is “Pennies From Heaven.”

About This Song

“Pennies From Heaven” was written in 1936 by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke. The song was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 film of the same name. It’s one of the classic Great Depression songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Pennies From Heaven” on December 30, 1958, for the 1959 album In Person! It was originally planned to be a live album and was recorded on November 28, 1958, at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia. However, the tape from the concert had poor quality and couldn’t be used, so the entire album was re-recorded at the CBS 30th Street Studio.

“Pennies From Heaven,” as well as In Person! is available on Apple Music.