The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Don’t Cry Baby

The song of the day for Saturday, April 27, 2025, 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. Johnson was a composer and pianist who, along with Jelly Roll Morton, came into prominence in the era between ragtime and the stride piano techniques in early jazz. Saul Bernie and Stella Unger were both composers who were active 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 “Don’t Cry Baby” in May 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement.

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

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

This is the first recording of “Don’t Cry Baby” from 1929, featuring Bessie Smith on vocals and composer James P. Johnson on piano.

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Song of the Day: What a Wonderful World

The song of the day for Monday, August 4, 2025, is “What a Wonderful World.”

About Today

We are celebrating the great Louis Armstrong, who was born 124 years ago on August 4, 1901.

About This Song

“What a Wonderful World” was written in 1967 by Bob Thiele (as George Douglas) and George David Weiss. Written at a time of great political and racial unrest in America, “What A Wonderful World” was a kind, gentle, and positive song that was very well received. Louis Armstrong recorded it first, and it was a big hit for him, selling over a million singles. Even though this song has been recorded by many fine artists, it remains closely identified with Louis Armstrong.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “What a Wonderful World” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World. Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangements. Lee Musiker was the musical director and wrote the orchestra arrangements. Peter Matz conducted and did the orchestrations.

“What a Wonderful World,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Louis Armstrong’s 1967 recording of “What a Wonderful World.”

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Song of the Day: I Wonder

The song of the day for Monday, June 23, 2025, is “I Wonder.”

About This Song

“I Wonder” was written in 1944 by Cecil Gant and Raymond Leveen. The song was first recorded by blues singer Cecil Gant, who as he was still serving in the Army just at the end of World War II, recorded as Pvt. Cecil Gant; the recording moved easily to #1 on Juke Box Race charts. In 1945, the Roosevelt Sykes recording replaced the Gant version as #1. Louis Armstrong recorded “I Wonder” in 1945, which reached #3 on the Juke Box chart. Aretha Franklin also recorded the song in 1967.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “I Wonder” in March 2002 for their album A Wonderful World. Vocal arrangements were by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“I Wonder,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.

We’re happy to include Louis Armstrong‘s 1945 recording of today’s song.

We’ve also got Cecil Gant’s original recording.

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Song of the Day: New York State of Mind

The song of the day for Sunday, May 25, 2025, is “New York State of Mind.”

About This Song

“New York State of Mind” was written in 1976 by Billy Joel and has been a mainstay of his concerts since then. It’s been recorded by many great artists, including Carmen McRae, Barbra Streisand. and Mel Tormé.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Billy Joel recorded “New York State of Mind” in June 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends. Rob Mathes did the vocal arrangements.

“New York State of Mind,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got a fantastic video of Billy Joel and Tony Bennett performing “New York State of Mind” in a 2008 concert at Shea Stadium:

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Song of the Day: Exactly Like You

The song of the day for Monday, May 12, 2025, is “Exactly Like You.”

About This Song

“Exactly Like You” was written by Jimmy McHugh and Dorothy Fields in 1930 for Lew Leslie’s International Revue, which also introduced “On The Sunny Side Of The Street.” While the reviewers were not kind to the production, the score was then, and remains still, quite noteworthy. Even though Fields’ lyrics for the song are very fine, the early recordings of the song were mostly instrumentals, such as that by Louis Armstrong. The song became popular again in 1936, with a fine recording by Benny Goodman that featured Lionel Hampton on the vibraphone, followed by the 1937 recording by Count Basie, which included the vocals by Jimmy Rushing. Later notable recordings include those by Carmen McRae (1954), Bing Crosby (1944), Patti Page (1949), Anita O’Day (1975), Nina Simone (1959) and Diana Krall (2006).

About This Version

Tony Bennett and k.d. lang recorded “Exactly Like You” in May 2002 for their album A Wonderful World. Vocal arrangements were by Rob Mathes. The album was orchestrated and conducted by Peter Matz, with musical direction and arrangements by Lee Musiker.

“Exactly Like You,” as well as A Wonderful World, is available on Apple Music.