The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Manhattan

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 24, 2026, is “Manhattan.”

About This Song

“Manhattan” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1925 Garrick Gaieties, where it was introduced by Sterling Hollywood. It was a huge hit that literally stopped the show. The song made its first film appearance the the following year in a short entitled Makers of Melody. The song has remained popular up to today and is frequently recorded by jazz and popular singers. In addition to Bennett’s recording, “Manhattan” has been recorded by Blossom Dearie, Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Tormé and Dinah Washington. It is often used in films, including Silent Movie, Mighty Aphrodite, and The English Patient.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded “Manhattan” in July 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“Manhattan,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers and Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 3, 2026, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey (based on the 1940 novel by John O’Hara), 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.

Chez Joey, a reimagining of the Rodgers and Hart classic Pal Joey is in previews at the Arena Theatre in Washington, D.C. The score not only contains the original songs from the Broadway musical, but also more from the 1957 film of Pal Joey. The original book has been heavily revised, including moving the location to Chicago’s South Side.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in July 1973 with the The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet: (Braff on trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass). It was initially released in 1973 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs.

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Thou Swell

The song of the day for Thursday, January 15, 2026, is “Thou Swell.”

About This Song

“Thou Swell” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1927 musical A Connecticut Yankee, based on the Mark Twain novel A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court. “Thou Swell” is one of more charming songs from the musical, as the lyrics feature a combination of modern and medieval language: “thine eyes are cute too” and “I’d feel so rich in a hut for two.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Thou Swell” in July 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart. Accompanying Bennett was The Ruby Braff/George Barnes with Braff on trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Guiffrida on bass.

“Thou Swell,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Falling In Love with Love

The song of the day for Thursday, January 80, 2026, is “Falling In Love with Love.”

About This Song

“Falling In Love with Love” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse, pairs a beautiful Rodgers waltz melody with the adult and rather somber lyric by Hart: in other words, a perfect Rodgers and Hart song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Falling In Love with Love” on February 19, 1965, featuring an arrangement by Don Costa. The song was released in 1997 for he CD re-release of the album If I Ruled the World: Songs for the Jet Set.

“Falling In Love with Love,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set, is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Tuesday, October 28, 2025, is “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me.”

About This Song

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1942 Broadway musical By Jupiter. 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

In 1959, Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon decided to create an intimate piano-vocal album. Bennett relates:

We booked time in the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes—which must be some kind of record—twelve of which made it onto the album, which became 1961’s Tony Sings for Two, Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw that there was no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings for Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.

One of those songs was “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me,” recorded 66 years ago on October 28, 1959. Tony Sings For Two was released in 1961. It was the last Tony Bennett album produced by Mitch Miller.

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