The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 3, 2022, is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“The Party’s Over” was written by Jule Style, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the 1956 musical Bells Are Ringing. The song was introduced by Judy Holliday, who won the Tony award for her performance.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town. Ralph Burns wrote the very fine arrangement.

“The Party’s Over,” as well as Hometown, My Town is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Judy Holliday singing “The Party’s Over” from the Original Cast Album for Bells Are Ringing:

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Song of the Day: Love is Here to Stay

The song of the day for Friday, April 29, 2022, is “Love is Here to Stay.”

About This Song

“Love is Here to Stay” was written by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin for The Goldwyn Follies movie, which was released after George Gershwin’s death. It’s also known as “Our Love Is Here To Stay,” but the published title of the song omits the “Our.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Love is Here to Stay” for the 1959 album Hometown, My Town, featuring an excellent arrangement by Ralph Burns.

“Love is Here to Stay,” as well as Hometown, My Town is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling at Trouble

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 27, 2022, is “Keep Smiling at Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling at Trouble” was written in 1924 by Lewis Gensler, with lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. The song was first recorded by Fred Waring’s Pennsylvanians in 1924, with vocals by his brother, Tom Waring. Other noted recordings were by Jolson, Ruby Braff, Tommy Dorsey, Della Reese, and Bobby Hackett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Keep Smiling At Trouble” in 1967 for his album For Once In My Life. The very fine arrangement was written by Ralph Burns.

“Keep Smiling at Trouble,” as well as For Once In My Life is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Stella By Starlight

The song of the day for Thursday, March 24, 2022, is “Stella By Starlight.”

About This Song

“Stella By Starlight” was written by Victor Young for the 1944 film The Uninvited; the lyrics by Ned Washington were added in 1946. The song was recorded in 1947 by Harry James and Frank Sinatra and it has been frequently recorded ever since. It found its way as a jazz standard in the early 1950s, with recordings by Stan Getz, Bud Powell, and Stan Kenton. It ranks as the 10th most important jazz title at jazzstandards.com.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Stella By Starlight” in 1961 for his album My Heart Sings, which was arranged and conducted by Ralph Burns.

“Stella By Starlight,” as well as My Heart Sings is available on Apple Music.

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Album of the Week: My Heart Sings

The album of the week starting on February 27, 2022, is My Heart Sings.

My Heart Sings

Tony Bennett remembers My Heart Sings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Ralph Burns and I got together again to do some singles, including “Smile,” and for our next album we changed gears again. Instead of the lush, ballad-style arrangements we had used on Hometown, My Town, we switched to a cookin’ jazz sound. The album is called My Heart Sings, and I simply love Ralph’s writing on this one. It’s really beautiful music.

This album is a preview of 1962, which was an outstanding year for Tony Bennett, including his concert at Carnegie Hall and winning his first Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

My Heart Sings was recorded in 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days: April 4, April 5, and April 6, 1961.

Album Facts

Release Date August 7, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements, Conductor Ralph Burns
Piano Bernie Leighton
Bass Milt Hinton
Drums Herb Lovelle
Guitar Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne, Mundell Lowe
Saxophone Danny Bank, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque, Jerry Sanfino
Trumpet Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen
Trombone Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak
Vibes Eddie Costa

Songs on My Heart Sings

Song Composers
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Dancing in the Dark Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
I’m Comin’ Virginia Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
My Heart Sings Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin
It Never Was You Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
You Took Advantage of Me Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Close Your Eyes Bernice Petkere
Stella By Starlight Victor Young, Ned Washington
More Than You Know Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
My Ship Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin
Lover Man Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
Toot, Toot, Tootsie Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, Dan Russo

Listen to My Heart Sings

You can also listen to My Heart Sings on

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