The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About Today

Perfectly Frank was released thirty-three years ago on September 15, 1992.

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg in 1935. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in June 1992 for his album in tribute to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

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

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Frank Sinatra’s 1955 recording of “Last Night When We Were Young” from In The Wee Small
Hours. Nelson Riddle wrote the arrangement.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun?

The song of the day for Thursday. September 11, 2025, is “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?.”

About This Song

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” was written by Jack Yellen and Sammy Fain for the 1939 George White’s Scandals. George White produced these Broadway revues from 1919 to 1939. Stars introduced in his Scandals include Bert Lahr, Ethel Merman, Ray Bolger, and The Three Stooges.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and his Orchestra, recorded “Are You Havin’ Any Fun?” on January 5, 1959, for Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun?,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: You’re All The World To Me

The song of the day for Friday, September 5, 2025, is “You’re All The World To Me.”

About This Song

“You’re All The World To Me” was written by Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner for the 1951 MGM musical Royal Wedding, starring Fred Astaire. Astaire performed this song in one of the most famous shots in all of musical film: the dancing on the ceiling number.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “You’re All The World To Me” in June 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“You’re All The World To Me,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

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

Here’s Astaire’s performance of “You’re All The World To Me” from Royal Wedding:

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: That Old Black Magic

The song of the day for Thursday, August 28, 2025, is “That Old Black Magic.”

About This Song

“That Old Black Magic” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film Star Spangled Rhythm. The song was popular from the start, with recordings by Glenn Miller and Judy Garland in 1942. The song has been used in films and television, including Bus Stop, where it was sung by Marilyn Monroe, and Star Trek Voyager, where it was sung by Jeri Ryan, portraying Seven of Nine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “That Old Black Magic” live 63 years ago on August 28, 1962. Bennett, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, and the Dave Brubeck Quartet had both been invited by President John F. Kennedy to perform at a concert honoring that year’s group of summer interns. Originally, the concert was planned for the Rose Garden at the White House, but due to so much interest, it was moved to the Sylvan Theatre on the Mall, near the Washington Monument.

Brubeck with his quartet (Paul Desmond on alto sax, Eugene Wright on bass, Joe Morello on drums) opened the concert. Next was Tony Bennett and The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, Billy Exiner on drums) who performed. After Bernnett’s set, Dave Brubeck and Tony Bennett did an unplanned improv set, joined by Eugene Wright and Joe Morello.

The concert was taped, but over time it had become lost in the vaults. They were discovered, misfiled in the Classical Music section, in December 2012, just a few weeks after Dave Brubeck’s death. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 was finally released in May 2013.

“That Old Black Magic,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available on Apple Music.

Tony Bennett made a short video about the experience.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Solitude

The song of the day for Sunday, August 24, 2025, is “Solitude.”

On June 9, 1962, Tony Bennett sang at Carnegie Hall. The concert was taped, and an abbreviated version of the Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall was released 63 years ago on August 24, 1962. This release contained 28 of the 44 songs Bennett sang that night and was released on 2 long-playing records. The full concert was released on 2 CDs in 1997.

About This Song

“Solitude” was written in 1934 by Duke Ellington, with lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills. Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short. It’s a very strong song for both vocalists and instrumentalists. Ellington made over a hundred recordings of this song. Other great recordings include those by Paul Robeson, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Billy Eckstine.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Solitude” on June 9, 1962, live at Carnegie Hall for Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Solitude,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.