The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Friday, August 6, 2021, is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About Today

Jerome Kern’s “The Way You Look Tonight” is one of greatest love songs ever written and Tony’s versions of singing this song are quite wonderful and so it’s definitely on my list of Tony Bennett’s greatest recordings.

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written in 1936 by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields. It was introduced by Fred Astaire in the movie Swing Time; it won the Academy Award for Best Original Song for the year. Dorothy Fields remarked:

The first time Jerry played that melody for me I went out and started to cry. The release absolutely killed me. I couldn’t stop, it was so beautiful.

Fields was the first woman to win an Oscar for songwriting. It’s a magnificent love song that has found a strong position as a jazz standard, with recordings by Bing Crosby, Billie Holiday, Mel Tormé and Frank Sinatra.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version in 1997 with The Ralph Sharon Trio for the movie My Best Friend’s Wedding. The recording was collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2 in the 2011 Complete Collection.

The Way You Look Tonight

Listen to The Way You Look Tonight on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2012

“The Way You Look Tonight,” as well as all of the songs on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2 is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: When Lights Are Low

The song of the day for Sunday, Mary 18, 2021, is “When Lights Are Low.”

About This Song

“When Lights Are Low” was written in 1936 by Benny Carter and Spencer Williams, while both were living and working in Europe. Carter was the staff arranger for the BBC during that time.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When Lights Are Low” in 1964 with The Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low. The trio consisted of Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums. Gaylord does some very nice work on today’s song.

When Lights Are Low

Listen to When Lights Are Low on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964

“When Lights Are Low,” as well as the album When Lights Are Low, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Sunday, April 18, 2021, is “Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“Rules of the Road” was written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1961. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole, and Rosemary Clooney.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “Rules of the Road” in 1964 for the album When Lights Are Low, with the Ralph Sharon Trio, consisting of Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

The Rules Of The Road

Listen to The Rules Of The Road on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964

“Rules of the Road,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Oh! You Crazy Moon

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 14, 2021, is “Oh! You Crazy Moon.”

About This Song

“Oh! You Crazy Moon” was written by Jimm Van Heusen and Johnny Burke in 1939. It was the first song that Van Heusen and Burke wrote together in what would be a long and successful partnership. The bouncy, uptempo song gained immediate popularity and was widely recorded.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Oh! You Crazy Noom” in 1964 with the Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement.

Oh! You Crazy Moon

Listen to Oh! You Crazy Moon on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964

“Oh! You Crazy Moon,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

About This Song

Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg wrote “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1935. Arlen considered “Last Night When We Were Young” to be one of his favorite songs. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder calls it a “most remarkable and beautiful song … (that) goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music.” Yip Harburg has said that he doesn’t know exactly where the title came from but that “the juxtaposition of those two phrases is almost a whole world of philosophy.” All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included on his wonderful album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1992 for the album Perfectly Frank. Playing with Bennett is The Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Paul Langosch on bass and Joe Barbera on drums.’

Perfectly Frank won the 1992 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Performance.

Last Night When We Were Young

Listen to Last Night When We Were Young on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1992

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank, is available from Apple Music.