The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: More Than You Know

The song of the day for Sunday, September 27, 2026, is “More Than You Know.”

About Today

We are remembering composer Vincent Youmans, who was born 128 years ago on September 27, 1989. He started out as a Tin Pan Alley song plugger and a rehearsal pianist for Victor Herbert. He’s probably best known as the composer wrote No, No Nanette, which included Tear For Two” and “I Want To Be Happy.” He wrote the score for Flying Down To Rio, the first film to feature Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. He also produced Broadway musicals in the 1920s. Youmans contracted tuberculosis in 1934 and had to retire. He died in 1946.

About This Song

“More Than You Know” was written by Vincent Youmans, with lyrics by Eli Eliscu and Billy Rose, for the 1929 Broadway musical Great Day.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “More Than You Know” April 4, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“More Than You Know,” as well as My Heart Knows, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Close Your Eyes

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 30, 2026, is “Close Your Eyes.”

About This Song

“Close Your Eyes” was written in 1933 by Bernice Petkere. Petkere was named by Irving Berlin as the “Queen of Tin Pan Alley.” A vaudeville performer as a child, she sold her first song in 1931, “Starlight,” recorded by Bing Crosby. “Close Your Eyes” is her most well-known song. The song started getting jazz treatments in the 1950s, starting with a great duet from Coleman Hawkins and Milt Jackson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Close Your Eyes” on April 5, 1961, for the album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangements and conducted the entire album.

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: It Never Was You

The song of the day for Monday, April 6, 2026, is “It Never Was You.”

About This Song

“It Never Was You” was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1938 Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday, the score of which also included “September Song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Never Was You” 65 years ago on April 6, 1961, for the album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“It Never Was You,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: More Than You Know

The song of the day for Sunday, March 1, 2026, is “More Than You Know.”

About This Song

“More Than You Know” was composed in 1929 by Vincent Youmans with lyrics by Billy Rose and Edward Eliscu for the Broadway musical Great Day, which ran for only 36 performances. In spite of its poor run on Broadway, the score was considered very good and so it got sold to Hollywood, where it was to be a starring vehicle for Joan Crawford. Eight weeks into production, the film was shut down and was never released. Thankfully, this song remained popular, in many ways thanks to Fanny Brice, who was married to Billy Rose, and sang the song in her performances with the Ziegfeld Follies. It has been widely recorded by jazz and popular artists since it was written.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “More Than You Know” on April 4, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“More Than You Know,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Stella By Starlight

The song of the day for Sunday, February 8j, 2026, is “Stella By Starlight.”

About This Song

“Stella By Starlight” was composed by Victor Young for the 1944 film The Uninvited; the lyrics by Ned Washington were added in 1946. The song was recorded in 1947 by Harry James and Frank Sinatra; it has been frequently recorded ever since. It found its way as a jazz standard in the early 1950s, with recordings by Stan Getz, Bud Powell, and Stan Kenton. It ranks as the 10th most important jazz title at jazzstandards.com.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Stella By Starlight” on April 6, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“Stella By Starlight,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.