The song of the day for Wednesday, February 25, 2026, is “Give Me The Simple Life.”

About Today

Tony Bennett’s first full-length album, Cloud 7, was released 71 years ago on February 25, 1955. I wrote this description of Cloud 7 for my Tony Bennett discography:

Cloud 7 was Tony Bennett’s first full-length studio album. Having signed with Columbia Records in 1950, he had turned out a number of hit singles including”Boulevard of Broken Dreams,” “Sing You Sinners,” “Cold, Cold Heart” and “Because of You.” Cloud 7 was the album that he had wanted to make–-a solid jazz long-playing album with a solid group of jazz musicians. Jazz critic Thom Jurek said that “The mood is nocturnal, elegant, amorous, hip.” As a first album by a young singer (Bennett was not even 30 when he made Cloud 7), it’s a remarkable album that defined Bennett not only as a vastly popular singer, but a jazz artist with impeccable taste and a true vision of his own artistry.

About This Song

“Give Me The Simple Life” was written by Rube Bloom and Harry Ruby for the 1946 film Wake Up and Dream, which starred John Payne and June Haver. Bing Crosby and Benny Goodman each recorded the song in 1945.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Give Me The Simple Life” on December 22, 1954, for his album Cloud 7, released in 1955. Charles Panely, who played trumpet on the album, wrote the arrangement.

“Give Me The Simple Life,” as well as Cloud 7, is available on Apple Music.

We’ve got Bing Crosby’s 1945 recording of today’s song with Jimmy Dorsey and His Orchestra: