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 Wednesday, August 31, 2016 is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“The Rules of the Road” was written in 1960 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Andy Propst, in his recent biography of Coleman, You Fascinate Me So, writes that Coleman was suffering from writer’s block during that period, when Carolyn Leigh was wanting to work on “The Rules of the Road.” When he did find his away around that block, the result was “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Version

When I lead off this month with our tribute to Cy Coleman featuring “The Rules of the Road,” I told you that it was a real favorite of mine. So much so, in fact, I’m closing out the month with the same song — different recording, though.

Today I’m featuring Bennett’s original recording from 1961 for Grammy-winning album I Left My Heart in San Francisco. Yes, there are some pretty great songs on that album! The very fine arrangement is by Ralph Burns. The first couple of measures in this recording knock my socks off.

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: Keep Smiling At Trouble

The song of the day for Friday, August 19, 2016 is “Keep Smiling At Trouble.”

About This Song

“Keep Smiling at Trouble” was written 1924, with music by Lewis Gentler and lyrics by Al Jolson and Buddy DeSylva. It 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 has recorded this song twice, once live from his recently-released album Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On in 1964, and two studio recordings once in 1963 and another in 1967. It’s the 1967 recording I”m featuring today, released on For Once in My Life with a great arrangement by Ralph Burns, whose work for Tony Bennett I really love. If you have any doubts, listen to Hometown, My Town from 1959.

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: The Rules of the Road

On the second day of the Tony Bennett 90th Birthday Bash, Monday, August 1, 2016 the song of the day is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“The Rules of the Road” was written in 1961 by our songwriter of the month, Cy Coleman, and Carolyn Leigh.

About This Version

It’s no secret that I absolutely adore this song. All the different versions too. Here’s the original: recorded in 1961 and included on Bennett’s Grammy-winning album I Left My Heart in San Francisco. The arrangement is by Ralph Burns. (Hint: we’ll be returning to this album before the birthday bash is over.)

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.

And here’s the alternate version, which I love. This time, it’s a Ralph Sharon arrangement from When Lights Are Low.

The Rules Of The Road

Listen to The Rules Of The Road on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964

Listening to these recordings one after the other is master class in singing.

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Song of the Day: Dancing In The Dark

The song of the day for Sunday, July 2, 2016 is “Dancing In The Dark.”

About This Song

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

About This Version

Tony Bennett has recorded this song twice, first in 1961 and again in 1993. I chose the 1961 version, recorded for the album My Heart Sings, featuring an arrangement 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.

About Today

As I write, I’m watching the movie That’s Entertainment on Turner Classic Movies. When they featured “Dancing in the Dark” with Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse dancing, I knew I’d found my song of the day and an extra video.

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Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Monday, June 13, 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, which featured a score by Jule Styne and 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

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

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