The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: From This Moment On

The song of the day for Friday, November 28, 2025, is “From This Moment On.”

About This Song

“From This Moment On” was written in 1950 by Cole Porter. Porter wrote this song for his musical Out Of This World, but it was dropped the score. he song was used in the 1999 Broadway stage revival of Kiss Me Kate. Doris Day recorded this song as a single in 1950; the Frank Sinatra 1957 recording for his A Swingin’ Affair! was instrumental in the popularity of this song. It has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Lena Horne. and Susannah McCorkle.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with Count Basie and His Orchestra and Candido on percussion, recorded “From This Moment On” live on November 28, 1958, at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia, PA. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

After Tony Bennett and Count Basie recorded their first album, Basie Swings, Bennett Sings, they decided it to record a live album. Tony Bennett wrote about the experience in hi autobiography The Good Life.

We opened at the Latin Casino in Philadelphia on November 28, 1958, and did tremendous business. There was barely room in that tiny club for Frank Laico to set up his console, and he finally had to rig it up in the basement kitchen. I thought the recording came out wonderfully, but stereo recording had just been discovered and Al Ham, the producer, was unhappy that we had recorded in mono. It was his call, so the following month, we rerecorded the album in the studio in stereo, adding the crowd noise and applause to make it sound “live.” But of all things, Ham put the audience applause in the wrong places. What a mess! We titled the album In Person! and released it in early 1959.

“From This Moment On,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Monday, May 19, 2025, is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written by Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by John LaTouche, in 1941 (though Duke Ellington was also listed as the co-composer on the first recording of the song,  it is widely accepted to be written by Strayhorn). The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this one by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” on May 25, 1964. “Day Dream” is one of five song Bennett recorded with Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). I’m sure I’m not the only one who thinks a Tony Bennett album with these musicians would have been extraordinary. They were released on the Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 disc included in the Tony Bennett Complete Collection box set released in 2011.

“Day Dream,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the 1941 recording of “Day Dream,” with Strayhorn and Johnny Hodges.

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Thursday, May 25, 2023, is “Day Dream.”

About This Song

“Day Dream” was written in 1941 by Billy Strayhorn and Duke Ellington, with lyrics by John LaTouche. Acknowledged to have been written solely by Strayhorn, “Day Dream” is a lovely song with a strong Strayhorn touch, enhanced by the thoughtful lyrics by LaTouche. The first recording was in 1941 and featured Johnny Hodges on saxophone and Billy Strayhorn on piano. Other notable recordings include this one by Tony Bennett, Betty Carter, Ella Fitzgerald, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Day Dream” on May 25, 1964, with an excellent jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). The trombonist on this recording is, alas, unknown. The recording was released on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 in the 2011 Complete Collection box set.

“Day Dream,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music. I don’t know about you, but I would have loved a full album with this group. There are five recordings by this group on the Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 and they are all worth a listen.

Here’s the Johnny Hodges and Billy Strayhorn 1941 recording:

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Song of the Day: Out Of This World

The song of the day for Saturday, September 10, 2022, is “Out Of This World.”

About This Song

“Out Of This World” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer in 1944 for the 1945 movie of the same name. Out Of This World starred Eddie Bracken; however, Bing Crosby dubbed the vocals for Bracken and introduced the song. Alec Wilder was a fan of this song, praising its ethereal quality and the excellent lyrics by Mercer.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Out Of This World” on October 15, 1964, with a terrific jazz quartet: Herbie Hancock (piano), Stan Getz (tenor sax), Ron Carter (bass), and Elvin Jones (drums). Bennett recorded several other songs with this quartet. The recordings were released in 2011 in The Complete Collection box set on disc #1: Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

“Out Of This World,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Day Dream

The song of the day for Monday, November 29, 2021, is “Day Dream.”

About Today

We are proud to honor Billy Strayhorn on the anniversary of his birth on November 28, 1915. Strayhorn was, of course, a close associate of Duke Ellington for nearly three decades. Strayhorn did it all; he was a composer, pianist, lyricist, and arranger. Perhaps his most well-known contribution to Ellington was “Take the ‘A’ Train.” Strayhorn had met Ellington in Pittsburgh, PA and Ellington asked Strayhorn to come to visit him in New York. Ellington wrote instructions for Strayhorn to follow to get to Ellington’s home Harlem’s Sugar Hill and Strayhorn wrote that famous song using those instructions as the lyrics.

Other significant Strayhorn songs include “Lush Life,” “Chelsea Bridge,” “Lotus Blossom,” and ” Something To Live For.”

Billy Strayhorn died on May 31, 1967, from esophageal cancer. A few months after that, Ellington recorded And His Mother Called Him Bill to pay homage to his friend and collaborator. It’s a beautiful and touching album, especially the spontaneous solo by Ellington of “Lotus Blossom,” recorded at the end of the session as the other musicians were packing up to leave.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day Dream” on May 25, 1964, with Herbie Hancock, Stan Getz, Ron Carter, and Elvin Jones. This song, as well as four others, recorded at the same session, were not released commercially until they were included in the 2011 Complete Collection box set on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1.

“Day Dream,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes, & Other Delights, Vol. 1 is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Duke Ellington’s recording of “Lotus Blossom”