The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Then Was Then and Now Is Now

The song of the day for Sunday, April 19, 2026, is “Then Was Then and Now Is Now.”

About Today

Sixty-one years ago on April 19, 1965, Columbia Records released one of most favorite Tony Bennett albums, If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set.

About This Song

“Then Was Then and Now Is Now” was written by Cy Coleman and Peggy Lee. Lee released it on an album of the same name in 1965.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Then Was Then and Now Is Now” on February 18, 1965, for If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“Then Was Then and Now Is Now,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

And here is Miss Peggy Lee singing her own song on Then Was Then (and Now Is Now).

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Song of the Day: I’m In Love Again

The song of the day for Friday, October 24, 2025, is “I’m In Love Again.”

About This Song

“I’m In Love Again” was written by Cy Coleman, and Peggy Lee. This is one of the several songs that Peggy Lee wrote with Cy Coleman. Miss Lee used as the title song for her 1964 album Miss Peggy Lee In Love Again!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m In Love Again” in July 1995 for his album honoring the great women singers of the 20th century: Here’s To The Ladies, which was released 30 years ago on October 24, 1995. This song honors Miss Peggy Lee, who wrote the lyrics for the song. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Here’s To The Ladies won the 1996 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“I’m In Love Again,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Peggy Lee’s 1964 recording of “I’m In Love Again” from her album Miss Peggy Lee In Love Again!

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Song of the Day: The Shining Sea

The song of the day for Monday, July 14, 2025, is “The Shining Sea.”

About This Song

“The Shining Sea” was written by Johnny Mandel and Peggy Lee for the 1966 Cold War comedy The Russians Are Coming The Russians Are Coming. The film concerns a Russian submarine that gets trapped on high ground near a New England town. The town gossip causes mass hysteria, but all is well in the end. Peggy Lee recorded the song for her 1967 album Extra Special!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shining Sea” on June 11, 1966, for his album A Time For Love. Johnny Mandel wrote the arrangement. The recording features Bobby Hackett on cornet.

“The Shining Sea,” as well as A Time For Love, is available on Apple Music.

I’m pleased to include Miss Peggy Lee’s recording of her song, arranged by Johnny Mandel:

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Song of the Day: Then Was Then and Now is Now

The song of the day for Monday, May 26, 2025, is “Then Was Then and Now is Now.”

About Today

We are remembering Peggy Lee, born on May 26, 1920, as Norma Deloris Egstrom in Jamestown, North Dakota. She was a singer as well as songwriter, co-writing over 270 songs.

About This Song

“Then Was Then and Now is Now” was written by Cy Coleman, with lyrics by Peggy Lee. She released it on her 1965 album Then Was Then — Now Is Now!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Then Was Then and Now is Now” on February 18, 1965, for If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“Then Was Then and Now is Now,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got Miss Peggy Lee’s recording of “Then Was Then and Now is Now” from 1965:

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Song of the Day: Then Was Then and Now Is Now

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 15, 2025, is “Then Was Then and Now Is Now.”

About This Song

“Then Was Then and Now Is Now” was written by Cy Coleman and Peggy Lee in 1964. Lee made the first recording of the song in 1964, which appeared on her album Then Was Then and Now Is Now, released in January 1965.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Then Was Then and Now Is Now” on February 18, 1965, for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set. Don Costa wrote the arrangement.

“Then Was Then and Now Is Now,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For the Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.