The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Saturday, May 6, 2017 is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written in 1947 by Jimmy Van Heusen, with lyrics by Johnny Burke. It was written for Bing Crosby to sing in the 1947 movie The Road to Rio. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra and Nat King Cole.

About This Version

Today I’m featuring the 1975 version of “But Beautiful” recorded by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans for their first album The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album. It’s one of my favorite songs on this album; I listen to it often.

But Beautiful

Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975


“But Beautiful,” as well as The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

About Today

For our customary Saturday YouTube video, I’m happy to include the video of Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recording this song for their album Cheek To Cheek.

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Song of the Day: My Foolish Heart

The song of the day for Friday, May 5, 2017 is “My Foolish Heart.”

About This Song

“My Foolish Heart” was written in 1949 by Victor Young and Ned Washington for a widely-panned film of the same name, based on a J.D. Salinger short story. Time Magazine excoriated the score: “nothing offsets the blight of such tear-splashed excesses as the bloop-bleep-bloop of a sentimental ballad on the soundtrack.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “My Foolish Heart” in 1975 for their first album The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album.

My Foolish Heart

Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975


“My Foolish Heart,” as well as The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Thursday, February 9, 2017 is “Some Other Time.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Some Other Time,” was written in 1944 by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden for the musical On The Town. On The Town is the story of three sailors on leave in New York City and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the end by two of the couples. Inexplicably, this beautiful song was cut from the 1949 film version.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time” in June 1975 for their first album The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album.

Some Other Time

Bill Evans, Tony Bennett · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975


“Some Other Time,” as well as The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

Tony Bennett’s version of this song is my favorite. Coming in second is this recording by Blossom Dearie.

Some Other Time

Listen to Some Other Time on Spotify. Song · Blossom Dearie · 1959

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Song of the Day: When In Rome

The song of the day for Monday, January 23, 2017 is “When In Rome.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “When In Rome,” was written in 1964 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh.

In the year 2000, as part of his 70th birthday celebration at the Library of Congress, Stephen Sondheim chose a list of ‘Songs I Wish I Had Written (At Least in Part).’ On this list were several songs by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh, most of which are songs that Tony Bennett has recorded, including “When In Rome.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “When In Rome” in 1975 for their first album, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album. I have always found it interesting that Bill Evans strived to tell people that he, Evans, was the one that wanted to include this song on the album, thinking that most people would assume that Bennett wanted to add the song because they might assume it was in Bennett’s comfort zone. In fact, Evans loved the song because of the harmonic structures in it. We should remember that before he became known as a composer, Cy Coleman was a jazz pianist and his songs are loved by jazz instrumentalists and singers alike.

When In Rome

Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975


“When In Rome,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Friday, December 2, 2016 is “Some Other Time.”

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written in 1944, with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, for the musical On The Town, the story of three sailors on leave in New York City and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the end by two of the couples. Inexplicably, this beautiful song was cut from the 1949 film version.

About This Version

Today’s version of “Some Other Time” is an alternate take (take 7) from the recording sessions in 1975 that resulted in The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album. The contents of both their albums, as well as many alternate takes, are available on The Complete Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Recordings on both CD and for downloading on iTunes.

Some Other Time - Take 7

Tony Bennett, Bill Evans · The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album (Expanded Edition) · Song · 1975


“Some Other Time,” as well as The Complete Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett remembers Adolph Green on the anniversary of his birth on December 2, 1944. He and his partner Betty Comden not only wrote wonderful lyrics for the Broadway stage for composers Leonard Bernstein and Jule Styne, but also wrote screenplays for films including the great Singin’ In The Rain. Adolph, along with Betty Comden, wrote the lyrics for one of Tony Bennett’s most popular songs “Just In Time.”

Adolph Green, Betty Comden, Leonard Bernstein
Adolph Green, Betty Comment, and Leonard Bernstein

I found this clip of Adolph Green and Betty Comden on Art Ford’s Greenwich Village Party from 1957. Also attending the party is Cy Coleman, who plays piano. Adolph and Betty sing a song from On The Town called “Carried Away.”

BETTY COMDON & ADOLPH GREEN 1956

As the unofficial Baby-Boomer( IRA GALLEN )Guru of my Television Collecting Generation I knew it was the right time to create a Video Network for Baby-Boomers Only.

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