The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Falling In Love With Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 21, 2022, is “Falling In Love With Love.”

About This Song

“Falling In Love With Love” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1938 for the Broadway musical The Boys of Syracuse, pairs a beautiful Rodgers waltz melody with the adult and a 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. This recording was not included on the original 1965 release of If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, but was (thankfully) used on the 1997 CD re-release.

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

I’ve recently fallen in love with the score of The Boys From Syracuse, specifically the 1997 Encores! Concert, starring the late Rebecca Luker. Here is today’s song and another song that I’m completely over the moon for.

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Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 2, 2022, is “Blue Moon”

About This Song

“Blue Moon” was written in 1933 by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart. The tune first appeared in the 1934 film Manhattan Melodrama, though with a completely different lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Moon” on on June 19, 1957, and released the following year as a single. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“Blue Moon” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 5 is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Sunday, May 1, 2022, is “Nobody’s Heart Belongs to Me.”

About This Song

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the musical By Jupiter in 1942. 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

Tony Bennett recorded “Nobody’s Heart Belongs to Me” in 1959 with just Bennett and Ralph Sharon. The intended album, Tony Sings For Two, was released in 1961.

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

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Monday, April 25, 2022, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in 1973 with the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which feature Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The recording was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Lady Is A Tramp

The song of the day for Monday, March 28, 2022, is “The Lady Is A Tramp.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is very pleased to wish Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (known professionally as Lady Gaga) a very happy birthday. Lady Gaga was born on March 28, 1986. Happy birthday!!

About This Song

“The Lady Is A Tramp” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1937 for the Broadway musical Babes In Arms. The song was meant as a spoof on the high society of New York, where the singer is clear about what she likes to do, no matter what everyone else is doing. “The Lady Is A Tramp” has been sung by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne. More recently, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sang a duet of this song on their 2011 album “Duets II.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “The Lady Is A Tramp” for the 2011 album Duets II. The terrific arrangement was written by our good friend Marion Evans.

“The Lady Is A Tramp,” as well as Duets II is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the video from the recording session.

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