The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 27, 2026, is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

“This Can’t Be Love” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse. It is one of their most joyous and least ironic love songs. Both Benny Goodman and Eddy Duchin recorded the song in the late 1930s. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording here, “This Can’t Be Love” has also been recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded “This Can’t Be Love” in July 1973. The recording was originally released in Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs; additional songs recorded at that session were released on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart. Songs from both albums, as well as some alternate takes were released on Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook by Concord Records in 1986.

“This Can’t Be Love,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Wish I Were in Love Again

The song of the day for Saturday, May 2, 2026, is “I Wish I Were in Love Again.”

About Today

We remember Lorenz Hart, who was born 131 years ago on May 2, 1985. He began working with Richard Rodgers in 1919 and they worked together until Hart’s death in 1943. They had their first big hit, “Manhattan,” written for The Garrick Gaieties in 1925. Rodgers and Hart wrote 26 musicals over their partnership, ending with the 1942 By Jupiter.

About This Song

“I Wish I Were in Love Again” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1937 musical Babes in Arms. It was a favorite song of Judy Garland, who recorded it in 1940. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Stacey Kent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded “I Wish I Were in Love Again” in July 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

“I Wish I Were in Love Again,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Where or When

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 14, 2026, is “Where or When.”

About This Song

“Where or When” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 musical Babes in Arms. Benny Goodman recorded “Where or When” in 1941 with a very young Peggy Lee. It is a favorite song of many vocalists and has had many fine recordings.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Ralph Sharon on, piano, recorded “Where or When” on October 28, 1959, for the album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.

“Where or When,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Falling In Love with Love

The song of the day for Thursday, January 80, 2026, is “Falling In Love with Love.”

About This Song

“Falling In Love with Love” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse, pairs a beautiful Rodgers waltz melody with the adult and rather somber lyric by Hart: in other words, a perfect Rodgers and Hart song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Falling In Love with Love” on February 19, 1965, featuring an arrangement by Don Costa. The song was released in 1997 for he CD re-release of the album If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set.

“Falling In Love with Love,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, is “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me.”

About This Song

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1942 Broadway musical By Jupiter. Directed by Joshua Logan, it starred Ray Bolger, Vera-Ellen and Constance Moore. It was their last full-length work. In American Popular Music, Alec Wilder called this song “one of the loveliest songs Rodgers or any other theater writer has ever written. In the area of this form of music it is a masterpiece.”

About This Version

In 1959, Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon decided to create an intimate piano-vocal album. Bennett relates:

We booked time in 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.

One of those songs was “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me,” recorded 66 years ago on October 28, 1959. Tony Sings For Two was released in 1961. It was the last Tony Bennett album produced by Mitch Miller.

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.