The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues

The song of the day for Friday, November 6, 2026, is “I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues.”

About This Song

“I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1932 for Earl Carroll’s Vanities. This song has had a lot of good recordings, including those by Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bonnie Raitt recorded “I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues” in 2001 for the album Playing’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, which was released 25 years ago on November 5, 2001. Featured on this album are Harry Allen on saxophone and Mike Melvoin on the Hammond B3 organ.

“I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues,” as well as Playing’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Alright, Okay, You Win

The song of the day for Monday, October 19, 2026, is “Alright, Okay, You Win.”

About This Song

“Alright, Okay, You Win” was written in 1955 by Sid Wyche and Mayme Watts. It was recorded in 1955 by Count Basie and several other artists, but none of them charted. Peggy Lee’s 1958 recording was more popular.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Diana Krall recorded “Alright, Okay, You Win” on May 14, 2001, for Playing’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues. The Ralph Sharon Quartet (Sharon on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass, and Clayton Cameron on bass) accompanies them. Featured musicians are Harry Allen on tenor saxophone and Mike Melvoin on organ. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements.

“Alright, Okay, You Win,” as well as Playing’ with My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, is available on Apple Music.

For you Peggy Lee fans, here’s her 1958 recording of “Alright, Okay, You Win.”

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Song of the Day: Don’t Cry Baby

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 29, 2024, is “Don’t Cry Baby.”

About This Song

“Don’t Cry Baby” was written in 1929 by James P. Johnson, Saul Bernie, and Stella Unger. Jimmy Johnson was a composer and pianist who, along with Jelly Roll Morton, came into prominence in the era between ragtime and the stride piano techniques in early jazz. Saul Bernie and Stella Unger were both composers who were active in the 1920s. It was first sung by Bessie Smith in 1929. Erskine Hawkins recorded it in 1943; this version reached #1 on the Harlem Hit Parade in 1943 and #15 on the popular charts. Etta James recorded it in 1961 as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Cry Baby” in May 2001 for his album Playin’ With My Friends. This recording features Harry Allen on saxophone and Mike Melvoin on the Hammond B3 organ.

“Don’t Cry Baby,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 13, 2023, is “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues.”

About This Song

“I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1932 Broadway show, Earl Carroll’s Vanities. It has been a blues and jazz standard ever since. Notable recordings include those by Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lean Horne, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bonnie Raitt recorded “I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues” in May 2001 for the album Playin’ With My Friends. They were accompanied by The Ralph Sharon Quartet (Sharon on piano; Gray Sargent on guitar; Paul Langosch on bass; and Cameron Clayton on drums), Mike Melvoin on the Hammond B3 organ, and Harry Allen on saxophone.

“I Gotta Right To Sing The Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Cry Baby

The song of the day for Monday, June 12, 2023, is “Don’t Cry Baby.”

About This Song

“Don’t Cry Baby” was written in 1929 by James P. Johnson, Saul Bernie, and Stella Unger. Johnson was a composer and pianist who, along with Jelly Roll Morton, came into prominence in the era between ragtime and the stride piano techniques in early jazz. Saul Bernie and Stella Unger were both composers who were active in the 1920s. It was first sung by Bessie Smith in 1929. Erskine Hawkins recorded it in 1943; this version reached #1 on the Harlem Hit Parade in 1943 and #15 on the popular charts. Etta James recorded it in 1961 as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Cry Baby” in May 2001 for his album Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Featured artists on this recording are Harry Allen on saxophone and Mike Melvoin on the Hammond B3 organ.

“Don’t Cry Baby,” as well as Playin’ Withy My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues is available on Apple Music.