The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Darn That Dream

The song of the day for Thursday, January 7, 2021, is “Darn That Dream.”

About This Song

“Darn That Dream” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Eddie DeLange for the 1939 musical Swingin’ the Dream, an adaptation of Shakespeare’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream. The cast had many big names: Louis Armstrong playing Bottom, Maxine Sullivan as Titania, Bill Bailey, and Dorothy Dandridge. It only ran for 13 performances and is considered to be a flop. Fortunately, “Darn That Dream” proved to be a big hit and earned some money for the investors.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Darn That Dream” in 1954 for his first jazz album, Cloud 7, released in 1955. Chuck Wayne wrote the arrangement.

Darn That Dream

Listen to Darn That Dream on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1955.

“Darn That Dream,” as well as Cloud 7, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Nancy

The song of the day for Saturday, December 12, 2020, is “Nancy.”

About Today

We are celebrating the anniversary of the birth of Francis Albert Sinatra, born in Hoboken, New Jersey, on December 15, 1915. There’s a great Sinatra website at sinatra.com, where you can learn more about Sinatra, purchase his music (CD, Vinyl, and digital) and branded souvenirs (mugs, flasks, caps, t-shirts, onesies, hoodies, journals … well you get the idea).

About This Song

“Nancy” was written in 1942 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Phil Silvers. In 1942, Van Heusen, along with Johnny Burke, was in Palm Springs working on the score for a film. The comedian Phil Silvers dropped by and suggested that they write a song for Van Heusen’s wife Bessie, whose birthday they would be celebrating soon. “Bessie, with the laughing face”, was well-received and the pair would often sing it at birthday celebrations for other women. A bit later, at the birthday party for Sinatra’s daughter Nancy, they sang the song again, this time using “Nancy, with the laughing face.” Sinatra was quite moved, thinking that the song had been written especially for him and his daughter and the songwriters let him think that. Frank Sinatra first recorded “Nancy” in 1944.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nancy” in 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank, a tribute to Frank Sinatra. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Nancy

Listen to Nancy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1992.

“Nancy,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

Of course, I have to add Sinatra’s 1944 recording of “Nancy.”

Nancy (With the Laughing Face) – 78rpm Version

Listen to Nancy (With the Laughing Face) – 78rpm Version on Spotify. Frank Sinatra · Song · 1944.

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 24, 2020, is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for the 1947 movie The Road to Rio, where it was introduced by Bing Crosby. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and a duet version with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “But Beautiful” in 1975 for their first album: The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

But Beautiful

Listen to But Beautiful on Spotify. Bill Evans · Song · 1975.

“But Beautiful,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Thought About You

The song of the day for Sunday, November 22, 2020, is “I Thought About You.”

About This Song

“I Thought About You” was written in 1939 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer. n 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 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

I Thought About You

Listen to I Thought About You on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1992.

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

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 18, 2020, is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “But Beautiful” for their first album, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, released in 1975.

“But Beautiful,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from Apple Music.

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