The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Tuesday, April 16, 2024, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show, where it was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Monday, April 15, 2024, is “East of the Sun (West of the Moon).”

About This Song

Brooks Bowman wrote “East of the Sun (and West of the Moon)” 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 a great reception and was noted by Princeton alumnus F. Scott Fitzgerald. After he graduated 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 June 1992 for his album Perfectly Franka, consisting of songs associated with his good friend Frank Sinatra. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“East of the Sun (and West of the Moon),” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Sunday, March 31, 2024, is “Lazy Afternoon.”

About This Song

“Lazy Afternoon” was written by Jerome Moss and John Latouche for the 1954 musical The Golden Apple, which uses mythological Greek characters from Ulysses but is set in the state of Washington (at Mount Olympia, of course) in the United States. This song, as well as the entire score, is quite beautiful.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lazy Afternoon” on June 27, 1957, for his third album, The Beat of My Heart. For this album, Bennett and Ralph Sharon (who wrote the arrangement) invited percussionists to play on the album. For “Lazy Afternoon,” Chico Hamilton played drums.

“Lazy Afternoon,” as well as The Beat of My Heart, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got Just About Everything

The song of the day for Friday, March 29, 2024, is “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got Just About Everything” was written by jazz pianist and composer Bob Dorough. Dorough wrote and directed several episodes of Schoolhouse Rock! in addition to performing and leading numerous jazz albums.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Just About Everything” on March 27, 1964, for the album When Lights Are Low. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and led The Ralph Sharon Trio, which accompanied Bennett on this album.

“I’ve Got Just About Everything,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Pennies From Heaven

The song of the day for Saturday, March 23, 2024, is “Pennies From Heaven.”

About Today

In Person! with Count Basie and His Orchestra was released sixty-five years ago today on March 23, 1959. It was planned as a live album and was recorded in a club with the Count Basie Orchestra. However, the tape from the concert had poor quality and couldn’t be used. They re-recorded all of the songs in the studio and, oddly, released it with the original planned title, In Person!.

About This Song

“Pennies From Heaven” was written in 1936 by Arthur Johnston and Johnny Burke. It was introduced by Bing Crosby in the 1936 movie of the same name. It’s one of the classic Great Depression songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Pennies From Heaven” on December 30, 1958, for In Person!, released on March 23, 1959. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Pennies From Heaven,” as well as In Person is available on Apple Music.