The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Over The Rainbow

The song of the day for Saturday, February 20, 2016 is “Over The Rainbow.”

About This Song

“Over The Rainbow” was written in 1939 for The Wizard of Oz by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg and is probably the most widely known of all Arlen’s songs. Interestingly, the producers wanted to cut the song from the film, as they felt it slowed downed the movie. Thankfully, the preview audiences preferred the movie with the song. “Over The Rainbow” ranked as the #1 song of the 20th century per the Recording Industry Association of America and the National Endowment of the Arts.The song has always been closely associated with Judy Garland. In a letter to Harold Arlen, Judy Garland wrote that the song “…has become part of my life. It’s so symbolic of everybody’s dreams and wishes that I’m sure that’s why some people get tears in their eyes when they hear it. I’ve sung it thousands of times and it’s still the song that’s closest to my heart.”

I’d like to dedicate this song to my brother, Tom, and remind him that:

When all the world is a hopeless jumble
And the raindrops tumble, all around
Heaven opens a magic lane

When all the clouds darken up the sky way
There’s a rainbow highway to be found
Leading from your window pane
To a place behind the sun
Just a step beyond the rain

About This Version

Today I’m featuring Tony’s recording of this song from his 1960 Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen. The beautiful arrangement is by Glenn Osser.

Over The Rainbow

Tony Bennett · Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen · Song · 1960


“Over The Rainbow,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available from iTunes.

About Today

I’ve shown this video before, but I love it so much I have to offer it again. Ladies and gentlemen: Yip Harburg.

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Song of the Day: Right As The Rain

The song of the day for Monday, February 8, 2016 is “Right As The Rain.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Right As The Rain,” was written in 1944 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the Broadway musical Bloomer Girl.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Right As The Rain” in 1960 for his album Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen, which was arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser.

Right As The Rain

Tony Bennett · Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen · Song · 1960


“Right As The Rain,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: When the Sun Comes Out

The song of the day for Friday, February 5, 2016 is “When the Sun Comes Out.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “When the Sun Comes Out,” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler in 1941. The song is somewhat unusual in the Arlen body of work in that the it was not written for either a musical or a film. The song was first recorded in 1941 by Helen O’Connell with the Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra. Other significant recordings include those by Mel Tormé, Ella Fitzgerald, Billy Eckstein and Judy Garland.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “When the Sun Comes Out” in 1960 for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, released that same year. It was arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser.

When The Sun Comes Out

Tony Bennett · Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen · Song · 1960


“When the Sun Comes Out,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: Let’s Fall In Love

The song of the day for Wednesday, February 3, 2016 is “Let’s Fall In Love.”

About This Song

Today’s song, “Let’s Fall In Love,” was written in 1933 by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the film of the same name. They had been signed to a five-week contract in Hollywood to write the score. It was Arlen’s first trip to Hollywood and he and Koehler left New York for Hollywood by train. They wrote “Let’s Fall In Love” on the Chief between Chicago and Los Angeles. Arlen was trying to work out the song, but had no keyboard with him. One lunchtime, the porter announced lunch using a set of chimes; Arlen quickly borrowed them to work out the notes for this song and it was all but finished by their arrival a few days later.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Let’s Fall In Love” in 1960 for his first album to pay tribute to a composer: Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen, released the following year. The album was arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser.

https://open.spotify.com/track/0U8zxnsumVMWc4bHmfNmI2br%20/https://open.spotify.com/track/10e1opq0lzrR3K5SNOVJ09

“Let’s Fall In Love,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: What Good Does It Do

The song of the day for Thursday, November 12, 2015 is “What Good Does It Do.”

About This Song

“What Good Does It Do” was written in 1957 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg for the Broadway musical Jamaica, which starred Lena Horne and Ricardo Montálban; the principal dancer was Alvin Ailey. Harburg had been blacklisted during the McCarthy period and was unable to work in film or TV from 1951 to 1962. Fortunately, producer David Merrick and Broadway welcomed Harburg. Jamaica was nominated for major Tony Awards, including Best Musical, all the acting nominations and both scenic and costume design, though it lost to The Music Man.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “What Good Does It Do” in 1960 for Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, which was released in 1961. This was Bennett’s first album to pay tribute to a composer. This song, as well as the entire album, was arranged and conducted by Glenn Osser.

What Good Does It Do

Tony Bennett · Tony Bennett Sings A String Of Harold Arlen · Song · 1960


“What Good Does It Do,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings a String of Harold Arlen, is available from iTunes.