The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Very Thought Of You

The song of the day for Monday, October 26, 2020, is “The Very Thought Of You.”

About This Song

“The Very Thought Of You” was written in 1934 by Ray Noble. This ballad by the British composer and bandleader Ray Noble has been popular since it was written in 1934. Noble recorded it with his own orchestra; Bing Crosby also recorded it that same year. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Very Thought Of You” in 1965. It was arranged by John Keating and featured Bobby Hackett on cornet. It was released the following year on A Time For Love.

The Very Thought Of You

Listen to The Very Thought Of You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1966

“The Very Thought Of You,” as well as A Time For Love, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Very Thought of You

The song of the day for Thursday, June 18, 2020, is “The Very Thought of You.”

About Today

Today we would like to wish Sir Paul McCartney a very happy birthday!

About This Song

“The Very Thought of You” was written in 1934 by bandleader Ray Nobel. This ballad has been popular since it was written in 1934. Noble recorded it with his own orchestra; Bing Crosby also recorded it that same year. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae, and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Paul McCartney recorded “The Very Thought of You” in 2006 for Duets: An American Classic. Jorge Calandrelli did the arrangement.

“The Very Thought of You,” as well as Duets: An American Classic, is available from Apple Music.

Tony and Sir Paul made this video, which I am pleased to share.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Touch of Your Lips

The song of the day for Friday, June 14, 2019, is “The Touch of Your Lips.”

About This Song

“The Touch of Your Lips” was written in 1936 by Ray Noble. Noble was a popular English bandleader who became quite popular in the US as well. After great success in London, he and his vocalist Al Bowlly appeared at the Rainbow Room in 1934. “The Touch of Your Lips” has been recorded by Chet Baker, Nat King Cole, and Andy Williams.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “The Touch of Your Lips” in 1975 for their first album The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. This album was released on the Fantasy label, which was the label Bill Evans was associated with. Part of their agreement was to do this first one on Evans’s label and second album, Together Again, on Bennett’s own label Improv.

The Touch Of Your Lips

The Touch Of Your Lips, a song by Tony Bennett, Bill Evans on Spotify

“The Touch of Your Lips,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Touch of Your Lips

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 13, 2018 is “The Touch of Your Lips.”

About This Song

“The Touch of Your Lips” was written in 1936 by Ray Noble. Noble was a popular English bandleader who became quite popular in the US as well. After great success in London, he and his vocalist Al Bowlly appeared at the Rainbow Room in 1934. “The Touch of Your Lips” has been recorded by Chet Baker, Nat King Cole and Andy Williams, among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “The Touch of Your Lips” in 1975 for their first album: The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

The Touch Of Your Lips

Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975


“The Touch of Your Lips,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Beginning on June 10, 1975, Tony Bennett and Bill Evans began a three-day recording session at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California to record the songs for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. In addition to Bennett and Evans, there were just two other people at the session: Helen Keane (Evans’s manager) and the recording engineer Don Cody.

For three days, they rehearsed, arranged and recorded the songs for this album–one of Bennett’s finest and one that is highly regarded by the jazz community.

The Year of Tony Bennett often features songs from both this album and their second album, Together Again. And so today, we recognize this so very significant recording session that resulted in an extraordinary jazz vocals album. For those that are interested, you can read the liner notes from the CD release on our discography page for The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Very Thought of You

The song of the day for Saturday, June 2, 2018 is “The Very Thought of You.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “The Very Thought of You,” written by the British composer and band leader Ray Noble, has been popular since it was written in 1934. Noble recorded it with his own orchestra; Bing Crosby also recorded it that same year. Other significant recordings include those by Frank Sinatra, Carmen McRae and Nat King

About This Version

Tony Bennett’ first recording of “The Very Thought of You” was made in 1965 and features Buddy Hackett on cornet. It was released in 1966 for the album A Time For Love. John Keating wrote the arrangement.

The Very Thought Of You

Listen to The Very Thought Of You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1966


“The Very Thought of You,” as well as A Time For Love, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Our Saturday video this week features Sir Paul McCartney’s and Tony Bennett’s recording of “The Very Thought of You” for the 2005 album Duets: An American Classic.

Tony Bennett - The Very Thought of You (Duets: The Making Of An American Classic)

Tony Bennett performing "The Very Thought of You" with Paul McCartney Listen to Tony Bennett: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/listenYD Subscribe to the official Tony Bennett YouTube channel: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/subscribeYD Follow Tony Bennett: Facebook: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followFI Instagram: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followII Twitter: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followTI Website: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followWI Spotify: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/followSI YouTube: https://TonyBennett.lnk.to/subscribeYD Chorus: The mere idea of you, the longing here for you You"ll never know how slow the moments go till I"m near to you I see your face in every flower Your eyes in stars above It"s just the thought of you The very thought of you, my love #TonyBennett #PaulMcCartney #TheVeryThoughtOfYou #Duets

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites