The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues

The song of the day for Friday, November 6, 2026, is “I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues.”

About This Song

“I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1932 for Earl Carroll’s Vanities. This song has had a lot of good recordings, including those by Cab Calloway, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Billie Holiday, and Sarah Vaughan.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bonnie Raitt recorded “I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues” in 2001 for the album Playing’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, which was released 25 years ago on November 5, 2001. Featured on this album are Harry Allen on saxophone and Mike Melvoin on the Hammond B3 organ.

“I Gotta Right To Sing the Blues,” as well as Playing’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Stormy Weather

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 14, 2026, is “Stormy Weather.”

About This Song

“Stormy Weather” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1933. Ethel Waters introduced at the Cotton Club that year and also recorded it with The Dorsey Brothers. Her 1993 recording was inducted into the Grammy Hall Of Fame; the Library of Congress added to the National Recording Registry in 2004.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Natalie Cole recorded “Stormy Weather” on June 25, 2001, for Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues. The Ralph Sharon Quartet accompanied them on this recording (Sharon: piano, Gray Sargent: guitar, Paul Langosch: bass, and Clayton Cameron: drums). Rob Mathes wrote the vocal arrangement.

“Stormy Weather,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings The Blues, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Ethel Waters’ 1933 recording of “Stormy Weather.”

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Song of the Day: When The Sun Comes Out

The song of the day for Thursday, August 27, 2026, is “When The Sun Comes Out.”

About This Song

“When The Sun Comes Out” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1941. The first recording of the song was made by Helen O’Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Barbra Streisand recorded it for The Second Barbra Streisand Album, released in 1962.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When The Sun Comes Out” on August 17, 1960, for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement.

“When The Sun Comes Out,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

Barbra Streisand was cast as Miss Miss Marmelstein in the 1962 Broadway musical I Can Get It For You Wholesale at the age of 19. She was so good that her role was expanded during rehearsals to take advantage of her prodigious talents. She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She was signed by Columbia Records based on her performance in I Can Get It For You Wholesale. While preparing to record the Barbra Streisand Album, which won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year, she did a run at the Bon Soir club in Greenwich Village, which resulted in the recently release album Barbra Streisand Live at the Bon Soir, where she sang “When The Sun Comes Out.”

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Song of the Day: When The Sun Comes Out

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 29, 2026, is “When The Sun Comes Out.”

About This Song

“When The Sun Comes Out” was written in 1941 by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler. Helen O’Connell, with The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, introduced the song. Barbra Streisand recorded for The Second Barbra Streisand Album in 1963.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When The Sun Comes Out” on August 17, 2026, for his 1960 album Tony Bennett A String Of Harold Arlen. Glenn Osser wrote the arrangement.

“When The Sun Comes Out,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Barbra Streisand‘s extraordinary live recording of “When The Sun Comes Out” from 1962’s Live at the Bon Soir, made when she was only 20. The entire album is extraordinary,

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Song of the Day: Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea

The song of the day for Saturday, May 9, 2026, is “Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea”

About This Song

“Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1931 for the Cotton Club production RhythMania. It was recorded in the first few years by Louis Armstrong and Cab Calloway. The Benny Goodman recording, with vocals by Helen Ward, is also well-regarded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea” on September 4, 1964, for Who Can I Turn To. George Siravo wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Between The Devil and the Deep Blue Sea,” as well as Who Can I Turn To, is available on Apple Music.

Here’s Louis Armstrong’s 1932 recording of today’s song: