The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

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.

By Leave a Comment

Album of the Week: My Heart Sings

The album of the week starting on February 27, 2022, is My Heart Sings.

My Heart Sings

Tony Bennett remembers My Heart Sings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Ralph Burns and I got together again to do some singles, including “Smile,” and for our next album we changed gears again. Instead of the lush, ballad-style arrangements we had used on Hometown, My Town, we switched to a cookin’ jazz sound. The album is called My Heart Sings, and I simply love Ralph’s writing on this one. It’s really beautiful music.

This album is a preview of 1962, which was an outstanding year for Tony Bennett, including his concert at Carnegie Hall and winning his first Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

My Heart Sings was recorded in 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days: April 4, April 5, and April 6, 1961.

Album Facts

Release Date August 7, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements, Conductor Ralph Burns
Piano Bernie Leighton
Bass Milt Hinton
Drums Herb Lovelle
Guitar Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne, Mundell Lowe
Saxophone Danny Bank, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque, Jerry Sanfino
Trumpet Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen
Trombone Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak
Vibes Eddie Costa

Songs on My Heart Sings

Song Composers
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Dancing in the Dark Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
I’m Comin’ Virginia Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
My Heart Sings Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin
It Never Was You Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
You Took Advantage of Me Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Close Your Eyes Bernice Petkere
Stella By Starlight Victor Young, Ned Washington
More Than You Know Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
My Ship Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin
Lover Man Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
Toot, Toot, Tootsie Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, Dan Russo

Listen to My Heart Sings

You can also listen to My Heart Sings on

By Leave a Comment

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

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 5, 2021, 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” on October 28, 1959, and released in 1961 on the album Tony Sings For Two. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

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

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Lady is a Tramp

The song of the day for Friday, October 15, 2021, is “The Lady is a Tramp.”

About This Song

“The Lady is a Tramp” was written in 1937 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the Broadway musical Babes In Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. 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 recorded “The Lady is a Tramp” with The George Barnes – Ruby Braff Quartet in 1973 for the album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

The Lady Is A Tramp

Listen to The Lady Is A Tramp on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

“The Lady is a Tramp,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Most Beautiful Girl in the World

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 12, 2021, is “The Most Beautiful Girl in the World.”

About This Song

“The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1935 musical Jumbo. It has become a jazz and popular standard. The Dorsey Brothers Orchestra had a Top 40 hit with the song in 1953. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Most Beautiful Girl In The World” in 1973 with The George Barners – Ruby Braff Quartet. It was released in 1977 on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

The Most Beautiful Girl In The World

Listen to The Most Beautiful Girl In The World on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

“The Most Beautiful Girl in the World,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites