The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Friday, January 31, 2025, is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About Today

We’re featuring the release of Tony Bennett’s favorite of his albums, The Movie Song Album, which was released on January 31, 1966.

About This Song

“The Shadow of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster for the 1965 film The Sandpiper, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was filmed, beautifully, in Big Sur on the California coastline. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. To this day, Tony Bennett sings this song in his concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” on September 26, 1965, for The Movie Song Album. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel and featured Jimmy Rowles on piano.

“The Shadow of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 24, 2024, is “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good).”

About This Song

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” (originally titled ‘I Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)’)was written by Duke Ellington and Paul Francis Webster in 1941. It was written for Ivie Anderson to sing in a revue called Jump For Joy. Anderson also recorded the song in 1941 with Johnny Hodges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good)” in May 1999 for his album Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement, which features Wynton Marsalis on trumpet and Al Grey on trombone.

“She’s Got It Bad (And That Ain’t Good),” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot And Cool, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the Ivie Anderson 1941 recording with Johnny Hodges:

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Song of the Day: Tender is the Night

The song of the day for Friday, September 6, 2024, is “Tender Is The Night.”

About This Song

“Tender is the Night” was written by Sammy Fain and Paul Francis Webster for the 1962 film of the same name, based on the F. Scott Fitzgerald novel. The film starred Jason Robards and Jennifer Jones. “Tender Is the Night” received an Oscar nomination for Best Song, but lost to “Days of Wine and Roses” by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer. I remember watching this film on Sunday Night at the Movies when I was a kid.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Tender is the Night” on September 6, 1961, for the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“Tender Is The Night,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Monday, July 1, 2024, is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About This Song

“The Shadow of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster in 1965 for the 1965 film The Sandpiper, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (and was my late mother’s favorite movie). It was filmed, beautifully, in Big Sur on the California coastline. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” on September 26, 1965, for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. Johnny Mandel wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra. The pianist for this recording was Jimmy Rowles.

“The Shadow of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Shadow Of Your Smile

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 11, 2023, is “The Shadow Of Your Smile.”

About This Song

“The Shadow Of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster as the main love theme from the 1965 film The Sandpiper, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor (and was my late mother’s favorite movie). It was filmed, beautifully, in Big Sur on the California coastline. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow Of Your Smile” on September 26, 1965, for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. It was arranged and conducted by the composer, Johnny Mandel.

“The Shadow Of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album is available on Apple Music.

I found this video of Bennett singing today’s song. Sorry, I don’t know the name of the program or the date: