The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: My Favorite Things

The song of the day for Friday, January 28, 2022, is “My Favorite Things.”

About This Song

“My Favorite Things” was written by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1959 Broadway musical The Sound of Music. In the Broadway production, the song was introduced by Mary Martin and sung in the office of the Mother Abbess before Maria leaves to become governess for the von Trapp family. In the film, where it was sung by Julie Andrews, the song was moved to a scene with the children, when there is a storm and Maria sings the song to the children so that they won’t be too scared.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “My Favorite Things” in 1968 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote the very nice arrangement.

“My Favorite Things,” as well as Snowball: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 1`, 2021, the eighth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick 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 that Christmas, over 400,000 copies of the sheet music had been sold.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Santa Claus is Comin’ To Town” in 1967 for the album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, which was released the following year. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

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Song of the Day: The Christmas Song

The song of the day for December 20, 2021, the seventh day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “The Christmas Song.”

About This Song

Sometimes known by its first line ‘Chestnuts roasting on an open fire,” “The Christmas Song” was written by Robert Wells and Mel Tormé. It was a very hot summer day in 1944 and Tormé and Wells were trying to think cold Christmasy 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 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.

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Song of the Day: Winter Wonderland

The song of the day for December 15, 2021, the second day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, is “Winter Wonderland.”

About This Song

“Winter Wonderland” was written in 1934 by Felix Barnard and Richard B. Smith. The lyricist Richard Smith wrote this song after a snowfall covered his hometown of Honesdale, Pennsylvania. It is, of course, a beloved holiday song, even though the lyrics do not explicitly mention Christmas.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Winter Wonderland” in 1968 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

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Song of the Day: Santa Claus Is Coming To Town

On the ninth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas, the song of the day for Tuesday, December 22, 2020, is “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town.”

About This Song

“Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” was written in 1934 by John Frederick Coots and Haven Gillespie. It had a spectacular debut. The song 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 this version of “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town” in 1968 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. Robert Farnon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

Santa Claus Is Comin" To Town

Listen to Santa Claus Is Comin" To Town on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

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

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