The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Close Your Eyes

The song of the day for Sunday, August 23, 2015 is “Close Your Eyes.”

About This Song

“Close Your Eyes” was written in 1933 by Bernice Petkere, named by Irving Berlin as the “Queen of Tin Pan Alley.” A vaudeville performer as a child, she sold her first song in 1931, “Starlight,” recorded by Bing Crosby. “Close Your Eyes” is her most well-known song. The song started getting jazz treatments in the 1950s, starting with a great duet from Coleman Hawkins and Milt Jackson.

About These Versions

Tony Bennett has recorded this song three times: first in 1953, arranged by Gil Evans and featuring The Pastels; in 1955 with an arrangement by Percy Faith featuring The Ray Charles Singers and finally in 1961, arranged by Ralph Burns for his album My Heart Sings.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett introduces a new feature this Sunday, where we present several different recordings of the same song recorded by Tony Bennett. Whenever I decide to use a certain song and am presented with several different recordings to choose from, I listen to them all before I decide which to use as Song of the Day. It’s always quite interesting to hear both the similarities and differences over the years and with different musicians. So our new Sunday feature will present those versions so that you can listen to them all, if you wish, and decide which one you like best.

1953

Close Your Eyes

Tony Bennett · Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 · Song · 2012

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

1955

Close Your Eyes

Listen to Close Your Eyes on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 3, is available from iTunes.

1961

Close Your Eyes

Listen to Close Your Eyes on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Cover The Waterfront

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 18, 2015 is “I Cover The Waterfront.”

About This Song

“I Cover The Waterfront” was written in 1933 by Johnny Green (music) and Edward Heymann (lyrics). The song was inspired by the 1932 novel of the same name by Max Miller, which was also made into a film and re-scored just prior to release to include the Johnny Green song. It has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan and even John Lee Hooker.

About This Version

Today’s song is from Tony Bennett’s 1959 album Hometown, My Town. There are only six songs on the album, although two of them have long, extended arrangements. It was one of the earliest “concept” albums and provides a young man’s dreams of making it big in Manhattan. The wonderful arrangement is by Ralph Burns.

I Cover The Waterfront

Listen to I Cover The Waterfront on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1959


“I Cover The Waterfront,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Stella By Starlight

The song of the day for Monday, April 6, 2015 is “Stella By Starlight.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Stella By Starlight,” was composed in 1944 by Victor Young for the film The Uninvited, which starred Ray Milland and Ruth Hussey. The lyrics by Ned Washington were added in 1946. It 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” in 1961 for his album My Heart Sings. It was arranged by Ralph Burns and produced by Ernie Altschuler.

About Today

Fifty-four years ago today, April 6, 1961, Tony Bennett and Ralph Burns recorded five songs for the album My Heart Sings: “Dancing In The Dark,” “The Rules Of The Road,” “It Never Was You,” My Ship” and today’s song, “Stella By Starlight.” In addition to the excellent arrangements by Burns, a fine group of musicians played on this album, including Bernie Leighton, Milt Hinton, Chuck Wayne and Eddie Costa. The entire album has a wonderful sound and well-worth a close listen. The date link will take you The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography topic on this session.

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: My Heart Sings

The song of the day for Friday, December 26, 2014 is “My Heart Sings.”

About This Song

“My Heart Sings” was written by Jean Blanvillain (music) and Harold Rome and Henri Laurent Herpin (lyrics). It was used in the 1945 musical Anchors Aweigh, where it was introduced by Kathryn Grayson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “My Heart Sings” in 1961 for the album of the same name, released in that year. It was arranged by Ralph Burns.

(All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings

Listen to (All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“My Heart Sings,” as well as the album My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Young and Foolish

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 23, 2014 is “Young and Foolish.”

About This Song

“Young and Foolish” was written by Albert Hague and Arnold B. Horwitt for the 1954 musical Plain and Fancy, which places a New York couple in an Amish community in Pennsylvania. It’s a lovely song and is a favorite of jazz and cabaret singers.

About This Version

Today’s version is Bennett’s first recording, from 1963 for the album This Is All I Ask; he also recorded this song with Bill Evans in 1975 for their first album. Today’s arrangement of “Young and Foolish” is by Ralph Burns; the album was produced by Ernie Altschuler.

Young And Foolish

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