The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: East of the Sun

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 16, 2020, is “East of the Sun.”

About This Song

“East of the Sun” was written in 1934 by Brooks Bowman, a student at Princeton University, for a student musical production called Stags at Bay, produced by the Princeton Triangle Club. The song had a 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” in 1992 for album of songs often sung by Frank Sinatra, Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

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

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Song of the Day: Taking a Chance on Love

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 9, 2020, is “Taking a Chance on Love.”

About This Song

“Taking a Chance on Love” was written by Vernon Duke, with lyrics by John La Touche and Ted Fetter, for the 1940 musical Cabin in the Sky, where it was introduced by the great Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song works well for both jazz singers and instrumentalists, with significant recordings by Dave Brubeck, Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, and Dizzy Gillespie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Taking a Chance on Love” with Count Basie and His Orchestra in December 1959; it was released the following year on the album In Person! Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“Taking a Chance on Love,” as well as In Person!, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Thursday, May 28, 2020, 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 and Ralph Sharon recorded “A Sleepin’ Bee” in 1959 for their album Tony Sings For Two. Bennett and Sharon booked some time at the CBS 30th Street Studio. Sharon came with a briefcase of sheet music and in a single session on October 28, 1959, they recorded sixteen songs, twelve of which were released on that album in 1961.

“A Sleepin’ Bee,” as well as Tong Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars

The song of the day for Saturday, May 23, 2020, is “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars.”

About This Song

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” was written in 1960 by Antonio Carlos Jobim; the English lyrics by Gene Lees were added later. Known in the original Portuguese as “Corcovado,” this is one the great early bossa nova songs. The song has a serene quiet feeling–the English title fits the mood of the song perfectly. Both Stan Getz and Miles Davis recorded jazz versions of “Quiet Nights.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars” on April 8, 1964, it was recorded live in the Conga Room at The Sahara Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement. The recording was released in 2011 as Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964.

“Quiet Nights of Quiet Stars,” as well as Live at the Sahara: Las Vegas, 1964, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Night and Day

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 20, 2020, is “Night and Day.”

About This Song

“Night and Day” was written by Cole Porter for the 1932 musical Gay Divorce, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. The song became and still is quite popular and certainly a standard in the American songbook. Significant recordings include those by Art Tatum, Bill Evans, Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Charlie Parker, Ella Fitzgerald, and Django Reinhardt.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Night and Day” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank, dedicated to Frank Sinatra. Ralph Sharon wrote the very effective arrangement.

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Night and Day,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.