The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves a Piano

The playlist of the week of May 12, 2019, is Tony Loves a Piano. Some of Bennett’s finest recordings have been made with just Tony and a pianist. This week we honor some of the best of those recordings.

Tony Loves a Piano

Some of Tony Bennett's finest recordings have been with only Tony and a pianist. This week we honor some of the best of those recordings.

My Foolish Heart (Victor Young and Ned Washington) with Bill Evans
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart) with Ralph Sharon
Cold, Cold Heart (Hank Williams) with John Bunch
Some Other Time (Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green and Betty Comden) with Bill Evans
The Man That Got Away (Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin) with Ralph Sharon
A Sleepin’ Bee (Harold Arlen and Truman Capote) with Ralph Sharon
Dream Dancing (Cole Porter) with Bill Evans
One For My Baby (by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer)/It Had To Be You (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) with John Bunch
We’ll Be Together Again (Carl T. Fischer and Frankie Laine) with Bill Evans

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Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Sunday, December 30, 2018, is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had To Be You” was written in 1924 by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn. This song is a popular standard with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edwards, and Frank Sinatra. It has also be used in several films, such as Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “It Had To Be You” in 1964 with the Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low.

It Had To Be You – 2011 Remaster

It Had To Be You – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“It Had To Be You,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Saturday, June 23, 2018 is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had To Be You” was written in 1924, with music by Isham Jones and lyrics by Gus Kahn. It’s a popular standard with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edwards and Frank Sinatra. It has also be used in several fims, such as Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “It Had To Be You” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low, featuring the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass.

It Had To Be You

Listen to It Had To Be You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“It Had To Be You,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Tony Bennett is well-known for his volunteerism and charitable contributions. He is well-known for his appearances at fund raisers. Today we have a video from a televised Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon. I’m not sure of the date, but my guess it’s from the late 1970s or early 1980s.

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Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Thursday, September 28, 2017 is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had To Be You” was written in 1924 by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn. It’s been a popular song since it was written, with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edwards and Frank Sinatra. It has also been used in several films, such as Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Had To Be You” in 1994 with the Ralph Sharon Trio for his MTV Unplugged concert.

It Had To Be You - Live Version

Listen to It Had To Be You - Live Version on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1994


“It Had To Be You,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Saturday, August 12, 2017 is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “It Had To Be You,” was written in 1924 by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn. It is a popular standard with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edwards and Frank Sinatra. It has also be used in several films, such as Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded “It Had To Be You” several times. Today I’ve chosen his 1964 recording from When Lights Are Low, featuring the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums.

It Had To Be You

Listen to It Had To Be You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“It Had To Be You,” as well as When Lights Are You, is available from iTunes.

About Today

It’s Saturday again and I have a lovely video for you. It’s Tony Bennett singing today’s song, accompanied by Ralph Sharon, on television for a Muscular Dystrophy Association fund-raising program. My guess is that this was recorded sometime in the early 1980s.