The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Just One Of Those Things

The song of the day for Friday, June 9, 2017 is “Just One Of Those Things.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “Just One of Those Things” for the 1935 musical Jubilee. It’s one of Porter’s most popular songs and has been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder in “American Popular Song” spoke of the lyric as ‘a trip to the moon on gossamer wings’ and “that it seems impossible that it wasn’t sitting on his piano, waiting for Porter even before he wrote the lyric.” It has a certain literary fame as well: Holden Caulfield, in Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye, likes the song and notes that even the “stinking band” in the hotel lounge “couldn’t ruin it entirely.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just One Of Those Things” 1957 for the album The Beat of My Heart, which used percussionists from around the world. This song featured drummer Art Blakey. The arrangement was written by Ralph Sharon.

Just One Of Those Things

Listen to Just One Of Those Things on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1957


“Just One Of Those Things,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today we honor the composer Cole Porter, who was born on June 9, 1891. I don’t believe his music will ever go out of style.

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Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 7, 2017 is “A Sleepin’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleepin’ Bee” was written for the 1954 musical House of Flowers by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote, based on the Capote novella. Set in Haiti, the production featured a trio of steel drummers (more precisely known as pannists) from Trinidad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Sleepin’ Bee” in 1959, with Ralph Sharon on piano. On October 28, 1959, Bennett and Sharon arrived at the studio with a briefcase full of music. In that day, they chose the songs they wanted to record, figured out an arrangement and recorded sixteen songs in a single day, with the legendary Frank Laico as engineer. Producer Mitch Miller walked out of the session. The resulting album, Tony Sings For Two, wasn’t released until 1961 and is widely considered to be one of Bennett’s finest albums.

A Sleepin" Bee

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“A Sleepin’ Bee,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Speak Low

The song of the day for Thursday, May 18, 2017 is “Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus, with music by Kurt Weill and lyrics by Ogden Nash. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday and Lena Horne.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Speak Low” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low. The album features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass.

I’ve always thought of When Lights Are Low as a kind of followup to what is probably my favorite Bennett album, Tony Sings For Two. It’s a return to the jazz standards with a solid jazz trio (instead of only Sharon on piano). It’s the Tony Bennett sound I love the most: a great jazz standard, a terrific arrangement, and a strong jazz combo.

Speak Low

Listen to Speak Low on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“Speak Low,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I’ll Be Seeing You

The song of the day for Thursday, April 27, 2017 is “I’ll Be Seeing You.”

About This Song

“I’ll Be Seeing You,” written in 1938 by Sammy Fain (music) and Irving Kahal (lyrics), grew to its fame during World War II, when it became something of an anthem for soldiers serving overseas and the loved ones left at home. It’s been recorded by Billie Holiday, Al Hirt, Lisa Minelli, Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee and Willie Nelson. One of my favorite recordings is from Tony’s old friend Rosemary Clooney, who closed her 1991 album For The Duration with this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ll Be Seeing You” in 1992 for his album of songs associated with Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. Like Rosemary, Bennett also closed out this magnificent album with “I’ll Be Seeing You.” The song features a very fine arrangement by Ralph Sharon. This album is also significant in that Columbia recording engineer Frank Laico came out of retirement to serve as recording engineer for the album.


“I’ll Be Seeing You,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: There Will Never Be Another You

The song of the day for Saturday, April 22, 2017 is “There Will Never Be Another You.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “There Will Never Be Another You,” was written in 1942, with music by Harry Warren and lyrics by Mack Gordon.

It’s ironic that one of Harry Warren’s most beautiful songs was written for a Sonja Henie vehicle called Iceland, starring Miss Henie and John Payne as a U.S. Marine stationed in Iceland during World War II. The song was introduced in the movie by Joan Merrill.

Amazingly, this beautiful song was not nominated for an Academy Award. No matter. The song has become a serious jazz standard and has had many fine recordings, including Bennett’s 1959 recording with Count Basie and his 1962 improvisation with Dave Brubeck at the White House Sessions. Other significant recordings include those by Lionel Hampton, Chet Baker, Nat King Cole and Sonny Rollins.

About This Version

This is Bennett’s first recording of “There Will Never Be Another You,” from 1959’s album In Person!, with Tony Bennett and Count Basie and His Orchestra. The lovely arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

There Will Never Be Another You

Listen to There Will Never Be Another You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett & Count Basie · 2013


“There Will Never Be Another You,” as well as In Person!, is available from iTunes.