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The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

October 7, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: As Time Goes By

The song of the day for Wednesday, October 7, 2015 is “As Time Goes By.”

About This Song

“As Time Goes By” was written for the 1931 Broadway musical Everybody’s Welcome by Herman Hupfeld. 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 point plot, 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, next 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 his album Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful. The album was arranged by Torrie Zito, who also played piano for the album. Also featured were John Guiffrida on bass and Chuck Hughes on drums.

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.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Casablanca, Everybody's Welcome, Herman Hupfeld, Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful, Torrie Zito

June 9, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Cole Porter Medley

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 9, 2015 is “The Cole Porter Medley.”

About This Song

This medley is built from the greatest of Cole Porter’s songs. For details about these songs, including when they were written by Cole Porter, visit The Cole Porter Medley topic on our sister site, The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this medley for the first album released on his Improv label: Tony Bennett Sings … “Life Is Beautiful,” released in 1972. This song, as well as all of the songs on this album, were orchestrated and conducted by Torrie Zito.

About Today

The writer for all these wonderful songs, Cole Porter, was born on June 9, 1891 in a wealthy family from Peru, Indiana. His mother taught him piano starting at the age of six; however, his family wanted him to become a lawyer. He entered Yale, majoring in English, with a minor in music. He was a prolific songwriter while at Yale, including two football fight songs that are played to this day. He moved to Paris and later Venice where he entertained lavishly and dabbled in songwriting. Thought decidedly homosexual, Porter married Linda Lee Thomas in 1919 and stayed married until her death in 1954. Linda was instrumental in encouraging Porter to write more seriously and in 1928 his first Broadway hit, Paris, opened. The 1930s saw a remarkable string of hit musicals including Anything Goes, Fifty Million Frenchmen, Jubilee and Red, Hot and Blue. In the late 1930s and most of the 1940s, Porter worked in Hollywood. In 1948, one of his greatest musicals, Kiss Me Kate, opened on Broadway to great acclaim.

During all this success, Porter was severely injured in 1937 in a riding accident, in which his horse rolled over on him and crushed his legs. He underwent 34 surgeries to save one of his legs from being amputated, though he did lose the leg finally in 1958. He was in significant pain for the rest of his life from that accident. He never wrote another song after the amputation. Porter died in 1964 in California.. Officially, he is said to have died of kidney failure, though many think his death was hastened by the doctors who were treating him for his kidney disease. Porter was a lifelong alcoholic and the California doctors refused to allow him any alcohol at all, in spite of the advice from his New York doctors. The struggle of stopping cold turkey coupled with his physical condition was just too much. He was 73 years old at his death.

He was certainly one of great American songwriters and his contributions to the American Songbook are memorable. In addition to the songs featured in today’s medley, he also wrote songs like “Begin The Beguine,” “Too Darn Hot,” “In The Still Of The Night,””Love For Sale” and many, many more.

Cole Porter Medley

Listen to Cole Porter Medley on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2004.

“The Cole Porter Medley,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Cole Porter, Cole Porter birthday, Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful

June 2, 2015 By Suzanne 1 Comment

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

The song of the day for Tuesday, June 2, 2015 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, with recordings by artists including Chet Atkins, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and Pee Wee Russell’s Rhythmakers.

About This Version

When you listen to this song, it’s hard to believe that it was written in 1921; it sounds as current as if it were written today. The excellent arrangement is by Torrie Zito. Tony Bennett recorded it for his first album on his new label, Improv: Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful. What with leaving Columbia and starting his own label, I’d say that the choice of this song is perfect.

About Today

Just a few little changes in store prompted this song. I have some movers come over tomorrow to help me set up my home office, which entails taking my desk apart and removing all the doors between where the desk is now to its new home.

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.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Benton Overstreet, Billy Higgins, The Complete Improv Recordings, Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful, Torrie Zito

April 15, 2015 By Suzanne 1 Comment

Song of the Day: As Time Goes By

The song of the day for Wednesday, April 15, 2015 is “As Time Goes By.”

About This Song

“As Time Goes By” was written for the 1931 Broadway musical Everybody’s Welcome by Herman Hupfeld. 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 point plot, 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” for his first album released on his own Improv label in 1972: Life Is Beautiful. He is accompanied by the Torrie Zito Trio, with Zito on piano, John Guiffrida on bass and Chuck Hughes on drums. The album is currently available as part of the The Complete Improv Recordings collection.

About Today

I recently watched Casablanca on television (thanks to the wonderful Turner Classic Movies network) and was reminded, once again what a wonderful film it is and how much I love this song.

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.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Casablanca, Herman Hupfeld, LIfe is Beautiful, Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful, Torrie Zito

January 24, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

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

The song of the day for Friday, January 24, 2014 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 Album

Tony Bennett recorded this song in 1975 album Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful, recorded on his own Improv label. Bennett was accompanied by the Torrie Zito Trio, with Zito on piano, John Guiffrida on bass and Chuck Hughes on drums. All songs on the album were arranged and conducted by Mr. Zito. Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful, as well as of the other Improv recordings are collected on The Complete Improv Recordings, a 4-CD set.

http://open.spotify.com/track/10d0wvVE4nBjltj0K26gni
“There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes and Amazon as a 4-CD box set, which includes an excellent booklet.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Benton Overstreet, Billy Higgins, The Complete Improv Recordings, Tony Bennett Sings Life Is Beautiful

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