The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Baby, Dream Your Dream

The song of the day for Monday, September 26, 2022, is “Baby, Dream Your Dream.”

About This Song

“Baby, Dream Your Dream” was written by Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields for the 1966 hit musical Sweet Charity, directed by Bob Fosse and starring Gwen Verdon. “Baby, Dream Your Dream” was sung by Helen Gallagher and Thelma Oliver.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Baby, Dream Your Dream” on December 14, 1965, with an arrangement by Johnny Mandel. It was released as a single in 1966 and was included on the 1967 album For Once In My Life.

“Baby, Dream Your Dream,” as well as For Once In My Life is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: All For You

The song of the day for Friday, September 9, 2022, is “All For You.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes Susan Benedetto, Tony Bennett’s wife, a very happy birthday.

About This Song

“All For You” was written in 2004 by Tony Bennett, for a tune written in 1940 by Django Reinhardt.

Tony Bennett’s son, Danny, had long encouraged his father to write a song. While performing in Hawaii, he dropped into a small jazz club and heard the Django Reinhardt song “Nuages” and felt that he had found the right melody for the song he had in mind. He talks about the song in his book Life is a Gift: The Zen of Bennett:

I asked Danny to get hold of the family that owned the song, and they gave us an okay for me to write the lyrics, inspired by and dedicated to my wife, Susan Benedetto, which became “All for You.” And oddly enough, I wrote the lyrics in only an hour. I guess from interpreting songs for so many years, I know to stay away from trite material, and I thought it came out pretty well. Then when we were in Fresno, California, I performed it in front of an audience for the first time, and I was bowled over by their reaction; they went crazy for it. So at eighty-six, I now have my first songwriting credit.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All For You” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. Johnny Mandel wrote the arrangement.

“All For You,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Thursday, April 14, 2022, is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About This Song

“The Shadow of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster for the 1965 film The Sandpiper, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (and was my late mother’s favorite movie). It was filmed, beautifully, in Big Sur on the California coastline. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” in 1965 for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. It was arranged and conducted by the composer, Johnny Mandel.

“The Shadow of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Where Do You Start

The song of the day for Sunday, December 12, 2021, is “Where Do You Start.”

About This Song

“Where Do You Start” was written in 1987 by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. This song has had many beautiful recordings: Nancy Lamott, Shirley Horn, Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, the Brad Mehldau Trio, Annie Ross, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Where Do You Start” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

“Where Do You Start,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: All For You

The song of the day for Thursday, September 9, 2021, is “All For You.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Susan Benedetto a very happy birthday!

About This Song

Today’s song, “All For You,” is based on a song composed in 1940 by Belgian jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, “Nuages.” The song became quite popular and Reinhardt played it often with his group, Quintette du Hot Club de France, which he founded with Violinist Stephan Grappelli.

Danny Bennett, Tony’s son and manager, had suggested that Tony write a song. Tony relates:

At first I felt skeptical about it, but then I received my inspiration. After I played a concert in Hawaii, I went to hear a wonderful jazz group perform. One of their songs in particular spoke to me. When I asked the piano player for its name, he told me it was called “Nuages,” and was written by Django Reinhardt.

I asked Danny to get hold of the family that owned the song, and they gave us an okay for me to write the lyrics, inspired by and dedicated to my wife, Susan Benedetto, which became “All for You.” And oddly enough, I wrote the lyrics in only an hour. I guess from interpreting songs for so many years, I know to stay away from trite material, and I thought it came out pretty well. Then when we were in Fresno, California, I performed it in front of an audience for the first time, and I was bowled over by their reaction; they went crazy for it. So at eighty-six, I now have my first songwriting credit.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All For You” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance, featuring an arrangment by Johnny Mandel.

All For You

Listen to All For You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

“All For You,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

Et voici Django Reinhardt avec le Quintette Hot Club de France (I knew high school French would come in handy some day).

Nuages - avec le Quintette Hot Club de France

Listen to Nuages - avec le Quintette Hot Club de France on Spotify. Song · Django Reinhardt, Quintette du Hot Club de France · 1996