The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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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: Day In, Day Out

The song of the day for Saturday, November 21, 2020, is “Day In, Day Out.”

About This Song

“Day In, Day Out,” written by Rube Bloom and Johnny Mercer, has been a favorite of vocalists since it was written in 1939. The tune itself is also rather unusual at 56 measures long. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder notes that “the melodic line soared and moved across the page like a lovely brush stroke. And it had, remarkable for any pop song, passion.” It has been recorded by many of the finest vocalists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, and Margaret Whiting.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day In, Day Out” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Day In, Day Out

Listen to Day In, Day Out on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1992.

“Day In, Day Out,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Trav’lin’ Light

The song of the day for Friday, November 20, 2020, is “Trav’lin’ Light.”

About This Song

“Trav’lin’ Light” was written in 1942 by Trummy Young and Jimmy Mundy, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. This wonderful song was first recorded by Paul Whiteman with Billie Holiday on vocals. It’s a wonderful, classic Mercer lyric and the tune is lovely. In addition to this recording, this song has been recorded by Anita O’Day, Peggy Lee, Queen Latifah, Shirley Horn, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Trav’lin’ Light” in 1996 for his 1997 album Tony Bennett On Holiday. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement.

Trav’lin’ Light

Listen to Trav’lin’ Light on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1997.

“Trav’lin’ Light,” as well as Tony Bennett On Holiday:, is available from Apple Music.

And while you’re here, this is Billie Holiday with the Paul Whiteman and His Orchestra:

Trav’lin’ Light

Listen to Trav’lin’ Light on Spotify. Paul Whiteman & His Orchestra · Song · 2008.

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)

The song of the day for Thursday, November 19, 2020, is “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road).”

About This Song

“One For The Road” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1943 film The Sky’s The Limit, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Harold Arlen called this song one of his “tapeworms” as at 48 bars, it was longer than the standard 32 bar popular song. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, says that “the honors must go the lyric. … Just imagine having the acuity and courage to start a song, as Mercer does, with “It’s a quarter to three”!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” for his 1992 album Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)

Listen to One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1992.

“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road),” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Out Of This World

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 18, 2020, is “Out Of This World.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the birthday of one of the great songwriters — John Herndon Mercer, born on November 18, 1909, in Savannah, Georgia. I think the Great American Songbook might not have been as great if Johnny Mercer hadn’t become a songwriter. We’ll be featuring songs written by Johnny Mercer for the next week or so.

About This Song

“Out Of This World” was written in 1944 by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the film of the same name. Out Of This World starred Eddie Bracken; however, Bing Crosby dubbed the vocals for Bracken and introduced the song. Alec Wilder was a fan of this song, praising its ethereal quality and the excellent lyrics by Mercer.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Out Of This World” in 1964 with a world-class jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). This recording, as well as others recorded with this quartet, was not released on an album. However, these songs were included in the 2011 Complete Collection box set on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

Out of This World

Listen to Out of This World on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2012.

“Out Of This World,” as well as the other recordings on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from Apple Music.

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