The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: There’ll Be Some Changes Made

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 13, 2021, is “There’ll Be Some Changes Made.”

About This Song

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made” was written in 1921 by Benton Overstreet and Billy Higgins, two African-American vaudeville performers. Ethel Waters had a hit recording of this song in late 1921; other early recordings include those by Marion Harris, Josie Miles, Fats Waller, and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. Later recordings include those by Billy Holiday, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett. Even western singers have been drawn to the song by artists including Chet Atkins, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and Pee Wee Russell’s Rhythmakers.

At 100 years, this song is in no way dated.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” in 1975 for the album Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful”. Torrie Zito wrote the very effective arrangement. The cover features Bennett’s two daughters: Antonia and Joanna.

There"ll Be Some Changes Made

Listen to There"ll Be Some Changes Made on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful” is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Used To Be Color Blind

The song of the day for Friday, January 15, 2021, is “I Used To Be Color Blind.”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “I Used To Be Color Blind” for the 1938 film Carefree, where it was introduced by Fred Astaire. Tony Bennett and Lee Musiker have a nice little exchange in the documentary film The Zen of Bennett about this song after Bennett discovers that the shoeshine person mistakenly shined his black shoes with brown polish.

About This Version

As I do every Thursday afternoon, I was listening to John Pizzarelli’s online show It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere: A Musical Social From A Distance. One of the songs he played this week was “I Used To Be Color Blind” and he mentioned that he loved Tony’s recording of the song. He also said that his dad, Bucky Pizzarelli, played on the recording.

Tony Bennett recorded “I Used To Be Color Blind” in 1975 for the album Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful”, released on Bennett’s Improv label. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

I Used To Be Color Blind

Listen to I Used To Be Color Blind on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“I Used To Be Color Blind,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from Apple Music.”

You can catch It’s 5 O’Clock Somewhere: A Musical Social From A Distance on Facebook on the John Pizzarelli page or on Instagram- JohnPizzarelliOfficial. It starts every Thursday at 6:00 ET and lasts about an hour. His wife Jessica Molaskey joins every week and she sings several songs each week. Each Monday, John posts about the upcoming show and asks for your request.

You can also catch John and Jessica on Radio Deluxe, which is one of the best shows ever for jazz, cabaret, and show tunes. They almost always feature at least one Tony Bennett recording. You can find more information on radiodeluxe.com with information on how to listen. This show runs for about two hours. Both of these are great fun and you’ll learn a lot about the songs and the people who sang them.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: There’ll Be Some Changes Made

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 1, 2020, is “There’ll Be Some Changes Made.”

About This Song

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made” was written in 1921, with music by Benton Overstreet and lyrics by Billy Higgins, two African-American vaudeville performers. Ethel Waters had a hit recording of this song in late 1921; other early recordings include those by Marion Harris, Josie Miles, Fats Waller, and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. Later recordings include those by Billy Holiday, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett. Even western singers have been drawn to the song by artists including Chet Atkins, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys, and Pee Wee Russell’s Rhythmakers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” in 1975 for his album Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful”, which was released on Bennett’s own Improv label. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

2019 hasn’t been a particularly good year for me. In that spirit, my New Year’s resolution is to stay healthy and blog every single day in 2020. Today’s song indicates some of that thinking for me!

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: There’ll Be Some Changes Made

The song of the day for Thursday, August 2, 2018 is “There’ll Be Some Changes Made.”

About This Song

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made” was written in 1921, with music by Benton Overstreet and lyrics by Billy Higgins, two African-American vaudeville performers. Ethel Waters had a hit recording of this song in late 1921; other early recordings include those by Marion Harris, Josie Miles, Fats Waller, and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. Later recordings include those by Billy Holiday, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett. Even western singers have been drawn to the song by artists including Chet Atkins, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and Pee Wee Russell’s Rhythmakers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” in 1975 for his own Improv Label; it was released on Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful that same year. Torrie Zito wrote the terrific arrangement. As for John Guiffrida’s bass, well it’s recordings like this that make me want to take up the string bass.

There"ll Be Some Changes Made

Listen to There"ll Be Some Changes Made on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.


“There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

About Today

After ten years with my current company, I have decided to make a big change. Tomorrow is my last day and on Monday I start an exciting new job here in Portland. No worries–it shouldn’t interfere with my blogging. 🙂 But if you want to send a few good thoughts my way, I’d be grateful!

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: As Time Goes By

The song of the day for Monday, May 28, 2018 is “As Time Goes By.”

About This Song

“As Time Goes By” was written by Herman Hupfeld for the 1931 Broadway musical Everybody’s Welcome. It was a modest hit, with recordings by Rudy Vallee and Binnie Hale. All that changed in 1942, when it was sung by Dooley Wilson in the film Casablanca. Not only was “As Time Goes By” sung; it was a major plot point, as Rick (Humphrey Bogart) has told his pianist Sam (Dooley Wilson) to never ever play that song. Until Rick’s long-lost love, Ilsa (Ingrid Bergman) comes to Casablanca and Rick’s American Bar asks Sam to play the song. The song provides one of the most misquoted lines in all of film. Bogart never says “play it again, Sam.” He says “if she can stand it, so can I. Play it Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By.’” The American Film Institute named “As Time Goes By” the second most important song in film, second only to “Over The Rainbow.” Note that Tony Bennett sings the verse for this song, which has seldom been heard, especially since the release of the film Casablanca.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “As Time Goes By” in 1975 for Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful, the first album from Bennett’s own label, Improv. Torrie Zito did the arrangement.

As Time Goes By

Listen to As Time Goes By on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.


“As Time Goes By,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

Subscribe to The Year of Tony Bennett

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Current Reader Favorites