The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Thursday, August 6, 2026, is “Lazy Afternoon.”

About This Song

“Lazy Afternoon” was written by Jerome Moross and John LaTouche for the 1954 musical The Golden Apple. The musical uses mythological Greek characters from Ulysses but is set in the state of Washington (at Mount Olympia, of course) in the United States. This song, as well as the entire score, is quite beautiful.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lazy Afternoon” on June 27, 1957, for The Beat of My Heart. Bennett invited many notable percussionists to play on the recordings; Chico Hamilton played for “Lazy Afternoon.” Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Lazy Afternoon,” as well as The Beat of My Heart is available on Apple Music

Here’s the recording of “Lazy Afternoon” from the original cast album of The Golden Apple. It’s sung by Kaye Ballard, who played Helen in the production.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Saturday, June 27, 2026, is “Lazy Afternoon.”

About This Song

“Lazy Afternoon” was written by Jerome Moross and John Latouche for the 1954 musical The Golden Apple, which uses mythological Greek characters from Ulysses but is set in the state of Washington (at Mount Olympia, of course) in the United States. This song, as well as the entire score, is quite beautiful.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lazy Afternoon” on June 27, 1957, for his third album, The Beat of My Heart. For this album, Bennett and Ralph Sharon (who wrote the arrangement) invited percussionists to play on the album. For “Lazy Afternoon,” Chico Hamilton played drums.

“Lazy Afternoon,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves Broadway

The playlist of the week starting May 5, 2019, is Tony Loves Broadway.

Tony Loves Broadway

Many of Bennett’s early successes were Broadway songs. This year’s Tony Award nominations have me in a Broadway kind of mood

About These Songs

Just in Time from Bells Are Ringing — 1956: Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Stranger in Paradise from Kismet — 1953: Alexander Borodin, Robert Wright, George Forrest
Lazy Afternoon from The Golden Apple — 1954: Jerome Moross, John Treville Latouche
All the Things You Are from Very Warm For May — 1939: Jerome Kern, Oscar Hammerstein
Some Other Time from On the Town — 1944: Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, Betty Comden
Baby, Dream Your Dream from Sweet Charity — 1966: Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields
The Party’s Over from Bells Are Ringing — 1956: Jule Styne, Adolph Green, Betty Comden

By 1 Comment

Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 25, 2014 is “Lazy Afternoon.”

About This Song

“Lazy Afternoon” is from the 1954 Broadway musical The Golden Apple, with music by Jerome Moross and lyrics by John LaTouche. The musical is modern retelling of parts of The Iliad and The Odyssey and is set in Washington State at Mt. Olympus. “Lazy Afternoon” was introduced by Kaye Ballard and Jonathan Lucas.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Lazy Afternoon” on his second jazz album The Beat of My Heart. Today’s version, though, is from his legendary 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall. I can’t think of a much better song on a warm summer day than this.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2EyE7Vrfj2A8LDtyAHR06l
“Lazy Afternoon,” as well Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Thursday, July 4, 2013 is “Lazy Afternoon.”

About This Song

Lazy Afternoon was written for the 1954 musical The Golden Apple by Jerome Moross and John LaTouche. The Golden Apple uses mythological Greek characters from Ulysses but set in the state of Washington (at Mount Olympia, of course) in the United States. This song, as well as the entire score, is quite beautiful. “Lazy Afternoon” was introduced by Kaye Ballard in the original production.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Lazy Afternoon” in 1957 for his third album, The Beat of My Heart. Today’s version is from his (brilliant, masterful, incredible, perfect) 1962 performance at Carnegie Hall.

http://open.spotify.com/track/2EyE7Vrfj2A8LDtyAHR06l
“Lazy Afternoon,” as well as the complete Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall album, is available from iTunes.