The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Monday, April 11, 2022, is “Don’t Like Goodbyes.”

About This Song

“Don’t Like Goodbyes” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers, based on Capote’s novella of the same name. The song was introduced by Pearl Bailey. While the musical was not well-reviewed, the Arlen-Capote score is quite wonderful, including not only today’s song but the exquisite “A Sleepin’ Bee,” which Tony Bennett has recorded twice (in 1959 for Tony Sings For Two and at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert). “Don’t Like Goodbyes” has been recorded by Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” in 2004 for his wonderful album The Art of Romance. Jorge Calandrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Being Alive

The song of the day for Tuesday, March 22, 2022, is “Being Alive.”

About Today

Today, March 22, 2022, would have been Stephen Sondheim’s 92nd birthday. We are proud to honor him today with one of songs he composed.

About This Song

“Being Alive” was written by Stephen Sondheim for his groundbreaking 1970 Broadway musical, Company. That original production was the first show I saw on Broadway and holds a very special place in my heart.

“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). D.A. Pennebaker made a documentary of the recording of the original cast album, recorded by Columbia Records at the 30th Street Studio, that was released in 2006.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Being Alive” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. Lee Musiker wrote the arrangement.

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

I found this clip from the Pennebaker documentary of Dean Jones singing “Being Alive.”

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Song of the Day: Where Do You Start

The song of the day for Sunday, December 12, 2021, is “Where Do You Start.”

About This Song

“Where Do You Start” was written in 1987 by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. This song has had many beautiful recordings: Nancy Lamott, Shirley Horn, Rosemary Clooney, Barbra Streisand, the Brad Mehldau Trio, Annie Ross, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Where Do You Start” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

“Where Do You Start,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: All For You

The song of the day for Thursday, September 9, 2021, is “All For You.”

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Susan Benedetto a very happy birthday!

About This Song

Today’s song, “All For You,” is based on a song composed in 1940 by Belgian jazz guitarist Django Reinhardt, “Nuages.” The song became quite popular and Reinhardt played it often with his group, Quintette du Hot Club de France, which he founded with Violinist Stephan Grappelli.

Danny Bennett, Tony’s son and manager, had suggested that Tony write a song. Tony relates:

At first I felt skeptical about it, but then I received my inspiration. After I played a concert in Hawaii, I went to hear a wonderful jazz group perform. One of their songs in particular spoke to me. When I asked the piano player for its name, he told me it was called “Nuages,” and was written by Django Reinhardt.

I asked Danny to get hold of the family that owned the song, and they gave us an okay for me to write the lyrics, inspired by and dedicated to my wife, Susan Benedetto, which became “All for You.” And oddly enough, I wrote the lyrics in only an hour. I guess from interpreting songs for so many years, I know to stay away from trite material, and I thought it came out pretty well. Then when we were in Fresno, California, I performed it in front of an audience for the first time, and I was bowled over by their reaction; they went crazy for it. So at eighty-six, I now have my first songwriting credit.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All For You” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance, featuring an arrangment by Johnny Mandel.

All For You

Listen to All For You on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“All For You,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

Et voici Django Reinhardt avec le Quintette Hot Club de France (I knew high school French would come in handy some day).

Nuages - avec le Quintette Hot Club de France

Listen to Nuages - avec le Quintette Hot Club de France on Spotify. Django Reinhardt · Song · 1996.

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Song of the Day: I Remember You

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 18, 2021, is “I Remember You.”

About This Song

“I Remember You” was written by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer for the 1942 movie The Fleet’s In (directed by the composer Schertzinger), where it was introduced by Dorothy Lamour. It is said that Mercer wrote the lyric for Judy Garland, with whom he was said to be in love. The song has been widely recorded over the decades and remains popular today. Notable recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Chet Baker, Doris Day, Ella Fitzgerald, Diana Krall, and Dinah Washington.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Remember You” in 2004 for the album The Art of Romance. Johnny Mandel wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

The Art of Romance has a very special place in my heart. The release of this album came about the same time I bought my first iPod and I listened to this album daily, sometimes several times a day, for weeks. I fell in love. I have gifted the CD of The Art of Romance to several friends and all of them have wound up Tony Bennett fans. It’s a beautiful album that tells the story of a romance, from beginning to end. I also adore the photograph of Tony on the cover. And it’s full of great songs, such today’s “I Remember You.”

I Remember You

Listen to I Remember You on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“I Remember You,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

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