The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Blues in the Night

The song of the day for Sunday, July 31, 2022, is “Blues in the Night.”

About This Song

“Blues in the Night” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in 1941 for the film of the same name. Arlen wrote the music first and wrote a true blues song. Johnny Mercer, who later wrote the lyrics, drew on his southern heritage to write the exceptional blues lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blues in the Night” on October 21, 1957, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Sharon; drummer Jo Jones was the featured percussionist. The recording was released in 1957 on the album The Beat of My Heart.

“Blues in the Night,” as well as is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lazy Afternoon

The song of the day for Saturday, July 30, 2022, 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, featuring an arrangement by Ralph Sharon. It was released in 1957 on the album The Beat of My Heart. Chico Hamilton is the featured percussionist for this song,

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

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Song of the Day: You Go To My Head

The song of the day for Saturday, May 14, 2022, is “You Go To My Head.”

About This Song

“You Go To My Head” was written in 1938 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. Written by the same songwriting team that gave us “Santa Claus is Coming To Town,” “You Go to My Head” is a well-respected popular song. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder called it “a phenomenon” and “a minor masterpiece.” Al Gioia in The Jazz Standards notes that “this song comes closer than any tune I know to capturing in musical form the feeling of losing control.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “You Go To My Head” in 1957 for The Beat of My Heart. Today’s version, though, is from 1992 for Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the very fine arrangement.

“You Go To My Head,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Time After Time

The song of the day for Saturday, May 7, 2022, is “Time After Time.”

About This Song

“Time After Time” was written by Jule Style and Sammy Canh in 1947 for the movie It Happened in Brooklyn. The song was introduced by Frank Sinatra and was a major hit for him. This song has been widely recorded by many artists. In his fine book The Jazz Standards, Al Gioia quotes Jule Styne as saying “It’s a man’s song — ‘Time After Time.’ When a woman sings it, it is drained of all its power, so to speak. The girls can’t do it.” Well, tell that to Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Carmen McRae, Anita O’Day, and Cyndi Lauper.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Time After Time” in 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank, with a wonderful arrangement by Ralph Sharon.

“Time After Time,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Thursday, May 5, 2022, is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“The Rules of the Road” was written in 1961 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, this song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole, and Rosemary Clooney.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “The Rules of the Road” in 1961, with a fine Ralph Burns arrangement. Today, though, I’m choosing his second studio recording from 1964 on the album When Lights Are Low, arranged by Ralph Sharon. This is version is more low-key and introspective than the original. I love both, but felt in the mood for this version today.

“The Rules of the Road,” as well as When Lights Are Low is available on Apple Music.