The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 4, 2021, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

About Today

Today we are remembering Douglass Cross, who wrote the lyrics for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” Cross was born on May 4, 1920, and died on January 7, 1975. He and his partner, George Cory, were from San Francisco and had moved to New York to better their chances as songwriters.

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross in 1953. 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 is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” in 1962, It first released as a single in 1962 and later that year on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

(I Left My Heart) In San Francisco

Listen to (I Left My Heart) In San Francisco on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1962

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

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Song of the Day: Solitude

As we continue with Duke Ellington Week, the song of the day for Monday, April 26, 2021, is “Solitude.”

About This Song

“Solitude” was written by Duke Ellington in 1934; the lyrics by Eddie DeLange and Irving Mills were added later. One of his masterpieces, Ellington is said to have written “Solitude” in twenty minutes at the recording session, as they were one number short. per Ted Gioia in Jazz Standards. 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 this version of “Solitude,” his first, in 1958 for his second album with The Count Basie Orchestra, In Person! Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Solitude

Listen to Solitude on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1959

“Solitude,” as well as In Person!, is available from Apple Music.

Here’s Ellington’s 1934 recording of today’s song:

Solitude

Duke Ellington · In a Sentimental Mood · Song · 2018

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Friday, April 23, 2021, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show and was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Oscar Levant. Even though the original title was “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” it more often sung with Plans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in 1994 for his album Steppin’ Out, an album consisting of songs associated with Bennett’s good friend Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement. Sharon’s piano on this version is exquisite.

I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plan

Listen to I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plan on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1993

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: East of the Sun (West of the Moon)

The song of the day for Monday, April 19, 2021, is “East of the Sun (West of the Moon).”

About This Song

Brooks Bowman wrote “East of the Sun” in 1934 while a student at Princeton University for a student musical production called Stags at Bay, produced by the Princeton Triangle Club. The song had great reception and was noted by Princeton alumnus F. Scott Fitzgerald. After his graduation from college in 1936, he worked briefly in Hollywood for the film industry, but decided to return to the East Coast. He was about to start a contract with a New York music publisher when he was killed in an automobile accident in 1937.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “East of the Sun (West of the Moon)” in 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank, consisting of songs associated with Frank Sinatra. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

East of the Sun (West of the Moon)

Listen to East of the Sun (West of the Moon) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992

“East of the Sun (West of the Moon),” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Sunday, April 18, 2021, is “Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

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

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Rules of the Road” in 1964 for the album When Lights Are Low, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, consisting of Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

The Rules Of The Road

Listen to The Rules Of The Road on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964

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