The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Monday, September 19, 2016 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

“The Man That Got Away” is one of many fine recordings by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon on the 1961 album Tony Sings For Two.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Why “The Man That Got Away”?

Well, today is your author’s birthday and what better way to celebrate it than featuring my favorite song from my favorite Tony Bennett album, that it also from my favorite film? It had to be “The Man That Got Away.”

As a birthday present to myself, here’s the great Judy Garland from A Star Is Born.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Friday, June 10, 2016 is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross.

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

I love the original version from 1962. I’ll bet you all do too.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962


“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the album of the same name, is available from iTunes.

About Today

We have a birthday to celebrate today. Judy Garland was born 94 years ago on June 10, 1922 in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. In honor of her birthday, we have this nice video with her good friend Tony Bennett.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Friday, April 8, 2016 is “Over The Rainbow.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Over The Rainbow,” was written in 1939 by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Yip Harburg. Probably the most widely known of all Arlen’s and Harburg’s songs, “Over The Rainbow” is from the great Wizard Of Oz. Interestingly, the producers wanted to cut the song from the film, as they felt it slowed downed 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 has recorded today’s song twice. Today, we feature his 1995 version from Here’s To The Ladies, where Bennett sings the songs most associated with the great female vocalists who sing from the American songbook. “Over The Rainbow” is, of course, for Jdy Garland. If you haven’t listened to this album lately, I heartily recommend it.

Somewhere over the Rainbow

Listen to Somewhere over the Rainbow on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1995


“Over The Rainbow,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The lyricist of today’s song, Yip Harburg, was born on April 8, 1896 in New York. I strongly assert that he is one of America’s greatest lyricists. Even though he was born 120 years ago, his lyrics are as fresh and meaningly now as they were early in the 20th century. He is truly one of America’s finest talents.

I know that I’ve featured this video many times, but I love it so much I give it to you again.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Saturday, February 20, 2016 is “Over The Rainbow.”

About This Song

“Over The Rainbow” was written in 1939 for The Wizard of Oz by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg and is probably the most widely known of all Arlen’s songs. Interestingly, the producers wanted to cut the song from the film, as they felt it slowed downed 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.”

I’d like to dedicate this song to my brother, Tom, and remind him that:

When all the world is a hopeless jumble
And the raindrops tumble, all around
Heaven opens a magic lane

When all the clouds darken up the sky way
There’s a rainbow highway to be found
Leading from your window pane
To a place behind the sun
Just a step beyond the rain

About This Version

Today I’m featuring Tony’s recording of this song from his 1960 Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. The beautiful arrangement is by Glenn Osser.

Over The Rainbow

Tony Bennett · Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen · Song · 1960


“Over The Rainbow,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available from iTunes.

About Today

I’ve shown this video before, but I love it so much I have to offer it again. Ladies and gentlemen: Yip Harburg.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Monday, February 15, 2015 is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Ira Gershwin, in 1953 for the Judy Garland version of A Star Is Born, co-starring James Mason. Garland’s 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.

The song is ranked #11 on the American Film Institute’s list of best movie songs. For reasons that completely evade me, “Three Coins In A Fountain” won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Oh well, to each his/her own.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon on their extraordinary album of standards Tony Sings For Two. Recorded in one session, with just Bennett and Sharon and a briefcase of sheet music, one of the greatest albums of songs from the American Songbook was recorded. Every time I listen to this album, which I do frequently, I am amazed all over again by the artistry and heart in every note.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Harold Arlen

Harold Arlen was born 111 years ago today on February 15, 1905 in Buffalo, New York and was son of a cantor. Rather than summarize his life and amazing career, I would like to point you to his official website haroldarlen.com, managed by his son Sam Arlen. The site has many wonderful resources and information about our songwriter of the month.

So far this year, we’ve looked at Jerome Kern, born in 1885, and Harold Arlen, born in 1905. I can only speak for myself, but the songs by these two greats sound, in almost all cases, just as fresh and relevant and they did when they were written some 50 to 80 years ago. I grew up listening to these songs (thanks Mom) and except for a brief college flirtation with late 1960s rock music, the American Songbook has been my touchstone for my entire life.

Naturally, it’s no wonder that I fell in love with the voice of Tony Bennett, who has devoted his professional life to these wonderful songs that I, and many others, love so much.

So, Happy Birthday to Harold Arlen.

As our song of the day is “The Man That Got Away,” here’s a little something special.