The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Oh! You Crazy Moon

The song of the day for Friday, March 15, 2019, is “Oh! You Crazy Moon.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Oh! You Crazy Moon,” was written in 1939. It was the first song that Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny 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 Moon” 1964 with the Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low.

Oh! You Crazy Moon – 2011 Remaster

Oh! You Crazy Moon – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

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

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Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Saturday, June 23, 2018 is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had To Be You” was written in 1924, with music by Isham Jones and lyrics by Gus Kahn. It’s a popular standard with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edwards and Frank Sinatra. It has also be used in several fims, such as Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “It Had To Be You” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low, featuring the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass.

It Had To Be You

Listen to It Had To Be You on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1964


“It Had To Be You,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Tony Bennett is well-known for his volunteerism and charitable contributions. He is well-known for his appearances at fund raisers. Today we have a video from a televised Muscular Dystrophy Association telethon. I’m not sure of the date, but my guess it’s from the late 1970s or early 1980s.

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Song of the Day: The Way You Look Tonight

The song of the day for Saturday, January 27, 2018 is “The Way You Look Tonight.”

About This Song

“The Way You Look Tonight” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields for 1936 film Swing Time, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire; the song 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.” Dorothy 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.

Today we are pleased to honor Jerome Kern, who was born on January 27, 1885, on the anniversary of his birth.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “The Way You Look Tonight” with the Ralph Sharon Trio in 1997 for the film My Best Friend’s Wedding. It’s an exquisite recording of an exquisite song.

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 collected on Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 2, is available from iTunes.

About Today

Once again it’s Saturday–our video today is a performance of today’s song by Tony Bennett and Bill Charlap on CBS This Morning in 2015 for release of their album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern.

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Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Thursday, September 28, 2017 is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had To Be You” was written in 1924 by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn. It’s been a popular song since it was written, with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edwards and Frank Sinatra. It has also been used in several films, such as Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Had To Be You” in 1994 with the Ralph Sharon Trio for his MTV Unplugged concert.

It Had To Be You - Live Version

Listen to It Had To Be You - Live Version on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1994


“It Had To Be You,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy

The song of the day for Friday, September 22, 2017 is “Make Someone Happy.”

About This Song

“Make Someone Happy” is from the 1960 musical Do Re Mi, by Jule Styne, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Do Re Mi concerns a guy, a bit of a loser and a con, who goes into the jukebox business with some gangster pals. ”Make Someone Happy” was introduced by John Reardon and Nancy Dussault.

About This Version

Tony Bennett performed “Make Someone Happy” at the invitation of President Kennedy. Besides Tony and the Ralph Sharon Trio, Dave Brubeck and his group also performed. Bennett and Brubeck, with Eugene Wright and Joe Morello from Brubeck’s band, did some wonderful improvisations. The recording of that concert was long thought to be lost, but it was found in 2013 and released as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.

“Make Someone Happy” was recorded with the Ralph Sharon Trio, featuring Billy Exiner on drums and Hal Gaylord on bass.

Make Someone Happy - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962

Listen to Make Someone Happy - Live at the Washington Monument, Washington, D.C. - August 1962 on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2013


“Make Someone Happy,” as well as Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962, is available from iTunes.