The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

The song of the day for Monday, August 29, 2016 is “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square.”

About This Song

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square was written in 1939 by Manny Sherwin and Eric Mashwitz. The song was a favorite romantic British ballad. It was introduced in London in the 1940 revue New Faces by Judy Campbell. Glenn Miller recorded it with Bob Eberly and introduced the song to American audiences. The song was quite popular during World War II and was recorded widely during that period. Significant recordings include those by Ray Noble, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Anita O’Day, Rosemary Clooney, and Nat “King” Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. The arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square

Listen to A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992


“A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Oh! You Crazy Moon

The song of the day for Friday, August 26, 2016 is “Oh! You Crazy Moon.”

About This Song

Written in 1939, “Oh! You Crazy Moon” was the first song that Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke wrote together in what would be a long and successful partnership. The bouncy, uptempo song gained immediate popularity and was widely recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Oh! You Crazy Moon” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low, which featured the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums.

Oh! You Crazy Moon

Listen to Oh! You Crazy Moon on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“Oh! You Crazy Moon,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Because Of You

On the seventh and final day of The Tony Bennett 90th Birthday Bash, August 6, 2016, our song of the day is “Because Of You.”

About This Song

“Because of You” was written in 1940 by Arthur Hammerstein and Dudley Wilkinson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Because Of You” in April 1951–some 65 years ago. I chose this song because it was such a turning point in Bennett’s career. His early recordings had done okay, but Columbia was concerned that their new singer hadn’t had a big, big hit yet. Bennett met with his arranged Percy Faith, who encouraged Tony Bennett to sing with his natural voice … very good advice. They were supposed to record four songs that day, but only had three ready to go. Percy Faith picked up the sheet music for “Because of You” and suggested they record it. The song reached number one on the Billboard Charts and stayed there for ten weeks.

Because of You

Listen to Because of You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2011


“Because Of You,” as well as all the singles collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Today’s video is Tony Bennett singing today’s song, live in concert from 1991, with Ralph Sharon on piano. It’s just wonderful!

Thanks to all the readers of this blog for sharing and participating in The Tony Bennett 90th Birthday Bash. I hope you’ve enjoyed it as much as I have.

By Leave a Comment

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.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me

The song of the day for Monday, July 18, 2016 is “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me.”

About This Song

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the musical By Jupiter in 1942. Directed by Joshua Logan, it starred Ray Bolger, Vera-Ellen and Constance Moore. It was their last full-length work. In American Popular Music, Alec Wilder called this song “one of the loveliest songs Rodgers or any other theater writer has ever written. In the area of this form of music it is a masterpiece.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon recorded this song, as well as 18 others, on a single day in 1959. The best of the best were released on one of Bennett’s top albums: Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.

Nobody"s Heart Belongs To Me

Listen to Nobody"s Heart Belongs To Me on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961


“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.