The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

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.

By Leave a Comment

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.

By Leave a Comment

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.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Saturday, January 3. 2026, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Schwartz and Dietz. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song describes it as “a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.” The song was also used in the 1953 film The Band Wagon, starring Fred Astaire.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” on April 6, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangements and conducted the band, which contained several noted musicians, including Milt Hinton, Chuck Wayne, and Eddie Costa.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

Here are Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse performing “Dancing in the Dark” from the 1953 film The Band Wagon. I think it’s one of Astaire’s finest dance numbers.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Stella By Starlight

The song of the day for Monday, December 1, 2025, is “Stella By Starlight.”

About This Song

“Stella By Starlight” was composed by Victor Young in 1944 for the film The Uninvited. The lyrics by Ned Washington were added in 1947. 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 arrangements and conducted the band.

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