The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Steppin’ Out With My Baby

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 28, 2022, is “Steppin’ Out With My Baby.”

About This Song

“Steppin’ Out With My Baby” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1948 film musical Easter Parade, which starred Fred Astaire and Judy Garland. The score of Easter Parade won the Academy Award for Best Original Music Score.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“Steppin’ Out With My Baby,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Fred Astaire and the “Steppin’ Out With My Baby” number from Easter Parade.

We’ve also got the official video of Tony Bennett singing today’s song!

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 27, 2022, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Schwartz and Dietz. Alec Wilder in American Popular Song describes it as “… a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.”

Fred Astaire introduced “Dancing in the Dark” in the 1931 film The Band Wagon; he sang it again in the 1955 film of the same name.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” in July 1993 and was released that year on Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here is Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse in 1953’s The Band Wagon. I think this may be one of Astaire’s most beautiful and elegant dances.

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Song of the Day: Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

The song of the day for Monday, December 26, 2022, is “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The song was introduced by Mr. Astaire. The film is widely considered to be one of the best of the RKO Astaire and Rogers films; the American Film Institute ranked it 15th on its list of best musicals.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the clip from Top Hat with Fred Astaire

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Song of the Day: One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 13, 2022, is “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road).”

About This Song

“One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1943 film The Sky’s The Limit, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Harold Arlen called this song one of his “tapeworms” as at 48 bars, it was longer than the standard 32-bar popular song. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, says

The honors must go the lyric. … Just imagine having the acuity and courage to start a song, as Mercer does, with ‘It’s a quarter to three’!

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)” in June 1992 and was released that year on Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“One for My Baby (And One More for the Road),” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Frank Sinatra’s legendary 1958 recording of “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)” with the great Nelson Riddle arrangement from Frank Sinatra Sings for Only The Lonely:

We’ve also got Fred Astaire performing “One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)” from the 1943 movie The Sky’s the Limit:

And if you’re still with us, Sinatra sang today’s song on an unknown live television program:

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got the World on a String

The song of the day for Monday, December 12, 2022, is “I’ve Got the World on a String.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got the World on a String” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1932 Cotton Club Parade, where it was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, considers it one of Arlen’s loveliest songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got the World on a String” in June 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“I’ve Got the World on a String,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.