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: The Snowfall Christmas Medley

The song of the day for December 24, 2024, the eleventh day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “The Snowfall Christmas Medley.”

About This Song

The songs in this medley are:

  • We Wish You a Merry Christmas
  • Silent Night
  • O Come All Ye Faithful
  • Jingle Bells

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this medley of Christmas songs on October 1, 1968, for his album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: White Christmas

The song of the day for December 21, 2024, the eighth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “White Christmas.”

About This Song

“White Christmas” was written by Irving Berlin in 1940. The song is one of America’s most beloved Christmas songs. In the not-often-heard verse of the song, we hear that “the sun is shining, the grass is green, the orange and palm trees sway, there’s never been such a day in Beverly Hills, L.A. But it’s December the 24 …” And indeed, Irving Berlin was in Los Angeles when he wrote “White Christmas,” expressing that longing for a traditional back-home Christmas. Bing Crosby recorded the song in 1942 and completely dominated the music charts for weeks. Crosby’s single “White Christmas” is the biggest-selling single record of all time, worldwide, with over 100 million copies.

About This Version

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

“White Christmas,” 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 December 19, 2024, the sixth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “The Christmas Song.”

About This Song

“The Christmas Song,” also known by the first line of the lyric as “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” was written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells in 1941. They wrote in on a very hot summer day and they were trying to think cold Christmasy thoughts to cool off. The song was written forty minutes ago 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 1980. 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 the 1946 recording by Nat Cole: