The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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

The song of the day for Saturday, November 28, 2020, is “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.”

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 1993 for Steppin’ Out, which featured songs made famous by his good friend, Fred Astaire.

Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

Listen to Top Hat, White Tie and Tails on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1993

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

And here’s Fred Astaire from Top Hat:

TOP HAT, WHITE TIE AND TAILS

from Top Hat (1935) choreography by Fred Astaire and Hermes Pan music and lyrics by Irving Berlin

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Song of the Day: I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan

The song of the day for Friday, October 23, 2020, is “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan.”

About This Song

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1929 revue The Little Show and was introduced by Clifton Webb. It was a featured song in the 1953 movie The Band Wagon, where it was sung by Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan. Even though the original title was “I Guess I’ll Have to Change My Plan,” it more often is sung with Plans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out, which consisted of songs made famous by the great Fred Astaire. Bennett and Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

“I Guess I’ll Have To Change My Plan,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from Apple Music.

And if you have a little extra time today, here’s Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan in a very classy performance from The Band Wagon.

"I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plan" from The Band Wagon 1953

"I Guess I"ll Have to Change My Plan" is a popular song performed by Fred Astaire and Jack Buchanan with a tap dance in the musical film "The Band Wagon (1953)".

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Song of the Day: Shall We Dance

The song of the day for Monday, September 28, 2020, is “Shall We Dance.”

About This Song

This song is, of course, the title song for the 1937 Astaire and Rogers film Shall We Dance, released in 1937. George and Ira Gershwin wrote a series of songs for this film that demonstrated the different styles of dance and choreography, including ballet, waltzes, and more. Other great songs from this score include “They Can’t Take Away From Me” and “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Shall We Dance” for his 1998 album Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“Shall We Dance,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: They Can’t Take That Away From Me

The song of the day for Friday, September 4, 2020, is “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.”

About This Song

This song was written by George and Ira Gershwin for the 1937 Fred Astaire – Ginger Rodgers movie Shall We Dance. Unlike most songs that Astaire introduced in his films, there was no dance number associated with “They Can’t Take That Away From Me.” It is one of the Gershwin’s finest love songs. George Gershwin died just two months after this film was released.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “They Can’t Take That Away From Me” in 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. Bennett and Ralph Sharon did the arrangement.

“They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” as well as Steppin’ Out, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Concentrate On You

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 28, 2020, 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 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. Bennett and Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement. The album won the 1993 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

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

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