The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Nobody’s Heart Belongs to Me

The song of the day for Sunday, May 1, 2022, is “Nobody’s Heart Belongs to Me.”

About This Song

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the musical By Jupiter in 1942. Directed by Joshua Logan, it starred Ray Bolger, Vera-Ellen, and Constance Moore. It was their last full-length work. In American Popular Music, Alec Wilder called this song “one of the loveliest songs Rodgers or any other theater writer has ever written. In the area of this form of music, it is a masterpiece.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nobody’s Heart Belongs to Me” in 1959 with just Bennett and Ralph Sharon. The intended album, Tony Sings For Two, was released in 1961.

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs to Me,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Monday, April 25, 2022, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in 1973 with the Ruby Braff-George Barnes Quartet, which feature Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass. The recording was released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Lady Is A Tramp

The song of the day for Monday, March 28, 2022, is “The Lady Is A Tramp.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is very pleased to wish Stefani Joanne Angelina Germanotta (known professionally as Lady Gaga) a very happy birthday. Lady Gaga was born on March 28, 1986. Happy birthday!!

About This Song

“The Lady Is A Tramp” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1937 for the Broadway musical Babes In Arms. The song was meant as a spoof on the high society of New York, where the singer is clear about what she likes to do, no matter what everyone else is doing. “The Lady Is A Tramp” has been sung by Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, and Lena Horne. More recently, Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga sang a duet of this song on their 2011 album “Duets II.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “The Lady Is A Tramp” for the 2011 album Duets II. The terrific arrangement was written by our good friend Marion Evans.

“The Lady Is A Tramp,” as well as Duets II is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the video from the recording session.

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Song of the Day: I Wish I Were In Love Again

The song of the day for Sunday, March 13, 2022, is “I Wish I Were In Love Again.”

About This Song

“I Wish I Were In Love Again” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 musical Babes in Arms. It was a favorite song of Judy Garland, who recorded it in 1940. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “I Wish I Were In Love Again” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

“I Wish I Were In Love Again,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Album of the Week: My Heart Sings

The album of the week starting on February 27, 2022, is My Heart Sings.

My Heart Sings

Tony Bennett remembers My Heart Sings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Ralph Burns and I got together again to do some singles, including “Smile,” and for our next album we changed gears again. Instead of the lush, ballad-style arrangements we had used on Hometown, My Town, we switched to a cookin’ jazz sound. The album is called My Heart Sings, and I simply love Ralph’s writing on this one. It’s really beautiful music.

This album is a preview of 1962, which was an outstanding year for Tony Bennett, including his concert at Carnegie Hall and winning his first Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

My Heart Sings was recorded in 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days: April 4, April 5, and April 6, 1961.

Album Facts

Release Date August 7, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements, Conductor Ralph Burns
Piano Bernie Leighton
Bass Milt Hinton
Drums Herb Lovelle
Guitar Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne, Mundell Lowe
Saxophone Danny Bank, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque, Jerry Sanfino
Trumpet Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen
Trombone Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak
Vibes Eddie Costa

Songs on My Heart Sings

Song Composers
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Dancing in the Dark Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
I’m Comin’ Virginia Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
My Heart Sings Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin
It Never Was You Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
You Took Advantage of Me Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Close Your Eyes Bernice Petkere
Stella By Starlight Victor Young, Ned Washington
More Than You Know Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
My Ship Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin
Lover Man Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
Toot, Toot, Tootsie Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, Dan Russo

Listen to My Heart Sings

You can also listen to My Heart Sings on

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