The Judy Garland Show, Episode 5
CBS Television City, Stage 43, Hollywood, CA
July 30, 1963
Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco
The song of the day for Tuesday, July 30, 2024, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”
About This Song
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by Douglass Cross and George Cory. This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, I Left My Heart in San Francisco was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually,
I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.
About This Version
On July 30, 1963, Tony Bennett appeared as a guest on The Judy Garland Show on CBS and they sang a duet of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”
Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away
The song of the day for Monday, May 13, 2024, is “The Man That Got Away.”
About This Song
“The Man That Got Away” was written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for Judy Garland to sing in the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” on October 28, 1959, for the album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
In his autobiography, Bennett shared this memory about making Tony Sings For Two:
I always wanted to be unpredictable, and so for my next project, I decided to go in the opposite direction from the big orchestral albums I’d been doing lately and cut an intimate piano-vocal album with Ralph Sharon. We booked time at the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes—which must be some kind of record—twelve of which made it onto the album, which became 1961’s Tony Sings For Two. Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw that there was no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings For Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.
“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.
Here’s Judy Garland’s incredible performance of “The Man That Got Away” from A Star Is Born.
Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow
The song of the day for Monday, April 8, 2024, is “Over The Rainbow.”
About Today
Today we are celebrating the great E.Y. “Yip” Harburg, who was born 128 years ago today on April 6, 1896. Yip Harburg was one of America’s most gifted lyricists, known for songs including “Brother, Can You Spare a Dime,” “April in Paris,” “It’s Only a Paper Moon,” and, most famously, “Over The Rainbow” from The Wizard of Oz.
About This Song
“Over The Rainbow” was written in 1939 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Probably the most widely known of all Arlen’s and Harburg’s songs, “Over The Rainbow” is from the The Wizard Of Oz. Interestingly, the producers wanted to cut the song from the film, as they felt it slowed down the movie. Thankfully, the preview audiences preferred the movie with the song.
“Over The Rainbow” ranked as the #1 song of the 20th century per the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment of the Arts. The song has always been closely associated with Judy Garland. In a letter to Harold Arlen, Judy Garland wrote that the song has become part of my life. It’s so symbolic of everybody’s dreams and wishes that I’m sure that’s why some people get tears in their eyes when they hear it. I’ve sung it thousands of times and it’s still the song that’s closest to my heart.”
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “Over The Rainbow” in July 1995 for Here’s To The Ladies, in tribute to Judy Garland. It was arranged and conducted by Bill Holman.
“Over The Rainbow,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.
In 1979, Yip Harburg appeared in a television program about the art of songwriting. Here’s an excerpt from that program.
Song of the Day: By Myself
The song of the day for Sunday, March 3, 2024, is “By Myself.”
About This Song
“By Myself” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 musical Between the Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. Another great Schwartz-Dietz song from Between the Devil was “I See Your Face Before Me.” This song was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” on November 3, 1958, for his album Hometown, My Town, which was released in 1959. Ralph Burns arranged the song and conducted the orchestra.
“By Myself,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available on Apple Music.
I came across a video of Judy Garland singing “By Myself” in 1964 for her television show. She brings down the house with this performance.
- 1
- 2
- 3
- …
- 15
- Next Page »