The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Young and Foolish

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 6, 2026, is “Young and Foolish.”

About This Song

“Young and Foolish” was written by Albert Hague and Arnold B. Horwitt for the 1955 musical Plain and Fancy. The musical concerned a New York couple who travel to Amish country in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to sell a piece of property and become involved with and learn from the community.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Young and Foolish” on April 22, 1963, for This Is All I Ask. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Young and Foolish,” as well as This Is All I Ask, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of theDay: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Friday, April 24, 2026, is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“The Party’s Over” was written by Jule Styne, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the 1956 Broadway hit musical Bells Are Ringing, starring Judy Holliday, who won the Tony Award for her performance.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” on November 4, 1958, for Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“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 recording of Bells Are Ringing.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Smile

The song of the day for Thursday, April 16, 2026, is “Smile.”

About This Song

“Smile” was written in 1936 by Charlie Chaplin, John Turner, and Geoffrey Parsons for Chaplin’s his last silent film, Modern Times, which shows Chaplin and his costar Paulette Goddard, walking hand-in-hand up the road as the sun sets and as this song plays, in one of the most iconic scenes ever filmed.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Smile” on June 24, 1959, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns. It was released as a single in 1959 and again in 1962 on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco.

“Smile,” as well as I Left My Heart In San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

Here is the final sene of Modern Times, with Charles Chaplin and Paulette Goddard.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 15, 2026, is “By Myself.”

About This Song

“By Myself” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 musical Between the Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. Another great Schwartz-Dietz song from Between the Devil was “I See Your Face Before Me.” This song was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” on November 3, 1958, for Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“By Myself,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s “By Myself,” slung by Fred Astaire from the 1953 film The Band Wagon.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: It Never Was You

The song of the day for Monday, April 6, 2026, is “It Never Was You.”

About This Song

“It Never Was You” was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1938 Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday, the score of which also included “September Song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Never Was You” 65 years ago on April 6, 1961, for the album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“It Never Was You,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.