The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Close Enough For Love

The song of the day for Monday, August 7, 2023, is “Close Enough For Love.”

About This Song

“Close Enough For Love” was written in 1979 by Johnny Mandel and Paul Williams. It was first recorded by Peggy Lee on her album of the same name. It is a favorite of jazz vocalists; in addition to Peggy Lee’s and Tony Bennett’s recordings, it has also been recorded by Shirley Horn and Andy Williams.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Close Enough For Love” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

“Close Enough For Love,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Remember You

The song of the day for Saturday, July 1, 2023, is “I Remember You.”

About This Song

“I Remember You” was written by Victor Schertzinger and Johnny Mercer in 1941 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 his album The Art of Romance. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

The Art of Romance won the 2006 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

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

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Song of the Day: Close Enough For Love

The song of the day for Monday, May 15, 2023, is “Close Enough For Love.”

About This Song

“Close Enough For Love” was written in 1979 by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Paul Williams. It was first recorded by Peggy Lee on her album of the same name. In addition to the recordings by Lee and Bennett, it has been recorded by many jazz and pop singers; the Shirley Horn recording on her 1989 album Close Enough For Love is especially notable.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Close Enough For Love” in 2004 for his album The Art of Romance. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

“Close Enough For Love,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Monday, April 17, 2023, 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 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: All For You

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 14, 2023, is “All For You.”

About This Song

“All For You” was written by Django Reinhardt (1940) and Tony Bennett (2004).

Tony Bennett’s son, Danny, had long encouraged his father to write a song. While performing in Hawaii, he dropped into a small jazz club and heard the Django Reinhardt song “Nuages” and felt he had found the right melody for the music he had in mind. The resulting song is lovely.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “All For You” in 2004 for The Art of Romance. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel.

“All For You,” as well as The Art of Romance is available on ” rel=”noopener” target=”_blank”>Apple Music.