The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Wednesday, November 25, 2020, is “Some Other Time.”

About Today

As is so often the case, once I feature a song from this album, I can’t let it go after just one song. Today is one of those days.

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written by Leonard Bernstein, with lyrics by Adolph Green and Betty Comden, in 1944 for the Broadway 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 and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time” in 1975 for their first album: The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

Some Other Time

Listen to Some Other Time on Spotify. Bill Evans · Song · 1975.

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

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 24, 2020, is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke for the 1947 movie The Road to Rio, where it was introduced by Bing Crosby. The song has been widely recorded, including recordings by Bill Evans, Johnny Hartman, Billie Holiday, Gregory Porter, Frank Sinatra, Nat King Cole, and a duet version with Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “But Beautiful” in 1975 for their first album: The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.

But Beautiful

Listen to But Beautiful on Spotify. Bill Evans · Song · 1975.

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

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Song of the Day: When In Rome

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 19, 2020, is “When In Rome.”

About This Song

“When In Rome” was written in 1964 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In the year 2000, in 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.

Bill Evans always wanted it known that it was his idea to use “When In Rome” for this album, as he was interested in the chord progressions in the song. He was concerned that some people might think that Tony had chosen the song, as it often falls into the pop equation for singers.

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

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Song of the Day: But Beautiful

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 18, 2020, is “But Beautiful.”

About This Song

“But Beautiful” was written by Jimmy Van Heusen and Johnny Burke 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

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “But Beautiful” for their first album, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, released in 1975.

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

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Song of the Day: My Foolish Heart

The song of the day for Monday, August 17, 2020, is “My Foolish Heart.”

About This Week

Every one of the songs that Bill Evans and Tony Bennett recorded is wonderful. For the rest of the week and in honor of the birthday of Evans, I’ll be featuring more songs that they recorded.

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

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

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

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