The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: This Could Be The Start of Something Big

The song of the day for Friday, August 21, 2026, is “This Could Be the Start of Something Big.”

About This Song

“This Could Be the Start of Something Big” was written by Steve Allen in 1954 for a television musical called The Bachelor. He used as the theme song for his NBC talk show Tonight Starring Steve Allen.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “This Could Be the Start of Something Big” live on June 9, 1962, at his Carnegie Hall concert. An abbreviated album of the concert, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, was released in August 1962, on a 2-LP set; about a dozen songs had to be left out due to space constraints, including “This Could Be the Start of Something Big.” All the those songs were added to the 1995 2-CD release of Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon arranged and conducted the entire concert.

“This Could Be the Start of Something Big,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Thursday, August 13, 2026, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All The Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it one of Kern’s finest songs, and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “All The Things You Are” live on June 9, 1962, at Carnegie Hall. A 2-LP recording of the concert, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, was released in August 1962.

“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Lost in the Stars

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 9, 2026, is “Lost in the Stars.”

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1949 musical Lost in the Stars, based on the 1948 novel by Alan Paton, Cry, the Beloved Country. Set in South Africa in an era when apartheid seemed as if it would never end, the plot concerns a black priest whose son kills, in a robbery attempt, a white man who is a friend of his father. The priest sings this song at the end of the first act, in a complete crisis of faith.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Lost in the Stars” at his concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962. The resulting album, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, was released in August 1962. Ralph Sharon arranged all the songs for the concert and led the orchestra as well. The concert, as well as the album, was a triumph. The original album was released on 4 LP records and only included 28 songs. The 1997 2-CD release contained the full concert.

“Lost in the Stars,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I’m Just a Lucky So and So

The song of the day for Monday, June 8, 2026, is “I’m Just a Lucky So and So.”

About This Song

“I’m Just a Lucky So and So” was written in 1945 by Duke Ellington and Mack David. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Ella Fitzgerald, Sarah Vaughan, Diana Krall, Mose Allison, and Harry “Sweets” Edison with Eddie “Lockjaw” Davis.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” live at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962. The concert 2-LP album, Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, was released in August 1962.

“I’m Just a Lucky So and So,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

Duke Ellington, with Al Hibbler, recorded “I’m Just a Lucky So and So” on November 26, 1945.

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Sunday, June 7, 2026, is “All The Things You Are.”

About This Song

“All the Things You Are” was written by Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein for the 1939 musical Very Warm For May. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder considers it to be one of Kern’s finest songs and with good reason. It’s a beautiful tune and Hammerstein’s lyrics are excellent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett performed “All the Things You Are” live on June 9, 1962, at Carnegie Hall; the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall was released in August 1962. Ralph Sharon wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“All The Things You Are,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall, is available on Apple Music.

In researching today’s song, I came across an episode of Marian McPartland‘s Piano Jazz with Stephen Sondheim, where Sondheim analyzes and deconstructs “All the Things You Are.” There’s a fair amount of music theory in the discussion, but I think you might enjoy it.