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 Sunday, November 23, 2025, is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About Today

We are celebrating Johnny Mandel, who was born 100 years ago on November 23, 1925. Mandel was a noted composer and arranger of popular songs, film music, and jazz.

About This Song

“The Shadow of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel and 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. 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” on September 26, 1965, for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. Mandel wrote hte arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

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

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Song of the Day: The Second Time Around

The song of the day for Saturday, November 1, 2025, is “The Second Time Around.”

About This Song

“The Second Time Around” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Sammy Cahn for the 1960 movie High Time, starring Bing Crosby and Tuesday Weld. In the film, Bing Crosby decides to go back to college (at the age of 51) and experiences the generation gap first-hand. But he wins everyone over and gets his degree, having a great time along the way, including falling in love with his French professor. Bing Crosby introduced “The Second Time Around” in the movie.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Second Time Around” on December 27, 1965, for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. Al Cohn wrote the arrangement.

“The Second Time Around,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Samba De Orfeo

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 13, 2025, is “Samba De Orfeo.”

About This Song

“Samba De Orfeo” was written by Luiz Bonfá for Black Orpheus (Orgeu Negro). The film, based on the Greek legend of Orpheus and Eurydice, is set in Rio de Janeiro during Carnaval. The film was an international project, with production companies from Brazil, France and Italy. It won the Academy Award for the Best Foreign Language Film, as well as the Palme d’Or from the Cannes Film Festival. In addition to this song from Luiz Bonfá, the film also contained several bossa nova songs from Antonio Carlos Jobim.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Samba De Orfeo” on December 28, 1965, for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. Luiz Bonfá wrote the arrangement.

“Samba De Orfeo,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Shadow of Your Smile

The song of the day for Friday, January 31, 2025, is “The Shadow of Your Smile.”

About Today

We’re featuring the release of Tony Bennett’s favorite of his albums, The Movie Song Album, which was released on January 31, 1966.

About This Song

“The Shadow of Your Smile” was written by Johnny Mandel and 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. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording won the Grammy Award for Song of the Year. To this day, Tony Bennett sings this song in his concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Shadow of Your Smile” on September 26, 1965, for The Movie Song Album. It was arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel and featured Jimmy Rowles on piano.

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

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Song of the Day: Never Too Late

The song of the day for Saturday, September 21, 2024, is “Never Too Late.”

About This Song

“Never Too Late” was written in 1965 by David Rose, Ray Evans, and Jay Livingston for a movie of the same name. In this movie, a couple in their sixties, played by Paul Ford and Maureen O’Sullivan find out that they are expecting a quite unexpected baby.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Never Too Late” on December 14, 1965, for The Movie Song Album, released in 1966. David Rose wrote the arrangement.

“Never Too Late,” as well as The Movie Song Album, is available on Apple Music.