The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Let’s Fall In Love

The song of the day for Thursday, August 11, 2022, is “Let’s Fall In Love.”

About This Song

“Let’s Fall In Love” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the film of the same name, released in 1933. At the time of the film’s release, Eddy Duchin had a popular recording of the song. Other significant recordings include those by Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let’s Fall In Love” on August 15, 1960, for the album Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen. Glenn Rosser wrote the arrangements and conducted the orchestra.

“Let’s Fall In Love” as well as Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen is available on Apple Music.

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Album of the Week: My Heart Sings

The album of the week starting on February 27, 2022, is My Heart Sings.

My Heart Sings

Tony Bennett remembers My Heart Sings in his autobiography, The Good Life:

Ralph Burns and I got together again to do some singles, including “Smile,” and for our next album we changed gears again. Instead of the lush, ballad-style arrangements we had used on Hometown, My Town, we switched to a cookin’ jazz sound. The album is called My Heart Sings, and I simply love Ralph’s writing on this one. It’s really beautiful music.

This album is a preview of 1962, which was an outstanding year for Tony Bennett, including his concert at Carnegie Hall and winning his first Grammy Award for “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”

My Heart Sings was recorded in 3 sessions on 3 consecutive days: April 4, April 5, and April 6, 1961.

Album Facts

Release Date August 7, 1961
Label Columbia
Producer Ernie Altschuler
Vocals Tony Bennett
Arrangements, Conductor Ralph Burns
Piano Bernie Leighton
Bass Milt Hinton
Drums Herb Lovelle
Guitar Barry Galbraith, Chuck Wayne, Mundell Lowe
Saxophone Danny Bank, Al Klink, Toots Mondello, Romeo Penque, Jerry Sanfino
Trumpet Bernie Glow, Irving Markowitz, Jimmy Maxwell, Carl Sereinsen
Trombone Robert Alexander, Urbie Green, Dick Hixson, Frank Rehak
Vibes Eddie Costa

Songs on My Heart Sings

Song Composers
Don’t Worry ‘Bout Me Rube Bloom, Ted Koehler
Dancing in the Dark Arthur Schwartz, Howard Dietz
I’m Comin’ Virginia Donald Heywood, Will Marion Cook
My Heart Sings Jean Blanvillain (Jamblin), Harold Rome, Henri Laurent Herpin
It Never Was You Kurt Weill, Maxwell Anderson
You Took Advantage of Me Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart
Close Your Eyes Bernice Petkere
Stella By Starlight Victor Young, Ned Washington
More Than You Know Vincent Youmans, Billy Rose, Edward Eliscu
My Ship Kurt Weill, Ira Gershwin
Lover Man Jimmy Davis, Roger “Ram” Ramirez, James Sherman
Toot, Toot, Tootsie Gus Kahn, Ernie Erdman, Ted Fiorito, Dan Russo

Listen to My Heart Sings

You can also listen to My Heart Sings on

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

The song of the day for Thursday, December 9, 2021, is “I Gotta Right to Sing the Blues.”

About This Song

Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler wrote “I Got A Right To Sing The Blues” for the 1932 Broadway show, Earl Carroll’s Vanities. It has been a blues and jazz standard ever since. Notable recordings include those by Cab Calloway, Louis Armstrong, Benny Goodman, Lena Horne, Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bonnie Raitt recorded “I Got A Right To Sing The Blues” in 2001 for Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings the Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the arrangement.

“I Got A Right To Sing The Blues,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Tony Bennett Sings the Blues is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’ve Got the World on a String

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 10, 2021, is “I’ve Got the World on a String.”

About This Song

“I’ve Got the World on a String” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1932 Cotton Club Parade, where it was introduced by Cab Calloway and Bing Crosby. Alec Wilder, in American Popular Song, considers it one of Arlen’s loveliest songs.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got the World on a String” in 1992 for his album Perfectly Frank, a tribute to Frank Sinatra. The album won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Performance.

“I’ve Got the World on a String,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Get Happy

The song of the day for Saturday, September 18, 2021, is “Get Happy.”

About This Song

“Get Happy” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1930 The Nine-Fifteen Revue, where it was introduced by Ruth Etting. Most people today are more familiar with Judy Garland’s wonderful performance of the in the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Get Happy” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Get Happy

Listen to Get Happy on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Get Happy,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain is available on Apple Music.

And here’s that wonderful performance by Judy Garland from Summer Stock:

Get Happy - Judy Garland | Summer Stock | Warner Archive

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