The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Stranger in Paradise

The song of the day for Sunday, July 5, 2026, is “Stranger in Paradise.”

About This Song

“Stranger in Paradise” was written in 1953 by Robert Wright and George Forrest for the Broadway musical Kismet. The song was based on “Gliding Dance of the Maidens” from the opera Prince Igor by Alexander Borodin, written in 1890.

“Stranger in Paradise” was the hugely popular song from Kismet. The popularity of Kismet is due in large part to Tony Bennett. At the time Kismet was preparing to open, New York City was having a massive newspaper strike and publicizing the opening of the musical was nearly impossible. The producers asked Tony Bennett to record “Stranger in Paradise” to help promote the production. His version was a hit and so was Kismet.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Stranger in Paradise” on October 13, 1953, and released that same year as a single; the same recording was used on the 1962 album Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits. “Stranger In Paradise” was arranged by Percy Faith.

“Stranger in Paradise,” as well as Mr. Broadway” Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available on Apple Music.”Stranger in Paradise,” as well as Mr. Broadway” Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Cold, Cold Heart

The song of the day for Sunday, May 31, 2026, is “Cold, Cold Heart.”

About This Song

“Cold, Cold Heart” was written in 1950 by Hank Williams.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Cold, Cold Heart” 75 years ago on May 31, 1951, featuring an arrangement by Percy Faith. It was hit for Bennett, charting for 27 weeks on Billboard. Bennett’s recording of “Cold, Cold Heart” was significant, as it was one of first Country-Western songs to cross over to popular audiences, bringing wider audience to the genre and Hank Williams.

Bill Janovitz, a writer for Allmusic wrote:

That a young Italian singing waiter from Queens could find common ground with a country singer from Alabama’s backwoods is testament both to Williams’ skills as a writer and to Bennett’s imagination and artist’s ear.

“Cold, Cold Heart,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the original 1951 recording of “Cold, Cold Heart” by Hank Williams.

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Song of the Day: Just in Time

The song of the day for Sunday, May 3. 2026, is “Just in Time.”

About Today

We are remembering Betty Comden, who was born on, May 3, 1917, in Brooklyn, NY. In 1938, she met Adolph Green in 1938 and they worked together for many years. Though mainly known as lyricists, Comden and Green were equally known as writers for the stage (On the Twentieth Century) and screen (Singin’ in the Rain).

About This Song

“Just in Time” was written by Jule Styne, Betty Comden, and Adolph Green, for the 1956 musical Bells Are Ringing, where it was introduced by Judy Holliday and Sidney Chaplin. Holliday and Dean Martin sang it in the 1960 film version of Bells Are Ringing.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just in Time” on your author’s 6th birthday, September 19, 1956, featuring an arrangement by Percy Faith. It was released as a single in 1956; the recording was included on Bennett’s 1962 album Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits.

“Just in Time,” as well as Mr. Broadway: Tony’s Greatest Broadway Hits, is available on Apple Music.

We have “Just in Time” from the original cast album of Bells are Ringing, sung by Judy Holliday and Sydney Chaplin:

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Song of the Day: Because of You

The song of the day for Saturday, March 14, 2026, is “Because of You.”

About This Song

“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson. It charted briefly in the early 1940s.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Because of You” on April 4, 1951, and was released as a single that year. Percy Faith wrote the arrangement.

Bennett related this in his autobiography The Good Life.

By the spring of 1951, I was told that if I didn’t get a hit soon, I’d be dropped from the label. I went into Percy’s office and he said, “In this next session you really have to deliver. We have three songs ready, so we need another song.” I remember that he looked through a bunch of sheet music on his desk, grabbed a song, and said, “Well, let’s do this one.” That song was ‘Because of You.’ I was doing a lot of dramatic singing on my early records, but Percy said to me, “Just relax. Use your natural voice and sing the song.” I took his advice.

“Because of You” was a major hit; it reached #1 on the Billboard charts and stayed there for 10 weeks.

“Because of You,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Dear Mr. Bennett

The John Pizzarelli Trio (Pizzarelli on guitar and vocals, Michael Karn on bass, and Isaiah J. Thompson on piano) recorded “Because Of You” for Dear Mr. Bennett, released in March 2026.

Dear Mr. Bennett is available for purchase on CD and vinyl at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Tower Records, and other record stores. It is also available on most popular streaming services.

On September 23, 1951, Tony Bennett sang “Because of You” live on the Ed Sullivan Show.

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Song of the Day: Because of You

Happy Valentine’s Day ❤️❤️❤️

The song of the day for Saturday, February 14, 2026, is “Because of You.”

About This Song

“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein (uncle to Oscar Hammerstein II) and Dudley Wilkinson. The song had several recordings in the early 1940s, but Tony Bennett’s 1951 recording made the song a major hit.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Because of You” on April 4, 1951. Percy Faith wrote the arrangement.

“Because of You” was the last song that Tony Bennett sang before his death on July 21, 2023.

“Because of You,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett sang “Because of You” on the Ed Sullivan Show on September 23, 1951.