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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

May 31, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Give Me The Simple Life

The song of the day for Wednesday, June 1, 2022, is “Give Me The Simple Life.”

About This Song

“Give Me the Simple Life” was written by Rube Bloom and Harry Ruby in 1946 for the movie Wake Up and Dream, which starred John Payne and June Haver.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Give Me The Simple Life” on December 24, 2022, for the album Cloud 7, released in 1955. Charles Panely, who plays trumpet for this recording, wrote the arrangement.

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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Charles Panely, Cloud 7, Harry Ruby, Rube Bloom, Tony Bennett

February 26, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Album of the Week: My Heart Sings

The album of the week starting on February 27, 2022, is My Heart Sings.

My Heart Sings


Tony Bennett remembers My Heart Sings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Ralph Burns and I got together again to do some singles, including “Smile,” and for our next album we changed gears again. Instead of the lush, ballad-style arrangements we had used on Hometown, My Town, we switched to a cookin’ jazz sound. The album is called My Heart Sings, and I simply love Ralph’s writing on this one. It’s really beautiful music.

This album is a preview of 1962, which was an outstanding year for Tony Bennett, including his concert at Carnegie Hall and winning his first Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

My Heart Sings was recorded in 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days: April 4, April 5, and April 6, 1961.


Album Facts

Release Date August 7, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements, Conductor Ralph Burns
Piano Bernie Leighton
Bass Milt Hinton
Drums Herb Lovelle
Guitar Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne, Mundell Lowe
Saxophone Danny Bank, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque, Jerry Sanfino
Trumpet Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen
Trombone Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak
Vibes Eddie Costa

Songs on My Heart Sings

Song Composers
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Dancing in the Dark Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
I’m Comin’ Virginia Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
My Heart Sings Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin
It Never Was You Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
You Took Advantage of Me Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Close Your Eyes Bernice Petkere
Stella By Starlight Victor Young, Ned Washington
More Than You Know Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
My Ship Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin
Lover Man Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
Toot, Toot, Tootsie Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, Dan Russo

Listen to My Heart Sings

You can also listen to My Heart Sings on

  • Apple Music
  • Amazon Music player
  • Qobuz
  • YouTube Music

Filed Under: Album of the Week Tagged With: Al Klink, Arthur Schwartz, Barry Gailbraith, Bernice Petkere, Bernie Glow, Bernie Leighton, Billy Rose, Carl Sereinsen, Chuck Wayne, Dan Russo, Danny Bank, Donald Heywood, Edward Eliscu, Ernie Altschuler, Ernie Erdman, Gus Kahn, Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin, Herb Lovelle, Howard Dietz, Ira Gershwin, Irving Markowitz, James Sherman, Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Jerry Sanfino, Jimmy Davis, Jimmy Maxwell, Kurt Weill, Lorenz Hart, Maxwell Anderson, Milt Hinton, Mundell Lowe, Ned Washington, Ralph Burns, Richard Rodgers, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, Romeo Penque, Rube Bloom, Ted Fiorito, Ted Koehler, Tony Bennett, Toots Mondello, Victor Young, Vincent Youmans, Will Marion Cook

May 8, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me

The song of the day for Sunday, May 9, 2021, is “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me.”

About This Song

“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” was written by Rube Bloom and Ted Koehler for the 1933 Cotton Club Parade — World’s Fair Edition.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me” in 1961 for his album My Heart Sings. Ralph Burns wrote the orchestration.

Don"t Worry "Bout Me

Listen to Don"t Worry "Bout Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: My Heart Sings, Ralph Burns, Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler, Tony Bennett

January 2, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Give Me The Simple Life

The song of the day for Sunday, January 3, 2020, is “Give Me The Simple Life.”

About This Song

“Give Me The Simple Life” was written in 1946 by Rube Bloom and Harry Ruby for the film Wake Up and Dream, which starred John Payne and June Haver.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Give Me The Simple Life” in 1954 for his first full-length LP, Cloud 7, released in 1955. . 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 true vision of his own artistry.

Give Me The Simple Life

Listen to Give Me The Simple Life on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1955.

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

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cloud 7, Harry Ruby, Rube Bloom, Tony Bennett

November 20, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Day In, Day Out

The song of the day for Saturday, November 21, 2020, is “Day In, Day Out.”

About This Song

“Day In, Day Out,” written by Rube Bloom and Johnny Mercer, has been a favorite of vocalists since it was written in 1939. The tune itself is also rather unusual at 56 measures long. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder notes that “the melodic line soared and moved across the page like a lovely brush stroke. And it had, remarkable for any pop song, passion.” It has been recorded by many of the finest vocalists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Nat “King” Cole, Billie Holiday, Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Mel Tormé, and Margaret Whiting.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Day In, Day Out” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Day In, Day Out

Listen to Day In, Day Out on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1992.

“Day In, Day Out,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Johnny Mercer, Perfectly Frank, Ralph Sharon, Rube Bloom, Tony Bennett

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