The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: This Is All I Ask

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 10, 2025,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 his album This Is All I Ask. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted. the orchestra.

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

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Tea For Two

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 2, 2025, is “Tea For Two.”

About This Song

“Tea For Two” was written by Vincent Youmans and Irving Caesar for the very popular 1925 musical No, No Nanette. The musical had a very successful revival on Broadway in 1971, which helped to make “Tea For Two” even more popular. The song has been widely recorded by artists including Ella Fitzgerald and Count Basie, Blossom Dearie, and Anita O’Day. More modern recordings include those by John Pizzarelli and Pink Martini.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, recorded “Tea For Two” live at Royal Hall on January 31, 1971. The orchestra was conducted by Robert Farnon. The resulting album, Get Happy with the London Philharmonic Orchestra, was released in September 1971. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement for “Tea For Two.”

“Tea For Two,” as well as Get Happy , is available on Apple Music.

In doing the research for today’s song, I found this on Wikipedia:

In 1927, Dmitri Shostakovich arranged “Tea for Two”, known in the Soviet Union as Tahiti Trot, from memory after conductor Nicolai Malko bet him he could not do it in under an hour. He completed the orchestration in 45 minutes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lover Man

The song of the day for Monday, September 1, 2025, is “Lover Man.”

About This Song

“Lover Man” was written in 1941 by Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, and James Sherman. The song was written for Billie Holiday, and remains most closely associated with her, despite many other fine recordings. Her recording of “Lover Man” was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1989. Other significant recordings include those by Dee Dee Bridgewater, Bill Evans and Stan Getz, Charlie Parker, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lover Man” on April 4, 1961, for My Heart Sings, which was released 64 years ago on September 1, 1961. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Lover Man,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Billie Holiday’s 1944 recording of “Lover Man.”

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Party’s Over

The song of the day for Saturday, August 30, 2025, is “The Party’s Over.”

About This Song

“The Party’s Over” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the 1956 Broadway musical Bells Are Ringing. 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” on November 4, 1958, for Hometown, My Town, released in 1959. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“The Party’s Over,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Judy Holliday’s recording of “The Party’s Over” from the original cast album of Bells Are Ringing.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Moment of Truth

The song of the day for Saturday, August 16, 2025, is “The Moment of Truth.”

About This Song

“The Moment of Truth” was written in 1963 by Tex Satterwhite and Frank Scott. The song has been recorded by Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, and Robert Goulet, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Moment of Truth” on April 24, 1963, for the album This Is All I Ask. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement and conducted the band. This was the first recording of “The Moment of Truth.”

“The Moment of Truth,” as well as This Is All I Ask, is available on Apple Music.