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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

April 8, 2018 By Suzanne 2 Comments

Song of the Day: Close Your Eyes

The song of the day for Monday, April 9, 2018 is “Close Your Eyes.”

About This Song

“Close Your Eyes” was written in 1933 by Bernice Petkere. Irving Berlin named her the “Queen of Tin Pan Alley.” A vaudeville performer as a child, she sold her first song in 1931, “Starlight,” recorded by Bing Crosby. “Close Your Eyes” is her most well-known song. The song started getting jazz treatments in the 1950s, starting with a great duet from Coleman Hawkins and Milt Jackson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Close Your Eyes” in 1955, featuring the Ray Charles Singers and an arrangement by Percy Faith; it was released as a single that year. He recorded the same song in 1953, featuring The Pastels and an arrangement by Gil Evans; this version was released on a compilation LP named Because Of You.

It"s Too Soon To Know

Listen to It"s Too Soon To Know on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.


“Close Your Eyes,” as well as the songs included on The Columbia Singles, Volume 3, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bernice Petkere, Percy Faith, The Ray Charles Singers

September 7, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Take Me

The song of the day for Monday, September 7, 2015 is “Take Me.”

About This Song

“Take Me” was written in 1942, with music by Rube Bloom and lyrics by Mack David. The song was popular when it was first released, with recordings by Tommy Dorsey, Jimmy Dorsey and Benny Goodman.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Take Me” on September 4, 1952, with The Ray Charles Singers. It was arranged and conducted Percy Faith.

Take Me

Listen to Take Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.


“Take Me,” as well as all of the songs on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 2, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Mack Davis, Percy Faith, Rube Bloom, The Ray Charles Singers

August 23, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Close Your Eyes

The song of the day for Sunday, August 23, 2015 is “Close Your Eyes.”

About This Song

“Close Your Eyes” was written in 1933 by Bernice Petkere, named by Irving Berlin as the “Queen of Tin Pan Alley.” A vaudeville performer as a child, she sold her first song in 1931, “Starlight,” recorded by Bing Crosby. “Close Your Eyes” is her most well-known song. The song started getting jazz treatments in the 1950s, starting with a great duet from Coleman Hawkins and Milt Jackson.

About These Versions

Tony Bennett has recorded this song three times: first in 1953, arranged by Gil Evans and featuring The Pastels; in 1955 with an arrangement by Percy Faith featuring The Ray Charles Singers and finally in 1961, arranged by Ralph Burns for his album My Heart Sings.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett introduces a new feature this Sunday, where we present several different recordings of the same song recorded by Tony Bennett. Whenever I decide to use a certain song and am presented with several different recordings to choose from, I listen to them all before I decide which to use as Song of the Day. It’s always quite interesting to hear both the similarities and differences over the years and with different musicians. So our new Sunday feature will present those versions so that you can listen to them all, if you wish, and decide which one you like best.

1953

Close Your Eyes

Listen to Close Your Eyes on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2012.

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from iTunes.

1955

Close Your Eyes

Listen to Close Your Eyes on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as The Columbia Singles, Vol. 3, is available from iTunes.

1961

Close Your Eyes

Listen to Close Your Eyes on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as My Heart Sings, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bernice Petkere, Gil Evans, Percy Faith, Ralph Burns, The Pastels, The Ray Charles Singers

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