The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Monday, February 18, 2022, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Harold Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and led The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Time After Time

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 3, 2021, is “Time After Time.”

About This Song

“Time After Time” was written in 1947 by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn for the 1947 movie It Happened in Brooklyn, featuring Frank Sinatra. It was introduced by Sinatra and was a major hit for him. This song has been widely recorded by many artists.

In his fine book The Jazz Standards, Al Gioia quotes Jule Styne as saying “It’s a man’s song — ‘Time After Time.’ When a woman sings it, it is drained of all its power, so to speak. The girls can’t do it.”

Well, tell that to Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day, and Cyndi Lauper, all of whom made excellent recordings of today’s song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Time After Time” with the Ralph Sharon Trio for his 1992 album Perfectly Frank. With Sharon on piano, the trio rounds out with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“Time After Time,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: All Of My Life

The song of the day for Thursday, October 28, 2021, is “All Of My Life.”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “All Of My Life” in 1944. This sweet ballad expresses the yearning for a nice life with the one that you love, a message that was quite poignant for a country towards the end of World War II. This song was introduced (and made famous) by Kate Smith. Other recordings include those by Bing Crosby, Harry James, Sarah Vaughan, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All Of My Life” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin, featuring Dexter Gordon on tenor saxophone. Bennett wrote the arrangement and is accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“All Of My Life,” as well as Bennett/Berlin is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Song Is Ended

The song of the day for Friday, October 22, 2021, is “The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On).”

About This Song

“The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)” was written in 1927 by Irving Berlin, with lyrics by Beda Loehner. In his book The Tin Pan Alley Song Encyclopedia, Thomas Hischak calls this song

An Irving Berlin standard whose title has been called the theme of all popular music, a chilling number in which both the lover and the ballad that was ‘their song’ is gone; yet neither can be forgotten because they remain in one’s memory.

This song was recorded in 1927 by Ruth Etting and has remained popular over the years with recordings by Dick Haymes, Dizzy Gillespie, Jeri Southern, Dinah Washington, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat Cole, and many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On)” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and features Dizzy Gillespie on trumpet. The Ralph Sharon Trio accompanies Bennett, featuring Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

“The Song Is Ended (But The Melody Lingers On),” as well as Bennett/Berlin is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Isn’t This a Lovely Day

The song of the day for Sunday, April 4, 2021, is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day.”

About This Song

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day” was written by Irving Berlin for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoor gazebo. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This a Lovely Day” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. Backing Bennett is the Ralph Sharon Trio, featuring Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

Isn"t This a Lovely Day

Listen to Isn"t This a Lovely Day on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1987.

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites