The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Thursday, November 10, 2016 is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

While Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh are best-known for their scores for Broadway musicals, such as Little Me and Wildcat, their 1961 “The Rules of the Road” was not written for a show. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney.

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song several times. Today I feature the first of those recordings, from 1962 for the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. The great big band arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

Rules of the Road

Tony Bennett · I Left My Heart In San Francisco · Song · 1962


“The Rules of the Road,” as well as I Left My Heart In San Francisco, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: This Is All I Ask

The song of the day for Sunday, October 2, 2016 is “This Is All I Ask.”

About This Song

Gordon Jenkins wrote “This Is All I Ask” 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 has recorded “This Is All I Ask” several times, including as a duet with Josh Grobin. Today, however, I chose his 1963 version, released on the album of the same name: This Is All I Ask. The arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

This Is All I Ask

Listen to This Is All I Ask on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963


“This Is All I Ask,” as well as This Is All I Ask, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today I was running errands and had Sirius/XM tuned to the Siriusly Sinatra station, a great station for hearing great singers singing great songs. I got out the pet food store and just as I turned on the radio, Tony Bennett’s “This Is All I Ask” started playing. I had such a joyful few minutes listening to him sing this song that I had to share it today. I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as I did this morning.

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Song of the Day: Love Is Here To Stay

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 28, 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 his album Hometown, My Town. The arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

Love Is Here To Stay

Listen to Love Is Here To Stay on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1959


“Love Is Here To Stay,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Saturday, September 10, 2016 is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“The Party’s Over” is one of the hit songs from the 1956 musical Bells Are Ringing (the other being another Tony Bennett song “Just In Time”), which was composed by Jule Styne and with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden. The song was introduced by Judy Holliday, who won the Tony award for her performance.

About This Version

Your faithful blogger had to call in sick today and so was home when the 1960 film version of Bells Are Ringing, starring Judy Holliday and Dean Martin, was on Turner Classic Movies this afternoon. It turned out that I’d never seen it before and I loved every moment of it. And so, today we feature a song from the score of Bells Are Ringing.

Tony Bennett recorded “The Party’s Over” in 1959 for his album Hometown, My Town, wonderfully arranged by Ralph Burns. I know I say it a lot, but this is one of Bennett’s best, if somewhat unknown, albums. It was one of the first true “concept” albums in the industry and tells the story of a young man getting his start, falling in love and getting his heart broken in Manhattan. Wonderful album with many wonderful songs, including this one.

The Party"s Over

Listen to The Party"s Over on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1959


“The Party’s Over,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Hometown, My Town, here’s the Spotify link to the full album.

Hometown, My Town

Listen to Hometown, My Town on Spotify · EP · Tony Bennett · 1959 · 6 songs

About Today

Here’s the wonderful Judy Holliday singing today’s song from the film version of Bells Are Ringing.

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Song of the Day: This Is All I Ask

The song of the day for Saturday, September 3, 2016 is “This Is All I Ask.”

About This Song

Gordon Jenkins wrote “This Is All I Ask” 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 and 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” twice. Today’s recording is from 1963 on the album also named This Is All I Ask. The arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

This Is All I Ask

Listen to This Is All I Ask on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1963


“This Is All I Ask,” as well as This Is All I Ask, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today’s video is Tony Bennett singing this song last month on Late Night With Stephen Colbert just before his 90th birthday. If you haven’t seen it, you have a real treat in store. If you have seen it, it’s just as good again.