The Judy Garland Show, Episode 5
CBS Television City, Stage 43, Hollywood, CA
July 30, 1963
Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco
The song of the day for Tuesday, July 30, 2024, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”
About This Song
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by Douglass Cross and George Cory. This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, I Left My Heart in San Francisco was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually,
I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.
About This Version
On July 30, 1963, Tony Bennett appeared as a guest on The Judy Garland Show on CBS and they sang a duet of “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”
Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco
The song of the day for Saturday; June 11, 2023, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”
About Today
The Year of Tony Bennett is proud to remember Judy Garland, who was born on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Her body of work, both in film and as a performer, was astounding. Today’s post has footage of Tony and Judy, when he appeared on The Judy Garland Show on July 30, 1963.
About This Song
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written in 1953 by George Cory and Douglass Cross. The song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” on January 23, 1962, with an arrangement by Marty Manning. It was originally released as a single — on the B-side of “Once Upon a Time.” Later that year, the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco was released, with the song as the first cut on side one of the LP.
I Left My Heart In San Francisco won the 1962 Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Best Solo Vocal Performance, Male.
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco is available on Apple Music.
Tony Bennett and Judy Garland had been friends for many years and Tony was happy to appear on her television program, The Judy Garland Show and to sing today’s song.
Song of the Day: I Left My Heart In San Francisco
The song of the day for Tuesday, August 3, 2021, is “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.”
About Today
The Year of Tony Bennett would like to wish Tony Bennett a very happy 95th birthday. This blog and our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography, were created out of love for you and your gifts to us as a singer, artist, philanthropist, and humanitarian. Thank you for giving all of your fans so many wonderful recordings and memories.
On this birthday, what other song could we feature than “I Left My Heart In San Francisco.” On a side note, the composer of this song, George Cory was also born on August 3.
About This Song
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was written by George Cory and Douglass Cross in 1953.
This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was a huge hit at the performance, and in January 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to “Once Upon a Time.” But gradually, “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “I Left My Heart In San Francisco” on January 23, 1962. It was first released as a single; later that year it would be the anchor of the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco,” as well as the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco is available on Apple Music.
On July 30, 1963, Tony Bennett appeared on Episode 5 of The Judy Garland Show and sang today’s song.
Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away
The song of the day for Wednesday, June 10, 2020, is “The Man That Got Away.”
About Today
The Year of Tony Bennett is celebrating America’s greatest female entertainer–Judy Garland. Judy was born as Frances Ethel Gumm on June 10, 1922, in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. She died on June 22, 1969, in London, England from an overdose of barbiturates.
We’ve got lots of extra media of Miss Garland following our customary link to Tony’s recording.
About This Song
“The Man That Got Away” was written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for Judy’s spectacular 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.
About This Version
Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” in 1959, with Ralph Sharon, for the album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.
“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.
Here is Judy’s performance of our song from her concert at Carnegie Hall on April 23, 1961:
Of course, no topic about “The Man That Got Away” would be complete without the scene from A Star Is Born:
Judy Garland had a television program, The Judy Garland Show, that ran in 1962 and 1963 on CBS. My mother and I used to watch it every Sunday night. Tony Bennett appeared on the show and they sang about the city of San Francisco:
I love seeing their affection for each other in this clip.