The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Life Is Beautiful

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 1, 2022, is “Life Is Beautiful.”

About This Song

“Life Is Beautiful” was written in 1974 by Fred Astaire and Tommy Wolf. While we all know Astaire as America’s greatest dancer, his career as a songwriter is not nearly as well-known. Songwriting was a love of his, though. His biographer Roy Pickard quotes Astaire on this: “I’m a frustrated songwriter, and would like to have written a musical comedy score. But that’s just about the only thing I didn’t get done.” “Life is Beautiful” is not only a very well-written song, but achieved great popularity as well, as it became the theme song for the Tonight Show.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Life Is Beautiful” in 1975 for his album Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra.

“Life Is Beautiful,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful is available on Apple Music.

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

The song of the day for Saturday, October 29, 2022, 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, released on his Improv label. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

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

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

The song of the day for Friday, December 31, 2021, is “There’ll Be Some Changes Made.”

About This Song

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made” was written in 1921 (100 years ago!) by Bennett Overstreet and Billy Higgins, both 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 the album Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful, released on Bennett’s Improv label. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

On the last day of 2021, my hope for 2022 is that there’ll be some changes made and we’ll finally start seeing our way of this awful pandemic, or a young girl was quoted on Facebook — “Pandammit.”

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings is available on Apple Music.

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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. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004

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

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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. Song · Tony Bennett · 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.