Jimmy McHugh Archives | The Year of Tony Bennett

May 1, 2026 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: On the Sunny Side of the Street

The song of the day for Friday, May 1, 2026, is “On the Sunny Side of the Street.”

About This Song

“On the Sunny Side of the Street” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for the 1930 Lew Leslie’s International Revue. The song was one of the first in a series of cheerful songs to try to cheer people up over the Great Depression. It has proven popular with singers, who love the wonderful Fields lyrics, and jazz players, who love McHugh’s swingy tune.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “On the Sunny Side of the Street” on January 27, 1967, for Tony Makes It Happen! Marion Evans wrote the arrangement and conducted the band.

“On the Sunny Side of the Street” as well as Tony Makes It Happen! is available on Apple Music.

April 17, 2026 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Can’t Give You Anything But Love

The song of the day for Friday, April 17, 2026, is “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”

About Today

Seventy-six years ago today on April 17, 1950, Tony Bennett recorded 3 songs at his first recording session at Columbia Records. Those songs were “Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “I Wanna Be Loved,” and today’s song “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love.”

About This Song

“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields for the Blackbirds of 1928, produced by Lew Leslie. The song was the first big hit for this songwriting pair. It has been a widely recorded jazz and popular standard, with recordings by Ukulele Ike, Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Benny Goodman, Anita O’Day, and many others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love” on April 17, 1950, featuring an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was soon released as a 78 RPM single.

“I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” as well as The Columbia Singles Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

January 24, 2026 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Thought About You

The song of the day for Saturday, January 24, 2026, is “I Thought About You.”

About This Song

“I Thought About You” was written in 1939 by Jimmy McHugh and Johnny Mercer. In the biography Portrait of Johnny: The Life of John Herndon Mercer, author Gene Lees quotes Mercer about this song:

I can remember the afternoon that we wrote it. He [Van Heusen] played me the melody. I didn’t have any idea, but I had to go to Chicago that night. I think I was on the Benny Goodman program. And I got to thinking about it on the train. I was awake, I couldn’t sleep. The tune was running through my mind, and that’s when I wrote the song. On the train, really going to Chicago.

“I Thought About You” proved quite popular and has been recorded many times by jazz performers including Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hartman, Shirley Horn, Dinah Washington, and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Thought About You” in June 1992 for Perfectly Frank, his tribute to Frank Sinatra. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“I Thought About You,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Frank Sinatra‘s 1956 recording of “I Thought About You” from Songs For Swingin’ Lovers! with an arrangement by Nelson Riddle.

January 9, 2026 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Can’t Get Out Of This Mood

The song of the day for Friday, January 9, 2026, is “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood.”

About This Song

“Can’t Get Out Of This Mood” was composed by Jimmy McHugh, with lyrics by Frank Loesser for the 1942 wartime musical, Seven Day’s Leave. This torch song was introduced in the movie by Ginny Simms, with the Freddy Martin Orchestra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Can’t Get Out Of This Mood” on January 12, 1967, for Tony Makes It Happen! Marion Evans wrote the arrangement and conducted the band.

“Can’t Get Out Of This Mood” as well as Tony Makes It Happen! is available on Apple Music.