The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Night and Day

The song of the day for Sunday, December 8, 2024, is “Night and Day.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “Night and Day” for the 1932 musical Gay Divorce, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song became and still is quite popular and certainly a standard in the American songbook. Significant recordings include those by Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, and Django Reinhardt.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Night and Day” in June 1992 for his tribute album to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Best Traditional Pop Performance Award.

“Night and Day,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Glad There is You

The song of the day for Saturday, October 5, 2024, is “I’m Glad There is You.”

About This Song

“I’m Glad There is You” was written in 1941 by Jimmy Dorsey and Paul Madeira. It was originally released by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra in 1941 and featured Bob Eberly on vocals. The song has been widely recorded including recordings by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Tony Bennett, Stan Getz, and Peggy Lee, among many others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Glad There is You” in June 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“I’m Glad There is You,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Last Night While We Were Young

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 18, 2024, is “Last Night While We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night While We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night While We Were Young” in June 1992 for his album in tribute to Frank Sinatra, Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Last Night While We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)

The song of the day for Saturday, July 27, 2024, is “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road).”

About This Song

“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1943 film The Sky’s The Limit, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Harold Arlen called this song one of his “tapeworms” as at 48 bars, it was longer than the standard 32 bar popular song. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, says that “the honors must go the lyric. … Just imagine having the acuity and courage to start a song, as Mercer does, with “It’s a quarter to three”!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” in June 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road),” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me

The song of the day for Sunday, June 30, 2024, is “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me.”

About This Song

“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” was written by Rube Bloom and Ted Koehler in 1933. It was introduced in the Cotton Club Parade — World’s Fair Edition.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” in June 1992 for Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

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