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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

February 20, 2022 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Street of Dreams

The song of the day for Monday, February 21, 2022, is “Street of Dreams.”

About This Song

“Street of Dreams” was written in 1932 by Victor Young and Sam M. Lewis. It has a classic depression-era sense, where love is one of the few things that may be impossible for those with money, but “no one is poor as long as love is sure.” Bing Crosby was the first singer to record “Street of Dreams”, though the Russ Columbo recording was also popular.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon recorded “Street of Dreams” for their 1961 album Tony Sings For Two, our album of the week.

“Street of Dreams,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Ralph Sharon, Sam M. Lewis, Tony Bennett, Tony Sings for Two, Victor Young

March 17, 2021 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Street of Dreams

The song of the day for Thursday, March 18, 2021, is “Street of Dreams.”

About This Song

“Street of Dreams” was written in 1932 by Victor Young and Sam M. Lewis. The song has a classic depression-era sense, where love is one of the few things that may be impossible for those with money, but “no one is poor as long as love is sure.” Bing Crosby was the first singer to record “Street of Dreams”, though the Russ Columbo recording was also popular.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Street of Dreams” with Ralph Sharon for their legendary (and impeccable) album Tony Sings For Two. The entire album was recorded on October 28, 1959 (under the protest of Bennett’s producer Mitch Miller), though the album wasn’t released until February 6, 1961. It is very close to perfect in every way.

Street of Dreams

Listen to Street of Dreams on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Street of Dreams,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Ralph Sharon, Sam M. Lewis, Tony Bennett, Tony Sings for Two, Victor Young

October 9, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Street of Dreams

The song of the day for Thursday, October 10, 2019, is “Street of Dreams.”

About This Song

“Street of Dreams” was written in 1932 by Victor Young and Sam M. Lewis. The song has a classic depression-era sense, where love is one of the few things that may be impossible for those with money, but “no one is poor as long as love is sure.” Bing Crosby was the first singer to record “Street of Dreams”; the Russ Columbo recording was also popular.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon recorded “Street of Dreams” on October 28, 1959, at the famous CBS 30th Street Studio. On that day, Bennett and Sharon came in with nothing but a briefcase full of sheet music and recorded sixteen songs, twelve of which were released on Tony Sings For Two, which wasn’t released until 1961.

Tony remembers the session in his autobiography The Good Life:

We booked time in the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or more takes. … Mitch Miller showed up at the start of the session, furious that I was going through with it. When he saw there was no dissauding me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings For Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.

“Street of Dreams,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Mitch Miller, Ralph Sharon, Sam M. Lewis, Tony Bennett, Tony Sings for Two, Victor Young

January 9, 2017 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Just Friends

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 10, 2017 is “Just Friends.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Just Friends,” was written in 1931 by John Klenner and Sam M. Lewis. “Just Friends” has been a popular jazz standard , including vocal versions by Billie Holiday, Frank Sinatra, Charlie Parker and Chet Baker. The song, both the music as well as the lyrics, seem more modern than most songs written in the early 1930s and for that reason has received interesting jazz treatments and found itself quite at home with bebop stylings.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Just Friends” on October 28, 1959 with Ralph Sharon. On that day, Bennett and Sharon walked into the CBS 30th Street Studio with a briefcase full of sheet music, with no preconceived list of songs they were going to record. A song was suggested, worked on a bit by both Bennett and Sharon, and then recorded. The two recorded seventeen songs in one day, which resulted in one of Bennett’s greatest albums: Tony Sings For Two, which was released in early 1961. Just piano and voice and some of the greatest songs from the American songbook. I love this album more than I can say.

Just Friends

Listen to Just Friends on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.


“Just Friends,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: John Klenner, Ralph Sharon, Sam M. Lewis, Tony Bennett, Tony Sings for Two

March 26, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Street of Dreams

The song of the day for Thursday, March 26, 2015 is “Street of Dreams.”

About This Song

“Street of Dreams” was written in 1932 by Victor Young (music) and Sam M. Lewis (lyrics). It has a classic depression-era sensibility, where love is one of the few things that may be impossible for those with money, but “no one is poor as long as love is sure.” Bing Crosby was the first singer to record “Street of Dreams”, though the Russ Columbo recording was also popular.

About This Version

Today’s song is the last cut on the original release of the Tony Sings For Two LP. It’s a sweet, slow ballad. I love the simple accompaniment from Ralph Sharon and the lovely sensitivity from Tony Bennett.

Street of Dreams

Listen to Street of Dreams on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Street of Dreams,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Ralph Sharon, Sam M. Lewis, Tony Sings for Two, Victor Young

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