The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Stella By Starlight

The song of the day for Sunday, February 8j, 2026, is “Stella By Starlight.”

About This Song

“Stella By Starlight” was composed 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; 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” on April 6, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

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

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Song of the Day: I Cover the Waterfront

The song of the day for Monday, January 19, 2026, is “I Cover the Waterfront.”

About This Song

“I Cover the Waterfront” was written in 1933 by Johnny Green and Edward Heyman. Their song was inspired by the 1932 novel I Cover the Waterfront by Max Miller, which was also made into the 1933 film I Cover the Waterfront; the film was re-scored just prior to release to include the Johnny Green song. It has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Sarah Vaughan, and even John Lee Hooker.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Cover the Waterfront” on November 4, 1958, for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“I Cover the Waterfront,” as well as Hometown, My Town,, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Penthouse Serenade

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 6, 2026, is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

“Penthouse Serenade” was written in 1931 by Will Jason and Val Burton. The song is one the classic Depression-era songs with the yearning for the glamorous Manhattan apartment by the poor, yet romantic, couple. The first known use of “Penthouse Serenade” was for the 1933 animated short “Betty Boop’s Penthouse,” where it was sung by Mae Questel.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Penthouse Serenade” on November 6, 1958, for Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available on Apple Music.

We have a clip from “Betty Boop’s Serenade,” voiced by Mae Questel. In addition to voicing Betty Boop, she also did Olive Oyl in the Popeye cartoons.

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Saturday, January 3. 2026, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Schwartz and Dietz. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song describes it as “a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.” The song was also used in the 1953 film The Band Wagon, starring Fred Astaire.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” on April 6, 1961, for My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangements and conducted the band, which contained several noted musicians, including Milt Hinton, Chuck Wayne, and Eddie Costa.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

Here are Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse performing “Dancing in the Dark” from the 1953 film The Band Wagon. I think it’s one of Astaire’s finest dance numbers.

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Song of the Day: This Is All I Ask

The song of the day for Friday, January 2, 2026, is “This Is All I Ask.”

About This Song

“This Is All I Ask” was written by Gordon Jenkins in 1958. Jenkins was a prolific composer, arranger and conductor from the 1930s through the 1960s. He worked closely with artists including Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland. Jenkins won a Grammy Award for Sinatra’s 1965 album September of My Years, which included a recording of “This Is All I Ask.” Jenkins is said to have considered this song his favorite of all the songs he wrote.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “This Is All I Ask” on April 26, 1963, for the album This Is All I Ask. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“This Is All I Ask,” as well as the album This Is All I Ask, is available on Apple Music.