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, March 19, 2016 is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke wrote “But Beautiful” 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 impeccable recording that Bill Evans and Tony Bennett made in 1975 for their first album: The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album.

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

Our video is from Bennett’s other recording of “But Beautiful” with Lady Gaga from Cheek To Cheek.

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Song of the Day: My Foolish Heart

The song of the day for Thursday, March 10, 2016 is “My Foolish Heart.”

About This Song

Today’s 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.” Based on his experience with this film, Salinger refused to let any of his works ever be filmed.

About This Version

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

My Foolish Heart

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


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

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Thursday, February 18, 2016 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. It was written 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.

This is one of my favorite songs ever written. It joins that handful of songs that have their own playlist on my iPod. At last count, I had 10 versions. Next to the recording by Tony Bennett and Bill Evans, I also love the ones by Blossom Dearie, Barbara Cook and the recording from The Bernstein Songbook, with Comden, Green, Nancy Walker and Cris Alexander.

About This Version

Today’s recording of “Some Other Time” is from The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, recorded in 1975. There’s nothing left to say other than it’s perfect. Every note.

Some Other Time

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

Just a note here: iTunes is offering The Complete Tony Bennett/ Bill Evans Recordings for $9.99. This includes both of their albums, as well as alternate takes. If you don’t have it already, this is a great addition to the musical library of any Tony Bennett fan.

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Song of the Day: My Foolish Heart

The song of the day for Friday, June 10, 2015 is “My Foolish Heart.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “My Foolish Heart,” was written in 1949 by Victor Young and Ned Washington for the film of the same name. The film was based on a J.D. Salinger short story; the film received very poor reviews and was such a bad experience for Salinger that he refused to talk to Hollywood ever again about rights to any of his work.

About This Version

Today’s version is from the 1975 album The Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album, the first of their two albums.

I’ve heard many awful renditions of this song over the years. But in the hands of these two masters, it is as significant and meaningful as any art song every written.

About Today

I’m really happy to be back. I’m not 100% yet, but am getting there. Thanks to everyone for your support and well-wishes. As Duke Ellington would say, “I love you madly.”

My Foolish Heart

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


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

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Friday, May 22, 2015 is “Some Other Time.”

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was composed by Leonard Bernstein with lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green in 1944 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

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1975 with Bill Evans for The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album. I love this album dearly and this recording most of all. The reviewer Steve Schwartz noted in his review on the Classical Net website:

The high point of the album for me is Leonard Bernstein’s “Some Other Time,” from his first show, On the Town. I can’t think of too many singers diligent enough to seek the song out or with the courage to perform it. Though gorgeous, this number has several land mines for the singer – unusual harmonic shifts and, most obviously, the climactic phrase “Oh well,” beginning on the highest note in the song and descending an octave. The snare usually results in either a constricted or falsetto’d “Oh,” and there’s no place for the singer to hide. Bennett carries it off.

Indeed he does.

Some Other Time

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


“Some Other Time,” as well as The Complete Tony Bennett / Bill Evans Album Recordings, is available from iTunes. This set includes both of the albums that Bennett and Evans recorded: The Tony Bennett Bill Evans Album and Together Again, along with alternate versions for several songs.