The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I’m Glad There Is You

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 9, 2015 is “I’m Glad There Is You.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “I’m Glad There Is You,” was written in 1941 by Jimmy Dorsey (music) and Paul Madeira (lyrics). It was recorded that year by Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra and featured Bob Eberly on vocals. The song has been widely recorded including recordings by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, Stan Getz and Peggy Lee, among many others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Glad There Is You” in 1992 for Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

I"m Glad There Is You

Listen to I"m Glad There Is You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992


“I’m Glad There Is You,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

About Today

In 1939, Sinatra made one of his best moves: from Harry James, who let him out of his contract, to Tommy Dorsey. He sang with Tommy Dorsey until 1942. In Tommy Dorsey, he found the support and nurturing that he needed to take him to stardom. In his first appearance with Dorsey’s orchestra, Sinatra sang “Stardust” which prompted the orchestra leader to say “You could almost feel the excitement coming up out of the crowds when he sang. Remember, he was no matinée idol. He was just a skinny kid with big ears. I used to stand there so amazed I’d almost forget to take my own solos.” During his time with Dorsey, Sinatra recorded some of his memorable songs, including “I’ll Never Smile Again,” “Night and Day.” “The Song is You” and “In the Blue of the Evening.” By 1942, Sinatra was ready to embark on a solo career. In doing so, he convinced Dorsey’s arranger, Alex Stordahl, to come with him, causing a lifelong rift with Tommy Dorsey.

Tomorrow: Bobby soxers!

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

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 8, 2015 is “East of the Sun (And West of the Moon).”

About This Song

Bruce Bowman wrote “East of the Sun” in 1934, 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.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded East of the Sun (And West of the Moon) in 1992 for Perfectly Frank. It was arranged 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 (And West of the Moon),” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

About Today

In 1935, the young Sinatra joined a local singing group called The 3 Flashes, mainly because he owned a car and could more easily drive the group to gigs. They then became the Hoboken Four and were soon auditioning for and won a slot on the Major Bowes Amateur Hour. They won first place in the competition, which came with a six-month professional contract. After returning from the road with the group, he got a job as a singing waiter (a position that a young Tony Bennett also worked as) and got radio spots whenever he could. It was a good strategy, because in June 1938, Harry James heard on the radio and, upon hearing him again at the Paramount Theater, signed the young singer to a two-year contract. It was a great opportunity for Sinatra to sing with a professional band and continue to work on his voice.

Tomorrow … Tommy Dorsey

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Saturday, December 5, 2015 is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by two homesick songwriters from San Francisco: Douglass Cross and George Cory.

This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance and in January, 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.: But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this first version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 1962. It was arranged by Marty Manning.

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the album of the same name, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our video is Tony Bennett singing today’s song on the Judy Garland television show, followed by a nice duet.

Tony Bennett & Judy Garland – I Left My Heart In San Francisco

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Song of the Day: Speak Low

The song of the day for Thursday, December 3, 2015 is ” Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash. It was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. 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 one of my favorite of his albums: When Lights Are Low. It is also my favorite version of “Speak Low,” which Bennett has recorded, by my count, seven times. This album features just Bennett with the Ralph Sharon Trio, featuring Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums. This arrangement is by Ralph Sharon.

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: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Sunday, November 15, 2015 is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “The Rules of the Road,” was written in 1961 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. While Coleman and Leigh are best-known for their scores for Broadway musicals, such as Little Me and Wildcat, “The Rules of the Road” was not written for a show. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole and Rosemary Clooney.

About This Version

I absolutely love this song when it’s sung by Tony Bennett. And this version, recorded with the Ralph Sharon Trio (with Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass) in 1964 for When Lights Are Low is far and away my favorite of all his recordings of “The Rules of the Road.”

The Rules Of The Road

Listen to The Rules Of The Road on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“The Rules of the Road,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.