The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: In A Mellow Tone

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 8, 2024, is “In A Mellow Tone.”

About This Song

Duke Ellington wrote “In a Mellow Tone” in 1939, with lyrics by Milt Gabler. The song was based on the 1917 song “Rose Room” by Art Hickman and Harry Williams. The song is a favorite of both vocal and instrumental jazz performers, including Tony Bennett, Paul Gonsalves, Oscar Peterson, Coleman Hawkins, Ella Fitzgerald, and Annie Ross.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In A Mellow Tone” in May 1999 for Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Burns. In addition to lovely vocals from Bennett, this recording gives the trio members (Ralph Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums) some terrific solo time.

“In A Mellow Tone,” as well as Bennett Sings Ellington: Hot & Cool, is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, May 4, 2024, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About Today

We’re remembering Douglass Cross, who wrote the lyrics to “I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” was born 104 years ago on May 4, 1920.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was written in 1953 by 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 constantly gave 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 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 version of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” in 2006 with Bill Charlap on piano for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett won the Record of the Year Grammy Award in 1962 for his initial recording of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

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Song of the Day: Soon It’s Gonna Rain

The song of the day for Thursday, April 25, 2024, is “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.”

About This Song

“Soon It’s Gonna Rain” was written by Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones for their off-Broadway musical The Fantasticks, which ran for an astounding 42 years and 17,162 performances at the Sullivan Street Playhouse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Soon It’s Gonna Rain” on March 16, 1962, for the album On The Glory Road, which was to be released in 1962 but was canceled. The song was arranged by Ralph Sharon. The recording was added to Bennett’s 1964 album, The Many Moods of Tony. Thankfully, On The Glory Road was released with the 2011 Complete Collection box set and is also available on streaming services.

“Soon It’s Gonna Rain,” as well as On The Glory Road, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Just One Of Those Things

The song of the day for Sunday, April 21, 2024, 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. In American Popular Song Alec Wilder 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” on October 14, 1957, for his third album, The Beat of My Heart, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Sharon. Bennett invited several percussionists to play on the album; Al Blakey was featured in this song.

“Just One Of Those Things,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: When Lights Are Low

The song of the day for Saturday, April 20, 2024, is “When Lights Are Low.”

About This Song

“When Lights Are Low” was written in 1936 by Benny Carter and Spencer Williams, while both Carter and Williams were living and working in Europe. Carter was the staff arranger for BBC during that time.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When Lights Are Low” on March 26, 1964, for the album When Lights Are Low, which was released sixty years ago today on April 20, 1964. Bennett was accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio: Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. Sharon also wrote all the arrangements for the album.

“When Lights Are Low,” as well as the album When Lights Are Low, is available on Apple Music.