The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Pick Yourself Up

The song of the day for Saturday, October 3, 2026, is “Pick Yourself Up.”

About This Song

“Pick Yourself Up” was written by Jerome Kern and Dorothy Fields in 1936 for the Fred Astaire movie Swing Time.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Pick Yourself Up” for his 1915 album The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern. Accompanying Bennett is The Bill Charlap Trio, with Charlap on piano, Peter Washington on bass, and Kenny Washington on drums. Bill Charlap also produced the album and wrote the arrangements.

The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern won the 58th Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“Pick Yourself Up,” as well as The Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, is available on Apple Music.

We’re pleased to include this clip from Swing Time of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers dancing to “Pick Yourself Up.”

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Days of Wine and Roses

The song of the day for Friday, October 2, 2026, is “Days of Wine and Roses.”

About This Song

“Days of Wine and Roses” was written by Henry Mancini and Johnny Mercer for the 1962 film Days of Wine and Roses, which starred Jack Lemmon and Lee Remick, both of whom become alcoholics. The song won the Academy Award for Best Original Song and the Grammy Awards for Record of the Year and Song of the Year.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Days of Wine and Roses” in June 1975 for their first album, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, released in 1975.

“Days of Wine and Roses,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Could Write a Book

The song of the day for Thursday, October 1, 2026, is “I Could Write a Book.”

About This Song

“I Could Write a Book” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart 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” in September 1973 for Tony Bennett Sings 10 Rodgers & Hart Songs, released in 1976 on his Improv Label. Accompanying Bennett was The Ruby Braff/George Barnes Quartet, featuring Braff on cornet, Barnes and Wayne Wright on guitar, and John Giuffrida on bass.

“I Could Write a Book,” as well as Tony Bennett Sings The Rodgers & Hart Songbook, is available on Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Blues in the Night

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 30, 2926, is “Blues in the Night.”

About This Song

“Blues in the Night” was written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the 1941 film Blues in the Night, a noir film about a group of jazz musicians. Initially, Arlen was not enthusiastic about Mercer’s lyric. When they talked about it, Arlen noticed a phrase written in the margin: “My mamma done tol’ me, when I was in knee pants.” Arlen suggested he work on a new lyric and to start it with “My mamma done tol’ me, when I was in knee pants.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Blues in the Night”in May 2001 Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues. Rob Mathes wrote the arrangement.

Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues won the 2003 Grammy Award for Best Traditional Pop Vocal Album.

“Blues in the Night,” as well as Playin’ With My Friends: Bennett Sings the Blues, is available on Apple Music.

For the 1941 film Blues in the Night, baritone William Gillespie was hired to sing this song in the film, set in a jail cell, and is overheard by and inspires the musicians, who are all in another cell.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Dat Dere

The song of the day for Tuesday, September 29, 2026, is “Dat Dere.”

About This Song

“Dat Dere” was written in 1960 by Bobby Timmons, with lyrics by Oscar Brown, Jr. The song is popular as both an instrument and vocal jazz number. Significant recordings include those by pianist Bobby Timmons, Cannonball Adderly, and Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers. Ricki Lee Jones recorded a nice vocal interpretation in 1991,

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Dat Dere” in June 1998 for his album for children, The Playground, which was released 28 years ago today on September 29, 1998. Bobby Tucker, who played piano for both Billie Holiday and Billy Eckstine, was the musical consultant for the album. The Ralph Sharon Quintet accompanied Bennett on The Playground, featuring Sharon on piano, Gray Sargent on guitar, Paul Langosch on bass, and Clayton Cameron on drums.

“Dat Dere,” as well as The Playground, is available on Apple Music.