The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Monday, November 23, 2020, is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About Today

Today we are celebrating the life of Johnny Mandel, born on November 23, 1925, in New York City. He was a prolific composer, especially for films. Sadly, we lost Mandel this year, who died on June 29, 2020, at the age of 94.

About This Song

“The Shadow of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel, with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster, for the 1965 film The Sandpiper, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was filmed, beautifully, in Big Sur on the California coastline. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” in 1965 for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. It was arranged and conducted by Mandel and features Jimmy Rowles on piano. The recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year.

The Shadow of Your Smile (Love Theme from “The Sandpiper”)

Listen to The Shadow of Your Smile (Love Theme from “The Sandpiper”) on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1966.

“The Shadow of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Maybe September

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 15, 2020, is “Maybe September.”

About This Song

“Maybe September” was composed by Percy Faith, with lyrics by Jay Livingston and Ray Evans, for the 1965 movie The Oscar. The song is from the only movie that Tony Bennett acted in, where he played the good guy, an agent named Hymie Kelly. While the film received mixed reviews, this song is terrific and is beautifully sung by Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Maybe September” in 1965 for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. Bennett has said several times that this one of his favorites of the albums he’s made.

“Maybe September,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Monday, February 10, 2020, is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About This Song

“The Shadow of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel and Paul Francis Webster in 1965 for The Sandpiper, starring Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor. It was filmed, beautifully, in Big Sur on the California coastline. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” in 1965; the song was included in The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. It was arranged and conducted by its composer, Johnny Mandel. The recording features Jimmy Rowles on piano.

“The Shadow of Your Smile,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Never Too Late

The song of the day for Monday, October 21, 2019, is “Never Too Late.”

About This Song

“Never Too Late” was written in 1965 by David Rose, Ray Evans, and Jay Livingston for the movie of the same name. It concerns a middle-aged couple, played by Paul Ford and Maureen O’Sullivan, who find that they are expecting a quite unexpected child. Comedy ensues.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Never Too Late” in 1965 for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. Composer David Rose wrote the arrangement.

“Never Too Late,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available from iTunes.

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Playlist of the Week: Tony Likes a Jimmy Van Heusen Song

The playlist for the week of October 6, 2019, is Tony Likes a Jimmy Van Heusen Song.

Jimmy Van Heusen was one of the great songwriters in mid-20th-century popular film music. He wrote many songs that are well-known and popular to this day. He is also the person who wrote the song that was my absolute favorite song when I was five years old: “Swinging on a Star.” I was told, as an adult, that I drove my parents crazy by constantly singing, loudly, phrases from this song. “Or would you rather be a pig?” Or a mule or a fish. Well, you get the idea.

Swinging on a Star. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From The Playground.
Darn That Dream. Lyrics by Eddie DeLange. From Cloud 7.
The Second Time Around. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From The Movie Song Album.
Call Me Irresponsible. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From Perfectly Frank.
Here’s That Rainy Day. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From Perfectly Frank.
Nancy. Lyrics by Phil Silvers. From Perfectly Frank.
But Beautiful. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.
What Makes It Happen. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From Tony Makes It Happen!
All My Tomorrows. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From Perfectly Frank.
I Thought About You. Lyrics by Johnny Mercer. From Perfectly Frank.
It Could Happen To You. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From When Lights Are Low.
Oh! You Crazy Moon. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From When Lights Are Low.

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