The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Winter Wonderland

The song of the day for Thursday, December 20, 2018, is “Winter Wonderland.”
Today is the seventh day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

About This Song

“Winter Wonderland” was written in 1934 by Felix Barnard and Phillip Smith. Smith, the lyricist, 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 the album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album and features a lovely arrangement by Robert Farnon.

Winter Wonderland

Winter Wonderland, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Winter Wonderland,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: The Christmas Song

The song of the day for Sunday, December 16, 2018, is “The Christmas Song.”
Today is the third day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

About This Song

“The Christmas Song,” better known as “Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire,” was written by Mel Tormé and Robert Wells. This song was written on a very hot summer day 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 the album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album; Robert Farnon did the arrangement.

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire), a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“The Christmas Song,” as well as Snowfall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Snowfall

The song of the day for Friday, December 14, 2018, is “Snowfall.”
Today is the first day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

About This Song

“Snowfall” was written by Claude and Ruth Thornhill. It’s a cool jazz song, though written in 1941, long before there was such as thing as cool jazz. It’s an evocative and moody song, though quite beautiful.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Snowfall” in 1968 for his album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album. It was arranged by Robert Farnon.

Snowfall

Snowfall, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“Snowfall,” as well as the album Snowfall, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Snowfall Christmas Medley

Today is the eleventh day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.
The song of the day for Saturday, December 24, 2016 is the Christmas medley from Snowfall.

About This Song

The Christmas medley from Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album consists of “We Wish You a Merry Christmas,” “Silent Night,” “O Come All Ye Faithful,” “Jingle Bells,” and “Where Is Love.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this medley in 1968 for Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album.

Medley: We Wish You A Merry Christmas / Silent Night / O Come All You Faithful / Jingle Bells / Where Is Love?

Listen to Medley: We Wish You A Merry Christmas / Silent Night / O Come All You Faithful / Jingle Bells / Where Is Love? on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1968


“Christmas Medley,” as well as Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, is available from iTunes.

Our Saturday video today is two hours of Christmas songs and carols with photographs of Christmas lights. Enjoy! Merry Christmas to all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Hhc-68WuWI

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Song of the Day: The Christmas Song

Today is the fourth day of The Twelve Days of a Tony Bennett Christmas.

The song of the day for Saturday, December 17, 2016 is “The Christmas Song.”

About This Song

“The Christmas Song” was written in 1944 by Mel Tormé and Bob 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 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 the album Snowfall: The Tony Bennett Christmas Album, released the following year. The recording was arranged and conducted by Robert Farnon.

The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire)

Listen to The Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an Open Fire) on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1968


“The Christmas Song,” as well as the album Snowfall, is available from iTunes.

About Today

We have a very sweet video of Tony Bennett singing today’s song. I am pretty sure it was recorded in London, but I’m not sure when. No worries … it’s still wonderful to listen to.