The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

The song of the day for Thursday, December 2, 2021, is “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.”

About This Song

“A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” was written in 1939 by Manny Sherwin and Erick Mashwitz. It was introduced in London in the 1940 revue New Faces by Judy Campbell. Glenn Miller recorded it with Bob Eberly and introduced the song to American audiences. The song was quite popular during World War II and was recorded widely during that period. Significant recordings include those by Ray Noble, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Anita O’Day, Rosemary Clooney, and Nat Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank, which won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 17, 2021, is “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon).”

About This Song

Brooks Bowman wrote “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” while a student at Princeton University for a student musical production called Stags at Bay, produced by the Princeton Triangle Club. The song had a great reception and was noted by Princeton alumnus F. Scott Fitzgerald. After his graduation from college in 1936, Bowman worked briefly in Hollywood for the film industry but decided to return to the East Coast. He was about to start a contract with a New York music publisher when he was killed in an automobile accident in 1937.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and led The Ralph Sharon Trio.

“East of the Sun (and West of the Moon),” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got the World on a String

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 10, 2021, is “I’ve Got the World on a String.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got the World on a String” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1932 Cotton Club Parade, where it was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, considers it one of Arlen’s loveliest songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got the World on a String” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank, a tribute to Frank Sinatra. The album won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“I’ve Got the World on a String,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I See Your Face Before Me

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 9, 2021, is “I See Your Face Before Me.”

About This Song

“I See Your Face Before Me” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 Broadway musical Between The Devil, where it was introduced by Adele Dixon. Both Guy Lombardo and Glen Gray recorded the song in that time period. Later recordings include those by Frank Sinatra and Johnny Hartman. The Johnny Hardman version, recorded in 1955, was used in the soundtrack for the 1995 movie The Bridges of Madison County.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I See Your Face Before Me” for his 1992 album Perfectly Frank. The album won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

“I See Your Face Before Me,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You Go To My Head

The song of the day for Sunday, November 7, 2021, is “You Go To My Head.”

About This Song

Written in 1938 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie (the same songwriting team that gave us “Santa Claus is Coming To Town”) “You Go to My Head” is a well-respected popular song. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder called it “a phenomenon” and “a minor masterpiece.” Al Gioia in The Jazz Standards notes that “this song comes closer than any tune I know to capturing in musical form the feeling of losing control.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “You Go To My Head” in 1992 with The Ralph Sharon Trio for the album Perfectly Frank.

“You Go To My Head,” as well as Perfect Frank is available on Apple Music.

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