The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Nice Work If You Can Get It

The song of the day for Monday, October 12, 2026, is “Nice Work If You Can Get It.”

About This Song

“Nice Work If You Can Get It” was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 film A Damsel in Distress, starring Fred Astaire. Significant recordings include those by Tommy Dorsey, Billie Holiday with Teddy Wilson, and Fred Astaire with The Ray Noble Orchestra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nice Work If You Can Get It” in July 1993 for Steppin’ Out, accompanied by The Ralph Sharon Trio (Sharon: piano, Doug Richeson: bass, and clayton Cameron: drums). Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Steppin’ Out won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Nice Work If You Can Get It,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

And, of course, we have Fred Astaire’s performance of “Nice Work If You Can Get It” from the 1937 A Damsel in Distress. It starts with a party scene where “Nice Work If You Can Get It” is sung:

Followed by Fred Astaire and the drum set.

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Song of the Day: I Concentrate On You

The song of the day for Saturday, July 11, 2026, is “I Concentrate On You.”

About This Song

Cole Porter wrote “I Concentrate On You” for the film Broadway Melody of 1940. It’s one of Porter’s best songs, with recordings by Fred Astaire, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Dinah Washington, and Judy Garland among others.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Concentrate On You” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, which contained songs associated with Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

“I Concentrate On You,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Although Fred Astaire didn’t sing “I Concentrate On You” in Broadway Melody of 1940, he recorded a very fine version on his album Steppin’ Out: Astaire Sings.

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Song of the Day: Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 7, 2026, is “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.”

About Today

My brother Tom was born on July 7, 1953, and should have been 73 years old today (f*$# cancer). He loved his wife and daughter, Volkswagen Beetles, The Grateful Dead, and Fred Astaire movies. Today’s song is for Tom.

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The song was introduced by Mr. Astaire. The film is widely considered to be one of the best of the RKO Astaire and Rogers films; the American Film Institute ranked it 15th on its list of best musicals.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, consisting of songs associated with Fred Astaire. Mr. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Steppin’ Out won the 35th Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

And of course, we have Mr. Astaire introducing today’s song in the 1935 film Top Hat:

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Song of the Day: A Shine In Your Shoes

The song of the day for Saturday, June 13, 2026, is “A Shine In Your Shoes.”

About This Song

“A Shine In Your Shoes” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1932 Broadway musical Flying Colors. The same song was used for the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, which starred Fred Astaire and Cyd Charisse.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Shine On Your Shoes” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, which consisted of songs that Fred Astaire introduced. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Steppin’ Out won the 1994 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“A Shine In Your Shoes,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

Fred Astaire performed “A Shine On Your Shoes” in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon. Astaire insisting on using a genuine shoe shiner for the number and Leroy Daniels, who sang and danced while he did shoeshines and worked just by the gates at MGM, was cast.

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Song of the Day: Dancing in the Dark

The song of the day for Sunday, May 10, 2026, is “Dancing in the Dark.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett is pleased to to remember the great Fred Astaire, who was born on May 10, 1899, in Omaha, Nebraska. His 76-year career was remarkable; Astaire was a dancer, singer, actor, singer, musician, and choreographer. His awards include three Emmy Awards, two Globe Awards, a Grammy Award, a BAFTA award, and an honorary Academy Award.

About This Song

“Dancing in the Dark” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for for the 1931 revue The Band Wagon and is widely considered to be the finest of the songs written by Schwartz and Dietz. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder describes it as “a very strong song with a superb, poetic lyric.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dancing in the Dark” in July 1993 for Steppin’ Out, Bennett’s tribute to Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Steppin’ Out won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“Dancing in the Dark,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available on Apple Music.

We have the video of Fred Astaire‘s and Cyd Charisse‘s performance of “Dancing in the Dark “from the 1953 film The Band Wagon. As far as I’m concerned, it’s one of most beautiful dances ever filmed.