The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Thursday, March 13, 2025, 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.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” on April 6, 1961, for his album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the band.

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

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Song of the Day: My Ship

The song of the day for Sunday, February 23, 2025, is “My Ship.”

About This Song

“My Ship” was written by Kurt Weill and Ira Gershwin for the 1941 Broadway musical Lady in the Dark. Miles Davis’ recording in 1957, along with vocal versions by Jeri Southern and Sarah Vaughan, cemented this song as a jazz standard.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “My Ship” on April 6, 1961, for his album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the band. Burns set up an exceptional jazz band for the album, including musicians like Milt Hinton, Zoot Sims, and Eddie Costa.

“My Ship,” 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 Monday, February 3, 2025, is “Stella By Starlight.”

About This Song

“Stella By Starlight” was composed by Victor Young. in 1944; the lyrics by Ned Washington were added in 1946. “Stella by Starlight” was introduced in the 1944 film The Uninvited. 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 the album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangements and conducted the orchestra.

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

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Song of the Day: Close Your Eyes

The song of the day for Sunday, January 26, 2025, 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: Stella By Starlight

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 7, 2024, is “Stella By Starlight.”

About Today

My Heart Sings was released sixty-three years ago today on August 7, 1961.

About This Song

“Stella By Starlight” was composed in 1944 by Victor Young for the 1944 film The Uninvited. The lyrics by Ned Washington were added in 1946; Frank Sinatra, with Harry James, recorded it in 1947. 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 standard 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. Notable players for this recording include Milt Hinton, Chuck Wayne, Zoot Sims, Urbie Green, and Eddie Costa.

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