The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Loves a Piano

The playlist of the week of May 12, 2019, is Tony Loves a Piano. Some of Bennett’s finest recordings have been made with just Tony and a pianist. This week we honor some of the best of those recordings.

Tony Loves a Piano

Some of Tony Bennett's finest recordings have been with only Tony and a pianist. This week we honor some of the best of those recordings.

My Foolish Heart (Victor Young and Ned Washington) with Bill Evans
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered (Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart) with Ralph Sharon
Cold, Cold Heart (Hank Williams) with John Bunch
Some Other Time (Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green and Betty Comden) with Bill Evans
The Man That Got Away (Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin) with Ralph Sharon
A Sleepin’ Bee (Harold Arlen and Truman Capote) with Ralph Sharon
Dream Dancing (Cole Porter) with Bill Evans
One For My Baby (by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer)/It Had To Be You (Isham Jones, Gus Kahn) with John Bunch
We’ll Be Together Again (Carl T. Fischer and Frankie Laine) with Bill Evans

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Song of the Day: One For My Baby

The song of the day for Friday, May 3, 2019, is “One For My Baby (And One More For the Road).”

About This Song

“One For My Baby (And One More 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 has recorded “One For My Baby (And One More For the Road)” several times, but the honor today goes to his 1992 recording for the album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon did the fine arrangement.

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

One for My Baby (And One More for the Road), a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

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

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Saturday, April 27, 2019, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg, pictured here with Harold Arlen, has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.”
Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg
All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett first recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1959 album To My Wonderful One, with an arrangement by Frank DeVol. Today, however, I’m featuring Bennett’s 1992 recording for the album Perfectly Frank, arranged by Ralph Sharon. In an unguarded moment, I once said that Tony Bennett sings Frank Sinatra better than Frank Sinatra and I still believe that, as far as this album of songs associated with Frank Sinatra is concerned.

Last Night When We Were Young

Last Night When We Were Young, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Bewitched

The song of the day for Monday, April 22, 2019, is “Bewitched.”

About This Song

“Bewitched” which often goes by its full name”Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered,” written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart and was one of the hit songs from the 1940 musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Vivienne Segal. Notable recordings are by Benny Goodman, Mel Tormé, Oscar Peterson, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra. Alec Wilder admired the lyric and the verse, but found the song “notey.” In spite of being notey, it’s a cornerstone of the American Songbook.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon recorded “Bewitched” as well as fifteen additional songs in a single recording session at the CBS 30th Street Studio on October 28, 1959, for the album Tony Sings For Two, which wasn’t released until early 1961.

Bewitched – Remastered

Bewitched – Remastered, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Bewitched,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Shine On Your Shoes

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 4, 2019, is “Shine On Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“A Shine On Your Shoes” was written for the 1932 Broadway musical Flying Colors by Arthur Schwartz (music) and Howard Dietz (lyrics). The same song was used for the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Shine On Your Shoes” in 1993 for the album Steppin’ Out. This album consists of songs either introduced or made famous by Fred Astaire. The arrangement was written by Tony and his pianist Ralph Sharon.

Shine On Your Shoes

Shine On Your Shoes, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Shine On Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from iTunes.

We also have a video of Astaire’s performance of “A Shine On Your Shoes” from The Band Wagon.

Shine On Your Shoes

Fred Astaire and Leroy Daniels. “For the “Shine on My Shoes” number, Fred Astaire wanted to dance with the bootblack. They found the real thing in Leroy Daniels, a dancing shoeshine man working in downtown Los Angeles.” – from tcm.com