The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: All The Things You Are

The song of the day for Friday, July 12, 2024, is “All The Things You Are.”

About Today

Today we are remembering Oscar Hammerstein II, who was born on July 12, 1895. He wrote lyrics for both Jerome Kern and Richard Rodgers over his career. He was also a mentor to a young Stephen Sondheim, who was a close friend of one of Oscar’s sons. Oscar and Stephen remained close friends until Oscar’s death on August 23, 1960.

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 recorded “All The Things You Are” live on June 9, 1962, for his concert at Carnegie Hall. An abridged 2-LP recording of Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall was released on August 23, 1962. The 2-CD version was released in 1997.

“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: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Sunday, June 9, 2024, is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About Today

On June 9, 1962, Tony Bennett appeared in concert at Carnegie Hall. In preparation for the concert, Bennett called some old Army buddies, Arthur Penn and Gene Saks, who directed the concert. 1962 was the year that Tony Bennett released “I Left My Heart in San Francisco.” Between that recording and the June 9th concert, Bennett’s career catapulted into the stratosphere.

Bennett wrote about that night in his autobiography, The Good Life:

My whole family was in the audience. I was particularly proud that my mother was there; that made me feel like a million bucks. It was the biggest night of my life. My mom couldn’t believe how far I’d come. She was sitting between Mary and Tom, and as the crowds were cheering for an encore, she kept turning to Mary and asking, “Why don’t they let Anthony go home and rest? He must be exhausted after two and a half hours of singing.” She was so precious, she meant everything to me.

About This Song

“The Best Is Yet To Come” was written by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh in 1959. Some say that the song was written for Bennett. In any case, the song is strongly identified with him and he sang it at most of his concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Best Is Yet To Come” on June 9, 1962, live at Carnegie Hall. The resulting album, Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall, was released in August and was a big hit. Ralph Sharon assembled and conducted the orchestra, as well as writing all of the arrangements.

“The Best Is Yet To Come,” 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 Saturday, March 2, 2024, is “Lost in the Stars.”

About Today

We’re remembering Kurt Weill, who wrote today’s song, on the anniversary of his birth on March 2, 1900. He had a successful career in his home country of Germany until 1933. Weill, who was Jewish, fled Germany and relocated to the United States. He is best remembered for The Threepenny Opera, but also wrote other shows including Lost in the Stars, Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny, One Touch of Venus, and Lady in the Dark. Weill won the first Tony Award for his work on Street Scene. He was married to Lotte Lenya (who you might remember in From Russia With Love in the role of Rosa Klebb, where she poisons James Bond with a knife blade, laced with the fugu toxin, hidden in her shoe.

About This Song

“Lost in the Stars” was written by Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson for the 1949 musical of the same name, 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 let 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: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Tuesday, August 30, 2022, is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About This Song

“The Best Is Yet To Come” was written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. some say that today’s song was written for Tony Bennett. In any case, the song is strongly identified with him and he sang it regularly at most of his concerts. Other recordings include those by Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett sang “The Best Is Yet To Come” live at his 1962 concert at Carnegie Hall , captured on Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall.

“The Best Is Yet To Come,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Speak Low

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 24, 2022, is “Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus, where it was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Lena Horne.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Speak Low” on June 9, 1962, at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall. This song wasn’t released on the original 1962 release of the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall but was included in the full CD release in 1997.

“Speak Low,” as well as Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall is available on Apple Music.