The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Fall In Love Too Easily

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 19, 2024, is “I Fall In Love Too Easily.”

About This Song

“I Fall In Love Too Easily” was written for the 1945 movie Anchors Away, where it was introduced by Frank Sinatra. It was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song but lost to “It Might As Well Be Spring” by Rodgers and Hammerstein. It is a well-respected jazz standard, with recordings by Miles Davis, Chet Baker, Anita O’Day, and Johnny Hartman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Fall In Love Too Easily” in June 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“I Fall In Love Too Easily,” 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 Monday, April 15, 2024, is “East of the Sun (West of the Moon).”

About This Song

Brooks Bowman wrote “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” in 1934 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 he graduated from college in 1936, he 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 June 1992 for his album Perfectly Franka, consisting of songs associated with his good friend Frank Sinatra. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

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

“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 Sunday, March 10, 2024, 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 June 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. it was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“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: You Go To My Head

The song of the day for Friday, February 22, 2024, is “You Go To My Head.”

About This Song

“You Go To My Head” was 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 June 1992, for his album Perfectly Frank, his album in tribute to Frank Sinatra. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

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

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Saturday, January 20, 2024, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When 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 When We Were Young” in June 1992 for his Perfectly Frank album. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

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

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