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 Thursday, January 19, 2017 is “Stella By Starlight.”

About This Song

“Stella By Starlight” was composed in 1944 by Victor Young; the lyrics by Ned Washington were added in 1946. The song as an instrumental was introduced in the 1944 film The Uninvited. The first recording with vocals was made 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” in 1961 for his album My Heart Sings, with a terrific arrangement by Ralph Burns.

Stella By Starlight

Listen to Stella By Starlight on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“Stella By Starlight,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Penthouse Serenade

The song of the day for Monday, January 16, 2017 is “Penthouse Serenade.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Penthouse Serenade,” was written in 1931 by Will Jason and Val Burton. It 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. On a more serious note, “Penthouse Serenade” has had exceptional recordings: Nat King Cole recorded it in 1952 as a piano solo for an album of the same name and Tony Bennett’s recording for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Penthouse Serenade” in 1958 for the album Hometown, My Town, which was released in 1959. The terrific arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

Penthouse Serenade

Listen to Penthouse Serenade on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1959


“Penthouse Serenade,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Keep Smiling At Trouble

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 11, 2017 is “Keep Smiling At Trouble.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Keep Smiling At Trouble,” was written in 1924, with music by Lewis Gensler and lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. “Keep Smiling at Trouble” 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 this version of “Keep Smiling At Trouble” in 1967 for the album For Once In My Life, with a great arrangement by Ralph Burns.

Keep Smiling At Trouble (Trouble"s A Bubble)

Listen to Keep Smiling At Trouble (Trouble"s A Bubble) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1967


“Keep Smiling At Trouble,” as well as For Once In My Life, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Dancing In The Dark

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 4, 2017 is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwarz and Howard Dietz 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.”

About This Version

Today’s song, “Dancing in the Dark,” was recorded in 1961 for the album My Heart Sings. The arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

Dancing in the Dark

Listen to Dancing in the Dark on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes.

This past New Year’s Eve, Turner Classic Movies had the great sense to air all three of the That’s Entertainment films. This dance with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse dancing to today’s song never fails to thrill me.

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Song of the Day: Love Is Here To Stay

The song of the day for Monday, December 26, 2016 is “Love Is Here To Stay.”

About This Song

“Love Is Here To Stay” was written in 1937 by George 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” in 1958 for the album Hometown, My Town, which was released in 1959. The terrific arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

https://open.spotify.com/track/2EnIxktTOZc3kAPZ3fte40/embed]
“Love Is Here To Stay” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.