The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Tony Live! I Left My Heart in San Francisco

The song of the day for Sunday, March 1, 2020, is “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.”

About This Song

“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross. They were songwriters from San Francisco and wrote it while homesick. 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.

About This Version

In 1962 when Bennett sang “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” at the White House Sessions concert, the song was relatively new in Bennett’s repertoire. The single was released in February 1962 and by the summer of that year, it had become quite popular, though it was not yet his signature song. It’s a really lovely recording, captured on Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

“I Left My Heart in San Francisco,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: A Rainy Day

The song of the day for Friday, February 21, 2020, is “A Rainy Day.”

About This Song

“A Rainy Day” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz or the 1932 Broadway musical revue Flying Colors, which starred Clifton Webb, Patsy Kelly, Imogene Coca, and Buddy and Vilma Ebsen.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Rainy Day” in on January 10, 1986, for his album The Art of Excellence. The recording was arranged and orchestrated by Jorge Callandrelli and features the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass, and Joe LaBarbera on drums.

The Art of Excellence was Bennett’s first album upon his return to Columbia Records.

“A Rainy Day,” as well as The Art of Excellence, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: In The Wee Small Hours

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 19, 2020, is “In The Wee Small Hours.”

About This Song

“In The Wee Small Hours” was written by David Mann and Bob Hilliard in 1955. This song is, of course, widely identified with Frank Sinatra, who anchored his well-received concept album In the Wee Small Hours around this song. Interestingly, the song almost didn’t get written. The two songwriters were working in Hilliard’s home in New Jersey. It was well past midnight and Mann was getting ready to leave for home in New York. Hilliard urged him to stay and Mann came up with the tune, to which Hilliard quickly wrote the lyric.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “In The Wee Small Hours” on February 26, 1964 with the Ralph Sharon Trio, consisting of Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. They recorded a number of songs at that session, some of which wound up on different records and some of which were never released. “In The Wee Small Hours” was released in 1966 on A Time For Love.

“In The Wee Small Hours,” as well as A Time For Love, is available from iTunes.

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Tony Live! Just In Time

The song of the day for Saturday, February 15, 2020, is “Just In Time.”

About This Song

“Just In Time” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the 1956 Broadway musical Bells Are Ringing. The song was introduced by Judy Holliday and Sidney Chaplin. Holliday and Dean Martin sang it in the 1960 film version of Bells Are Ringing.

About This Version

Just a few weeks after his triumphant performance at Carnegie Hall, Tony Bennett was invited by President Kennedy to perform at the White House for the interns whose service had come to an end. In addition to Bennett, The Dave Brubeck Quartet was also invited. The concert was originally to be performed in the Rose Garden, but there was so much interest in the concert that it was moved to the mall by the Washington tower.

Tony Bennett sang “Just In Time” at the White House concert on August 28, 2020, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, featuring Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

Though the entire concert was taped, the tapes had been thought long lost. In fact, it wasn’t until 2012 that they were found–in the Sony/Columbia classical section. Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions was released in May 2013.

“Just In Time,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 11, 2020, is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away,” by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin, was written for Judy Garland for the 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” on October 28, 1959, with Ralph Sharon. Bennett and Sharon recorded 14 songs that one day. The album, Tony Sings For Two, was released in January 1961.

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

I must admit that I was so happy to see Renee Zellweger win the Academy Award for her portrayal of Judy Garland in the film Judy. In honor of Renee and Judy Garland, here’s the famous clip from A Star is Born.