The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Blue Moon

The song of the day for Thursday, November 5, 2026, is “Blue Moon.”

About This Song

“Blue Moon” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart in 1934. The ballad has been widely recorded by artists including Ted Fiorito, Al Bowlly, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Nat Cole. The song was the basis for the 2025 film Blue Moon, starring Ethan Hawke, who portrayed Lorenz Hart and was nominated an Academy Award for his performance.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blue Moon” with the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet (Braff on trumpet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Giuffrida on bass) in September 1973. The recording was first released in 1976 on Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs.

“Blue Moon,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

We have a lovely recording of “Blue Moon,” recorded in 1935 by Ray Noble and His Orchestra, with Al Bowlly on vocals. The recording is from an album named Easy to Remember — Songs of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart. The album has period recordings by artists including Paul Whiteman, Sophie Tucker, and Al Jolson. The quality of the recordings is outstanding.

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Song of the Day: This Can’t Be Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, May 27, 2026, is “This Can’t Be Love.”

About This Song

“This Can’t Be Love” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1938 Broadway musical The Boys From Syracuse. It is one of their most joyous and least ironic love songs. Both Benny Goodman and Eddy Duchin recorded the song in the late 1930s. In addition to Tony Bennett’s fine recording here, “This Can’t Be Love” has also been recorded by Nat King Cole, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, and Diana Krall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded “This Can’t Be Love” in July 1973. The recording was originally released in Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs; additional songs recorded at that session were released on Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers and Hart. Songs from both albums, as well as some alternate takes were released on Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook by Concord Records in 1986.

“This Can’t Be Love,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Wish I Were in Love Again

The song of the day for Saturday, May 2, 2026, is “I Wish I Were in Love Again.”

About Today

We remember Lorenz Hart, who was born 131 years ago on May 2, 1985. He began working with Richard Rodgers in 1919 and they worked together until Hart’s death in 1943. They had their first big hit, “Manhattan,” written for The Garrick Gaieties in 1925. Rodgers and Hart wrote 26 musicals over their partnership, ending with the 1942 By Jupiter.

About This Song

“I Wish I Were in Love Again” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1937 musical Babes in Arms. It was a favorite song of Judy Garland, who recorded it in 1940. Other recordings include those by Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Stacey Kent.

About This Version

Tony Bennett, with the Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, recorded “I Wish I Were in Love Again” in July 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings More Great Rodgers & Hart.

“I Wish I Were in Love Again,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings the Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Friday, September 26, 2021, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Harold Lang and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” in 1973 with The George Barnes-Ruby Braff Quartet. The recording was released in 1976 on the album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs.

I Could Write A Book

Listen to I Could Write A Book on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music

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Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 27, 2019, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

Composed by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart, “I Could Write a Book” was written for the Broadway musical Pal Joey, where it was introduced by Gene Kelly and Leila Ernst. This has always been an interesting song. Today it’s considered a lovely romantic number, but in the context of the musical, it’s sung as a phony love song in order to woo the innocent ingenue. It’s been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Rosemary Clooney, Betty Carter, Anita O’Day, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Could Write a Book” for the 1976 album Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers and Hart Songs. Readers of this site will know how much I love these recordings. Instead of a traditional band to accompany him, Bennett used a novel sound that does a great job in invoking the period for many of the songs. The band, The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, consisted of Ruby Braff (cornet), George Barnes and Wayne Wright (guitar), and John Guiffrida (bass). No piano, no drums … it’s an exquisite sound, at least for this listener.

I Could Write A Book

I Could Write A Book, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

The Year of Tony Bennett wishes the wonderful Harold Jones a very happy birthday! Mr. Jones has played drums for Tony Bennett for some time now and your author never ceases to be amazed at his talent.