The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 6, 2021, is “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.”

About This Song

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” (“Corcovado” in the original Portuguese) was written by Antonio Carlos Jobim in 1960; the English lyrics by Gene Lees were added later. It is one of the great early bossa nova songs. The song has a serene quiet feeling–the English title fits the mood of the song perfectly. Both Stan Getz and Miles Davis recorded jazz versions of “Quiet Nights.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, which was released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado)

Listen to Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars (Corcovado) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Saturday, March 26, 2021, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Around” was written in 1959 by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt.

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. Sadie Vimmerstedt, who lived in Youngstown, Ohio, was a big fan of Johnny Mercer’s music. She wrote the opening line ‘I want to be around to pick up the pieces when somebody breaks your heart’ and felt it sounded like a Johnny Mercer song. She mailed a letter to ‘Johnny Mercer, Songwriter, New York.’ The post office forwarded the letter to ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors, and Publishers), who got the letter to Mercer. Mercer wrote the melody himself and completed the lyrics for “I Wanna Be Around” in 1959 and asked Tony Bennett to record it, which he did in 1962. Mercer gave 50% of the profits to Ms. Vimmerstedt, which made her a wealthy woman and enabled her to retire and travel the world. It is one of the great songs in the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett r3ecorded “I Wanna Be Around” in 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

I Wanna Be Around…

Listen to I Wanna Be Around… on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“I Wanna Be Around,” as well as the album I Wanna Be Around, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Good Life

The song of the day for Monday, March 15, 2021, is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

“The Good Life” was written in 1962 by Sacha Distel, with lyrics by Jack Reardon. Originally titled “La Belle Vie,” “The Good Life” was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life;” other good recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Good Life” in 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

https://open.spotify.com/track/4MVvSNPOUd2z70vkkNCbLr?si=N_EQy4FESIigyuSA1_8fCg

“The Good Life,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Your Number

The song of the day for Saturday, March 6, 2021, is “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got Your Number” is from the 1962 Broadway musical Little Me, the second musical that Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh wrote (the first being Wildcat, written for Lucille Ball). Little Me starred Sid Caesar and Virginia Martin, both of whom introduced “I’ve Got Your Number.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Your Number” for his 1963 album I Wanna Be Around. The very good arrangement was written by Marty Manning. I especially love the trombone in this recording.

I’ve Got Your Number

Listen to I’ve Got Your Number on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“I’ve Got Your Number,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, February 13, 2021, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by two homesick songwriters, 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

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” on January 23, 1962. It was released in little over a week as a single, and was the anchor for the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco. The song was arranged by Marty Manning.

Tony Bennett won the Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and for Best Solo Vocal Performance, male, for this recording.

The San Francisco Giants play “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” after every winning game at home.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco

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

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s Tony on the Judy Garland television program, singing today’s song … Judy joins in too!

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