The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Christmas Medley

The song of the day for Wednesday, December 24, 2025, the 11th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is a Christmas medley.

About This Song

The Christmas medley contains these songs:

Name Composers / Notes
We Wish You a Merry Christmas Traditional 16th-century English carol
Silent Night Music: Franz Xavier Gruber; Lyrics: Joseph Mohr (1818)
O Come All Ye Faithful (Adeste Fideles) Traditional; 13th-century
Jingle Bells James Lord Pierpont (1857)
Where Is Love Lionel Bart (from the musical Oliver, 1968)

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this Christmas medley in October 1968 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement.

The Christmas medley, as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Christmas Song

The song of the day for Sunday, Decmber 21, 2025, The 8th day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “The Christmas Song.”

About This Song

“The Christmas Song” was written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. Sometimes known by its first line ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” this song was written on a very hot summer day and Tormé and Wells were trying to think cold yuletide thoughts in an effort to cool off. The entire song was written forty minutes and is one of America’s most classic Christmas songs. The first recording was by Nat King Cole in 1946.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Christmas Song” in June 1967 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, released in 1968. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“The Christmas Song,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Nat Cole’s 1946 recording of “The Christmas Song.”

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 16, 2025, the third day of a Tony Bennett Christmas is “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” was written in 1934 by J. Fred Coots and Haven Gillespie. The song had a spectacular debut. It was first sung on Eddie Cantor’s radio show in November 1934. On the day after the broadcast, there were 100,000 orders for the sheet music; by Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” in June 1967 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album , recorded in 1968. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement.

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve also got a video of Tony Bennett’s recording of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” with The Count Basie Orchestra for the 2008 album A Swingin’ Christmas.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Snowfall

The song of the day for Sunday, December 14, 2025, the first day of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Snowfall.”

About This Song

“Snowfall” was composed in 1941 by Claude and Ruth Thornhill. It has been widely recorded by artists including Henry Mancini and His Orchestra, George Shearing, The Bucky Pizzarelli Trio, Doris Day, and John Pizzarelli.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Snowfall” on October 1, 1968, for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote and arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Snowfall,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available on Apple Music.

I’d like to feature this recording of “Snowfall” by John Pizzarelli, a friend of Year of Tony Bennett, from his 1996 album Let’s Share Christmas:

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Country Girl

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 26, 2025, is “Country Girl.”

About This Song

“Country Girl” was written by the Canadian-born composer, conductor, arranger and trumpet player Robert Farnon. Farnon composed both light classical and popular music, as well as film and television scores. Robert Farnon worked with Tony Bennett on several albums, including the wonderful 1968 Snowfall.

The song was based on the William Wordsworth poem “The Solitary Reaper.” “Country Girl” was written in 1966 for the Eurovision Song Contest; it came in third. All I can say is that those other two songs must have been phenomenal, because “Country Girl” is one of the most beautiful and touching songs that I have ever heard.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Country Girl” 59 years ago on November 26, 1966, for Tony Makes It Happen, released in 1967. Marion Evans wrote the arrangement and conducted.

“Country Girl,” as well as Tony Makes It Happen, is available on Apple Music.