The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)

The song of the day for Thursday, November 12, 2026, is “I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You).”

About This Song

“I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)” was written in 1930 by Doc Daugherty and Ellis Reynolds, with lyrics by A.J. Neiburg. The tune was known first in 1929 as “Lookin’ For Another Sweetie” with other lyrics by other writers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)” in March 2002 for A Wonderful World. Lee Musiker was the Musical Director and wrote the arrangement. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements.

“I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You),” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

We have Louis Armstrong‘s 1930 recording of “‘I’m Confessin’ (That I Love You)” with the Sebastian New Cotton Club Orchestra in Los Angeles. This recording features a young Lionel Hampton on drums and Lawrence Brown on trombone. It was released on OKeh 41448.

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Song of the Day: Stormy Weather

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 14, 2026, is “Stormy Weather.”

About This Song

“Stormy Weather” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1933. Ethel Waters introduced at the Cotton Club that year and also recorded it with The Dorsey Brothers. Her 1993 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame; the Library of Congress added to the National Recording Registry in 2004.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole recorded “Stormy Weather” on June 25, 2001, for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. The Ralph Sharon Quartet accompanied them on this recording (Sharon: piano, Gray Sargent: guitar, Paul Langosch: bass, and Clayton Cameron: drums). Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement.

“Stormy Weather,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ethel Waters’ 1933 recording of “Stormy Weather.”

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Song of the Day: Blues in the Night

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 30, 2926, is “Blues in the Night.”

About This Song

“Blues in the Night” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1941 film Blues in the Night, a noir film about a group of jazz musicians. Initially, Arlen was not enthusiastic about Mercer’s lyric. When they talked about it, Arlen noticed a phrase written in the margin: “My mamma done tol’ me, when I was in knee pants.” Arlen suggested he work on a new lyric and to start it with “My mamma done tol’ me, when I was in knee pants.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blues in the Night”in May 2001 Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the arrangement.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“Blues in the Night,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, is available on Apple Music.

For the 1941 film Blues in the Night, baritone William Gillespie was hired to sing this song in the film, set in a jail cell, and is overheard by and inspires the musicians, who are all in another cell.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Cry Baby

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 23, 2026, is “Don’t Cry Baby.”

About This Song

“Don’t Cry Baby” was written in 1929 by James P. Johnson, Saul Bernie, and Stella Unger. Jimmy Johnson was a composer and pianist who, along with Jelly Roll Morton, became prominent in the era between ragtime and the stride piano techniques in early jazz. Saul Bernie and Stella Unger were both active composers in the 1920s. It was first sung by Bessie Smith in 1929. Erskine Hawkins recorded it in 1943; this version reached #1 on the Harlem Hit Parade in 1943 and #15 on the popular charts. Etta James recorded it in 1961 as well.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Good Morning Heartache” in 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement.

“Don’t Cry Baby,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues,” is available on Apple Music.

Don’t Cry Baby” was first recorded in 1929, with Bessie Smith on vocals, accompanied by James P. Johnson.

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Song of the Day: Undecided Blues

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 12, 2026, is “Undecided Blues.”

About This Song

“Undecided Blues” was written by Jimmy Rushing (also known as Mr. Five by Five, due to his stature). Rushing was born in Oklahoma City into to a musical family; his father was trumpet player and his mother a singer. He started his career as an itinerant blues singer in the early 1920s. He sang with Jelly Roll Morton and other early jazz orchestras before joining the Bennie Moten band in 1929. When Moten died in 1935, he joined the Count Basie Orchestra, which was his home for many years. Rushing, with the Count Basie Orchestra, first recorded “Undecided Blues” in 1941.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Undecided Blues” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements.

Playin’ With My Friends won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Album.

“Undecided Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available on Apple Music.

We have Rushing’s 1941 recorded “Undecided Blues” with Count Basie and His Orchestra.