The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nice Work If You Can Get It

The song of the day for Saturday, May 10, 2025, is “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

About Today

We are celebrating Fred Astaire, who was born on May 10, 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska.

About This Song

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” was composed by George Gershwin, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film Damsels in Distress. Fred Astaire introduced the song in the film, in a dance with a drum kit. The song has been widely recorded by artists including Astaire, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nice Work If You Can Get It” in May 1993 for his 1993 album Steppin’ Out, a tribute album to Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Steppin’ Out won

“Nice Work If You Can Get It,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Fred Astaire, performing “Nice Work If You Can Get It” from Damsels in Distress, released in 1937.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Long Ago and Far Away

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 9, 1958, is “Long Ago and Far Away.”

About This Song

“Long Ago and Far Away” was written by Jerome Kern and Ira Gershwin for the 1944 film musical Cover Girl, starring Rita Hayworth and Gene Kelly. In the film, the song was sung by Rita Hayworth to Gene Kelly. At the time of movie’s release, there were four versions of the song that all charted at the same time by Dick Haymes and Helen Forrest, Bing Crosby, Jo Stafford, and Perry Como.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Long Ago and Far Away” 67 years ago today on April 9, 1958, for the album Long Ago and Far Away. Frank DeVol wrote the arrangement and conducted the Frank DeVol Orchestra.

“Long Ago and Far Away,” as well as Long Ago and Far Away, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: My Ship

The song of the day for Sunday, February 23, 2025, is “My Ship.”

About This Song

“My Ship” was written by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin for the 1941 Broadway musical Lady in the Dark. Miles Davis’ recording in 1957, along with vocal versions by Jeri Southern and Sarah Vaughan, cemented this song as a jazz standard.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “My Ship” on April 6, 1961, for his album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the band. Burns set up an exceptional jazz band for the album, including musicians like Milt Hinton, Zoot Sims, and Eddie Costa.

“My Ship,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Thursday, February 6, 2025, is “The Man That Got Away.”

About Today

Today’s song is from Tony Sings For Two, which was released 64 years ago today on February 6, 1961.

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” was written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for Judy Garland for the 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” on October 28, 1959, for his album with Ralph Sharon, Tony Sings For Two, released on February 6, 1961. Bennett told the story of this album in his autobiography, The Good Life.

I always wanted to be unpredictable, and so for my next project, I decided to go in the opposite direction from the big orchestral albums I’d been doing lately and cut an intimate piano-vocal album with Ralph Sharon. We booked time at the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes—which must be some kind of record—twelve of which made it onto the album, which became 1961’s Tony Sings For Two. Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw that there was no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings For Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the scene from A Star Is Born. Judy Garland was 32 years old:

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nice Work If You Can Get It

The song of the day for Saturday, November 30, 2024, is “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

About This Song

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 movie A Damsel In Distress, starring Fred Astaire, who introduced the song. It has been widely recorded by artists including Astaire, Bing Crosby, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Love Is Here To Stay. Bill Charlap wrote the arrangement. The Bill Charlap accompanied the album with Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums.

Love Is Here To Stay won the 61st Grammy Best Traditional Pop Album Award.

“Nice Work If You Can Get It,” as well as Love Is Here To Stay, is available on Apple Music.

Here is Fred Astaire dancing to “Nice Work If You Can Get It” from A Damsel In Distress.