The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 14, 2023, 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. This song 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 tribute album to Frank Sinatra, Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement. The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums) played on this album.

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

“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 When We Were Young

The song of the day for Sunday, November 12, 2023, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Young Last Night” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg in 1935. 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 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 Young Last Night” in June 1992 for his tribute album to Frank Sinatra, Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement. The Ralph Sharon Trio backed Bennett on this album with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

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

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Song of the Day: Time After Time

The song of the day for Saturday, November 4, 2023, is “Time After Time.”

About This Song

“Time After Time” was written by Jule Syne and Sammy Cahn in 1947 for the movie It Happened in Brooklyn. The song was introduced by Frank Sinatra and was a major hit for him. This song has been widely recorded by many artists. In his fine book The Jazz Standards, Al Gioia quotes Jule Styne as saying “It’s a man’s song — ‘Time After Time.’ When a woman sings it, it is drained of all its power, so to speak. The girls can’t do it.” Well, tell that to Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day and Cyndi Lauper.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Time After Time” in June 1992 for his album in tribute to Frank Sinatra, Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Time After Time,” 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 Saturday, October 15, 2023, is “East of the Sun (And West of the Moon).”

About This Song

Brooks Bowman wrote “East of the Sun” 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 great reception and was noted by Princeton alumnus F. Scott Fitzgerald. After his graduation 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 in tribute to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“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: Indian Summer

The song of the day for Thursday, October 5, 2023, is “Indian Summer.”

About This Song

“Indian Summer” was composed by Victor Herbert in 1919. However, “Indian Summer” did not become a hit until bands picked it up in the early 1940s (this may have coincided with the addition of the lyrics by Al Dubin in 1939). Frank Sinatra recorded with Tommy Dorsey in 1940. Other recordings include those by Gene Krupa, Glenn Miller, Sidney Bechet, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennet recorded “Indian Summer” in June 1992 for Bennett’s tribute album to Frank Sinatra, Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Indian Summer,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.