The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Once Upon a Summertime

The song of the day for Thursday, August 12, 2021, is “Once Upon a Summertime.”

About This Song

“Once Upon a Summertime” was composed in 1954 by Michel Legrand and Eddie Barclay, with French lyrics bby Eddie Marnay. Johnny Mercer wrote the English lyrics. Blossom Dearie recorded the first English version of “Once Upon a Summertime” in 1958 for her album of the same name. Miles Davis and Sarah Vaughan recorded it in 1963, followed by Bill Evans in 1964.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Once Upon a Summertime” in 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around. Marty Manning wrote the arrangment.

Once Upon A Summertime

Listen to Once Upon A Summertime on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“Once Upon a Summertime” as well as I Wanna Be Around is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 3, 2021, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Tony Bennett a very happy 95th birthday. This blog and our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography, were created out of love for you and your gifts to us as a singer, artist, philanthropist, and humanitarian. Thank you for giving all of your fans so many wonderful recordings and memories.

On this birthday, what other song could we feature than “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” On a side note, the composer of this song, George Cory was also born on August 3.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross in 1953.

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 first released as a single; later that year it would be the anchor of the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

(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 on Apple Music.

On July 30, 1963, Tony Bennett appeared on Episode 5 of The Judy Garland Show and sang today’s song.

Judy Garland - Tony Bennett - I Left My Heart In San Francisco

July 30, 1963: Videotaping of "Episode Five" of "The Judy Garland Show" at CBS Television City, Stage 43, Hollywood.Judy"s guests for this episode were Tony...

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Song of the Day: It Was Me

The song of the day for Monday, July 26, 2021, is “It Was Me.”

About This Song

“It Was Me” (“C’etait Moi” in the original French) was written in 1960 by Gilbert Bécaud and Maurice Vidalin; Norman Gimbel wrote the English lyrics. It’s a beautiful love song that brings memories of summers past and, maybe, to come. In 2009, Tony Bennett named this as his favorite summer song in an NPR interview.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Was Me” in 1962 for his album I Wanna Be Around, released in 1963. Marty Manning did the arrangement.

It Was Me

Listen to It Was Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1963.

“It Was Me,” as well as I Wanna Be Around is available on Apple Music.

Here’s that 2009 NPR story.

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Song of the Day: I Wanna Be Around

The song of the day for Monday, May 10, 2021, is “I Wanna Be Around.”

About This Song

“I Wanna Be Around” was written in 1950 by Johnny Mercer and Sadie Vimmerstedt.

The story of “I Wanna Be Around” is legendary in the music business. 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 yours 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 recorded “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: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 4, 2021, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About Today

Today we are remembering Douglass Cross, who wrote the lyrics for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” Cross was born on May 4, 1920, and died on January 7, 1975. He and his partner, George Cory, were from San Francisco and had moved to New York to better their chances as songwriters.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross in 1953. 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” in 1962, It first released as a single in 1962 and later that year on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

(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.

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