The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: A Shine In Your Shoes

The song of the day for Saturday, June 13, 2026, is “A Shine In Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“A Shine In Your Shoes” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1932 Broadway musical Flying Colors. The same song was used for the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Shine On Your Shoes” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, which consisted of songs that Fred Astaire introduced. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Steppin’ Out won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“A Shine In Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

Fred Astaire performed “A Shine On Your Shoes” in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon. Astaire insisting on using a genuine shoe shiner for the number and Leroy Daniels, who sang and danced while he did shoeshines and worked just by the gates at MGM, was cast.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Lost in the Stars

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 9, 2026, is “Lost in the Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1949 musical Lost in the Stars, based on the 1948 novel by Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country. Set in South Africa in an era when apartheid seemed as if it would never end, the plot concerns a black priest whose son kills, in a robbery attempt, a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lost in the Stars” at his concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962. The resulting album, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, was released in August 1962. Ralph Sharon arranged all the songs for the concert and led the orchestra as well. The concert, as well as the album, was a triumph. The original album was released on 4 LP records and only included 28 songs. The 1997 2-CD release contained the full concert.

“Lost in the Stars,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Sunday, June 7, 2026, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All the Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett performed “All the Things You Are” live on June 9, 1962, at Carnegie Hall; the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall was released in August 1962. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

In researching today’s song, I came across an episode of Marian McPartland‘s Piano Jazz with Stephen Sondheim, where Sondheim analyzes and deconstructs “All the Things You Are.” There’s a fair amount of music theory in the discussion, but I think you might enjoy it.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Just One Of Those Things

The song of the day for Sunday, May 24, 2026, is “Just One Of Those Things.”

About This Song

“Just One Of Those Things” was written by Cole Porter 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. Alec Wilder in “American Popular Song” 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 Caulfied, 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. For this album, Bennett invited guest drummers and percussionists to play on the album. Art Blakey was the drummer for “Just One Of Those Things.” Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

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

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Life Is a Song

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 20, 2026, is “Life Is a Song.”

About This Song

“Life Is a Song” was written by Fred Ahlert and Joe Young in 1935. Early recordings include those by Rudy Vallee, Ruth Ettings, and Bob Crosby.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra, recorded “Life Is a Song” on January 5, 1959, for Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement. Count Basie played piano for this recording.

“Life Is a Song,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.