The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Autumn In New York

The song of the day for Monday, November 14, 2016 is “Autumn In New York.”

About This Song

Vernon Duke wrote “Autumn In New York” for the 1934 Broadway musical Thumbs Up! The song has proved quite popular over the years, with recordings by Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan and many, many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Autumn In New York” in 1992; the song was an outtake from the album Perfectly Frank. It features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Paul Langosch on bass and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

Autumn In New York

Tony Bennett · Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2 · Song · 2012


“Autumn In New York,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes, and Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 5, 2016 is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night The We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.”

Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

This beautiful version of “Last Night The We Were Young” was recorded in 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank. The lovely arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

Last Night When We Were Young

Listen to Last Night When We Were Young on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992


“Last Night The We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: East of the Sun (West of the Moon)

The song of the day for Thursday, September 29, 2016 is “East of the Sun (West of the Moon).”

About This Song

“East of the Sun (West of the Moon)” was written in 1934 by Bruce Bowman. who wrote “East of the Sun” while a student at Princeton University for a student musical production called Stags at Bay, produced by the Princeton Triangle Club. The song had great reception and was noted by Princeton alumnus F. Scott Fitzgerald. After his graduation from college in 1936, he worked briefly in Hollywood for the film industry, but decided to return to the East Coast. He was about to start a contract with a New York music publisher when he was killed in an automobile accident in 1937. Based on this song, I think Bowman would have been one of America’s great songwriters.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “East of the Sun (West of the Moon)” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

East of the Sun (West of the Moon)

Listen to East of the Sun (West of the Moon) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992


“East of the Sun (West of the Moon),” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Monday, September 19, 2016 is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” was written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for Judy Garland to sing in the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

“The Man That Got Away” is one of many fine recordings by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon on the 1961 album Tony Sings For Two.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Why “The Man That Got Away”?

Well, today is your author’s birthday and what better way to celebrate it than featuring my favorite song from my favorite Tony Bennett album, that it also from my favorite film? It had to be “The Man That Got Away.”

As a birthday present to myself, here’s the great Judy Garland from A Star Is Born.

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Song of the Day: Day In, Day Out

The song of the day for Monday, September 5, 2016 is “Day In, Day Out.”

About This Song

“Day In, Day Out” was written in 1936 by Rube Bloom and Johnny Mercer. The song has been a favorite of vocalists since it was written. The tune itself is also rather unusual at 56 measures long. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder notes that “the melodic line soared and moved across the page like a lovely brush stroke. And it had, remarkable for any pop song, passion.” It has been recorded by many of the finest vocalists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé and Margaret Whiting.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day In, Day Out” in 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank and features an arrangement by Ralph Sharon.

Day In, Day Out

Listen to Day In, Day Out on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992


“Day In, Day Out,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.