The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Two By Two

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 9, 2022, is “Two By Two.”

About This Song

“Two By Two” was written by Richard Rodgers and Stephen Sondheim for the musical Do I Hear A Waltz?, which opened in 1965, although the song was cut from the score before the show opened. Oscar Hammerstein, Rodgers’s writing partner and Sondheim’s mentor, said as he was dying that he wanted the two of them to work together on a project. Unfortunately, the partnership was not good for either of them and the production was not well-received by the critics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Two By Two” in 1965 for his album If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. It was arranged and conducted by Don Costa.

“Two By Two,” as well as If I Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Home is the Place

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 8, 2022, is “Home is the Place.”

About This Song

“Home is the Place” was written in 1960 by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Styne and Sondheim wrote the score for the brilliant musical Gypsy, which opened in 1959. After that collaboration, Styne expressed an interest in their continuing to work together, resulting in “Home is the Place” and “Come Over Here.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Home is the Place” in 1968 for Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

“Home is the Place,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Small World

The song of the day for Sunday, August 29, 2021, is “Small World.”

About This Song

“Small World” is from the great 1959 musical Gypsy, written by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim. Based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, it tells the story of the mother, Rose, and her two daughters, June and Louise, and her obsession to make it in the vaudeville circuit. The role of Rose was written for Ethel Merman and is one of her finest and most complex roles. “Small World” is sung by Rose and Herbie, who has the misfortune to fall in love with Rose. Gypsy is arguably one of the best musicals ever written and has been revived many times on Broadway.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Ralph Sharon Trio, sang Small World at the 1962 concert in Washington, D.C. The concert was taped and released in 2013 as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962.

Small World - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Small World - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2013

“Small World,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions, Live 1962 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Being Alive

The song of the day for Friday, July 31, 2020, is “Being Alive.”

About This Song

“Being Alive” is the closing song in the Stephen Sondheim musical Company, which ran on Broadway for 705 performances. Company was nominated for fourteen Tony Awards and won six, including Best Musical, Best Direction of a Musical (Hal Prince), Best Book of a Musical (George Furth), Best Original Music, and Best Original Lyrics as well as Best Scenic Design (Boris Aronson). Company is the first Broadway musical your author saw and she has a special place in her heart for this musical.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Being Alive” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. Lee Musiker wrote the arrangement. The Art of Romance won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“Being Alive,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Small World

The song of the day for Sunday, February 16, 2020, is “Small World.”

About This Song

“Small World” was written by Jule Styne, with lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, for the 1959 Broadway musical Gypsy. Based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, it tells the story of the mother, Rose, and her two daughters, June and Louise, and her obsession to make it in the vaudeville circuit. The role of Rose was written for Ethel Merman and is one of her finest and most complex roles. “Small World” is sung by Rose and Herbie, who has the misfortune to fall in love with Rose. Gypsy is arguably the best musical ever written and has been revived many times on Broadway.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “Small World” live at his performance for President Kennedy in D.C. in 1962. The concert was released in 2013 as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.

“Small World,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions 1962, is available from iTunes.