The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Thought About You

The song of the day for Sunday, November 22, 2020, is “I Thought About You.”

About This Song

“I Thought About You” was written in 1939 by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Mercer. n the biography Portrait of Johnny: The Life of John Herndon Mercer, author Gene Lees quotes Mercer about this song:

I can remember the afternoon that we wrote it. He [Van Heusen] played me the melody. I didn’t have any idea, but I had to go to Chicago that night. I think I was on the Benny Goodman program. And I got to thinking about it on the train. I was awake, I couldn’t sleep. The tune was running through my mind, and that’s when I wrote the song. On the train, really going to Chicago.

“I Thought About You” proved quite popular and has been recorded many times by jazz performers including Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, Johnny Hartman, Shirley Horn, Dinah Washington, and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Thought About You” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

I Thought About You

Listen to I Thought About You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992

“I Thought About You,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Day In, Day Out

The song of the day for Saturday, November 21, 2020, is “Day In, Day Out.”

About This Song

“Day In, Day Out,” written by Rube Bloom and Johnny Mercer, has been a favorite of vocalists since it was written in 1939. The tune itself is also rather unusual at 56 measures long. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder notes that “the melodic line soared and moved across the page like a lovely brush stroke. And it had, remarkable for any pop song, passion.” It has been recorded by many of the finest vocalists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, and Margaret Whiting.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day In, Day Out” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Day In, Day Out

Listen to Day In, Day Out on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992

“Day In, Day Out,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Thursday, November 19, 2020, is “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road).”

About This Song

“One 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 that “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 this version of “One For My Baby (And One More For The Road)” for his 1992 album Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

One for My Baby (And One More for the Road)

Listen to One for My Baby (And One More for the Road) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992

“One For My Baby (And One More For The Road),” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Happiness is a Thing Called Joe

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 3, 2020, is “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe.”

About This Song

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” was written by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky, starring Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song was introduced by Ethel Waters, sung to her husband Joe, played by Dooley Wilson. The 1943 film version of Cabin in the Sky also featured Miss Waters with the role of Joe played by Eddie Anderson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon for their landmark album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1962.

Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe

Listen to Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Angel Eyes

The song of the day for Friday, October 30, 2020, is “Angel Eyes.”

About This Song

“Angel Eyes” was written in 1946 by Matt Dennis and Earl Brent. It was used in the 1953 film Jennifer. It’s a popular jazz song that has had numerous fine recordings, including those by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Chet Baker, Dave Brubeck, and Duke Ellington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Angel Eyes” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon and features some very fine bass from Paul Langosch. Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

Angel Eyes

Listen to Angel Eyes on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992

“Angel Eyes,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.