The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Are You Havin’ Any Fun

The song of the day for Friday, January 26, 2024, 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 Scandals. 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 The Count Basie Orchestra, recorded “Are You Havin’ Any Fun” on January 5, 1959, for the album Basie Swings/Bennett Sings. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“Are You Havin’ Any Fun,” as well as Basie Swings/Bennett Sings, 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 Tuesday, January 23, 2024, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross, two homesick San Franciscans.

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 was his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” on January 23, 1962. It was first released as a single; after it became popular it was released on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco, released on June 18, 1962.

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the albumI Left My Heart In San Francisco, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Tony singing “I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” accompanied by Ralph Sharon, from the Ed Sullivan Show, aired on November 22, 1964.

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Saturday, January 20, 2024, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. 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 Perfectly Frank album. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

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

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Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Friday, January 19. 2024, is “A Sleepin’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleepin’ Bee” was written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote for the 1954 musical House of Flowers, based on the Truman Capote novella. Set in Haiti, the production featured a trio of steel drummers (more precisely known as pannists) from Trinidad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Sleepin’ Bee” on October 28, 1959, for the album Tony Sings For Two, which was released in 1961.

Tony Bennett talks about the album in his autobiography, The Good Life:

I always wanted to be unpredictable. So for my next project, I decided to go in the opposite direction from the big orchestral albums I’d been doing lately and cut an intimate piano-vocal album with Ralph Sharon. We booked time at the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes—which must be some kind of record—twelve of which made it onto the album, which became 1961’s Tony Sings For Two. Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw that there was no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings For Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.

“A Sleepin’ Bee,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Crazy Rhythm

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 16, 2024, is “Crazy Rhythm.”

About This Song

“Crazy Rhythm” was written by Joseph Meyer, Roger Wolfe Kahn, and Irving Ceasar for the 1929 musical Here’s How. t’s been a popular standard since it was written and has been heavily recorded, not just by jazz and popular artists, but in other genres including hillbilly. Significant recordings include those by Chet Atkins, Les Paul, Stan Getz, Bing Crosby, Bix Beiderbecke, and Whispering Jack Smith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Crazy Rhythm” on June 27, 1957, for his third LP album, The Beat of My Heart. featuring an arrangement by Ralph Sharon. For this album, Bennett invited several percussionists to play on the album. “Crazy Rhythm” features Chico Hamilton.

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