The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: You Don’t Know What Love Is

The song of the day for Friday, November 17, 2023, is “You Don’t Know What Love Is.”

About This Song

“You Don’t Know What Love Is” was written in 1941 by Gene de Paul and Don Raye. It was written for a 1941 Abbott and Costello film called Keep ‘Em Flying, but was cut from the film before it opened. The song was finally used in a B picture named Behind the Eight Ball. “You Don’t Know What Love Is” gradually became a jazz standard, as evidenced by the Miles Davis recording in 1954. Other significant jazz recordings included those by Chet Baker, John Coltrane, Anita O’Day, Sonny Rollins, Nina Simone, and Cassandra Wilson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Don’t Know What Love Is” in September 1976 for their second album Together Again, released in 1977.

“You Don’t Know What Love Is,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You Must Believe in Spring

The song of the day for Saturday, September 30, 2023, is “You Must Believe in Spring.”

About This Song

“You Must Believe in Spring” was written by Michel Legrand for the for the 1967 French film Les Demoiselles de Rochefort. The original French lyrics were written by Jacques Demy, who also directed the filme; the English lyrics were written by Alan and Marilyn Bergman. “You Must Believe In Spring” has been widely recorded by artists including Sylvia Syms, Barbra Streisand and Bill Evans, in a posthumous release of an album with the same name, featuring sessions with Eddie Gomez and Eliot Zigmund.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You Must Believe in Spring” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977.

“You Must Believe in Spring,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: You’re Nearer

The song of the day for Friday, September 29, 2023, is “You’re Nearer.”

About This Song

Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart wrote “You’re Nearer” for the 1940 movie version of Too Many Girls. It’s one of their loveliest and most elegant love songs. Richard Rodgers said that “Tony’s recording of ‘You’re Nearer’ makes me extremely happy and would affect Larry Hart the same way if he could hear it.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You’re Nearer” in September 1976 for their second album Together Again, released in 1977.

“You’re Nearer,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Two Lonely People

The song of the day for Thursday, September 28, 2023, is “The Two Lonely People.”

About This Song

Bill Evans wrote “The Two Lonely People” in 1971; Carol Hall wrote the lyrics. The song first appeared on Evans’ 1971 album The Bill Evans Album. The song was also recorded in 1974 on the album But Beautiful, recorded live with Stan Getz at Jazz Middelheim in Antwerp, Belgium.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “The Two Lonely People” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, released in 1976.

“The Two Lonely People,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lucky To Be Me

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 27, 2023, is “Lucky To Be Me.”

About The Next Few Days

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded their second album, Together Again, 47 years ago, from September 27-30, 1976, at the Columbia Studios in San Francisco. Their first album, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, was recorded in 1975 at Fantasy Studios in Berkeley, California.

We’ll be featuring songs from Together Again for the next few days.

About This Song

“Lucky To Be Me” was written by Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden, for the 1944 musical On The Town, where it was introduced by John Battles. The song (as were most of the songs from the score) was cut from the 1949 film.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Lucky To Be Me” in September 1976 for their second album, Together Again, which was released in 1977.

“Lucky To Be Me,” as well as Together Again, is available on Apple Music.

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