The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: All the Things You Are

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 28, 2026,is “All the Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All the Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

I discovered a quite interesting post about this history of “All The Things You Are” on the Dan Reitz Dot Blog. The post has links to several recordings of the song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett performed “All the Things You Are” live on June 9, 1962, at Carnegie Hall; the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall was released in August 1962. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“All the Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

In researching today’s song, I came across an episode of Marian McPartland‘s Piano Jazz with Stephen Sondheim, where Sondheim analyzes and deconstructs “All the Things You Are.” There’s a fair amount of music theory in the discussion, but I think you all will enjoy it.

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Song of the Day: Twilight World

The song of the day for Thursday, March 20, 2025, is “Twilight World.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is happy and proud to honor the great Marian McPartland on the anniversary of her birth on March 20, 1918. She did it all: jazz pianist, composer, author, and radio presenter. Her Piano Jazz program on NPR was the catalyst that made me a jazz fan.

About This Song

“Twilight World” was composed by Marian McPartland in 1957, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The tune itself is a lovely mid-tempo ballad, often played in a bossa nova style. The Mercer lyrics are quite good, and the combination makes for a nearly perfect jazz song. Tony Bennett said “Well, that song will last forever. It’s a beautiful song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Twilight World” on October 1, 1971, for his album With Love, released in 1972. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Twilight World,” as well as With Love, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett was McPartland’s guest on Piano Jazz in 1990. We’re very pleased to be able to include that episode in the post.

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Song of the Day: Twilight World

The song of the day for Wednesday, March 20, 2024, is “Twilight World.”

About Today

Today we remember Marian McPartland, born in Slough, England on March 20, 1918. She was a gifted pianist and composer and is probably best known as the host of Marian McPartland’s Piano Jazz on NPR from 1978 to 2011. She died on August 20, 2013, at the age of 95.

McPartland was a synesthete (a phenomenon where the sensory or cognitive pathway leads to involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive partway). McPartland experienced colors when listening to or performing music.

About This Song

“Twilight World” was written by Marian McPartland, with lyrics by Johnny Mercer, in 1957. This ballad has proven to be one of her most enduring and popular songs. The tune is a lovely mid-tempo ballad, often played in a bossa nova style. The lyrics by Johnny Mercer are quite good, and the combination makes for a nearly perfect jazz song. Tony Bennett once said “Well, that song will last forever. It’s a beautiful song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Twilight World” on October 1, 1971, for his album With Love, released in 1972. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Twilight World,” as well as With Love, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett appeared on McPartland’s Piano Jazz program twice: once in 1990 and again in 2004. Here’s the 2004 program, courtesy of National Public Radio.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 2, 2024, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it one of Kern’s finest songs, and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All The Things You Are” in 2015 for his album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Bill Charlap arranged the song and played solo piano for this recording.

“All The Things You Are,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

I found this tape of Stephen Sondheim discussing “All The Things You Are” with Marian McPartland on Sondheim’s appearance on Piano Jazz, which I found fascinating. I hope you enjoy it.

You can read more about Sondheim’s appearance on Piano Jazz in the NPR article.

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Tony Bennett on Piano Jazz

This episode aired in Fall 1990.

Setlist:

“Wait Till You See Her” (Hart, Rodgers)

“Stay as Sweet as You Are” (Gordon, Revel)

“Willow Creek” (McPartland)

“While We’re Young” (Coots, Gillespie)

“Jazz Waltz For A Friend” (Wilder)

“Let There Be Love” (Rosnes)

“Portrait of Tony Bennett” (McPartland)

“Imagination” (Burke, Van Heusen)

“Watch What Happens” (Demy, Gimbel)

“Love Is Just Around the Corner” (Gensler, Robin)

“I’ve Grown Accustomed to Your Face” (Lerner, Loewe)