The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: The Best Is Yet To Come

The song of the day for Wednesday, August 4, 2021, is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About Today

I hope you all enjoyed Tony Bennett’s 95th birthday! Our 4th of the seven Tony Bennett songs I’m featuring this week is “The Best Is Yet To Come.”

About This Song

“The Best Is Yet To Come” was written in 1959 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. Some say that “The Best is Yet to Come” was written for Tony Bennett. In any case, the song is strongly identified with him and he sings it at most of his concerts. Other recordings include those by Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Best Is Yet To Come” in 1960; Cy Coleman wrote the arrangement and conducted the orchestra. It was released as a single in 1960; it was included on the 1962 album I Left My Heart In San Francisco.

The Best Is Yet To Come

Listen to The Best Is Yet To Come on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 2011.

“The Best Is Yet To Come,” as well as all of the songs collected on The Columbia Singles, Vol. 6, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Last Night When We Were Young

The song of the day for Monday, August 2, 2021, is “Last Night When We Were Young.”

Tony Bennett Week

Tony Bennett has made many excellent recordings of Harold Arlen songs — so many, in fact, that two of his Arlen songs have made it to my list of Seven of Tony’s greatest recordings. Today’s song is very special.

About This Song

“Last Night When We Were Young” was written in 1935 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. In American Popular Song, Alec Wilder wrote:

This is a most remarkable markable and beautiful song. It is one which goes far beyond the boundaries of popular music. For me, it is a concert song without a trace of trying to be. It hasn’t any artiness about it or pretense. It’s obviously deeply felt, both by the composer and the lyricist, E. Y. Harburg. It is written with such intensity that it gives the illusion of being a song of great range, whereas it is only one step beyond an octave!

All in all, it’s a very beautiful and introspective song that is much beloved by singers. Frank Sinatra included it on his excellent album In The Wee Small Hours. It has also been recorded by Judy Garland, Mel Tormé, Carmen McRae, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Last Night When We Were Young” in 1992 for his tribute album to Frank Sinatra: Perfectly Frank.

Last Night When We Were Young

Listen to Last Night When We Were Young on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1992.

“Last Night When We Were Young,” as well as Perfectly Frank is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Fly Me To The Moon

The song of the day for Sunday, August 1, 2021, is “Fly Me To The Moon.”

About This Week

Please join us here at The Year of Tony Bennett in a week-long celebration of Tony Bennett’s 95th birthday on August 3. We’re celebrating by playing some of his greatest hits and greatest recordings.

About This Song

“Fly Me To The Moon” was written by Bart Howard in 1954. It was originally titled “In Other Words,” but the song was not doing that well, in spite of several recordings. In 1962, Howard renamed it “Fly Me To The Moon,” and the song began to catch on. Tony Bennett’s 1965 recording for If I Ruled The World was a big hit for Bennett. There have been many recordings of the song, including those by Frank Sinatra, Kaye Ballard, and many more. However, Bart Howard told Bennett that his 1965 recording was “the definitive performance of this song.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Fly Me To The Moon” in 1965 for his album If Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set. Bob Costa wrote the very fine arrangement.

Fly Me To The Moon

Listen to Fly Me To The Moon on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1965.

“Fly Me To The Moon,” as well as If Ruled The World: Songs For The Jet Set is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Saturday, July 31, 2021, is “The Man That Got Away.”

About This Song

“The Man That Got Away” was written by Harold Arlen and Ira Gershwin for Judy Garland to sing in her 1954 version of A Star Is Born, with James Mason. Her performance of the song is legendary in film history, with 27 takes in three days, three separate sessions, and two different directors. The filmed scene is brilliant and made the song a huge hit for Garland, who sang it in most of her concerts.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Man That Got Away” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon for the album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1962.

Where or When

Listen to Where or When on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“The Man That Got Away,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

Here’s that famous clip from A Star Is Born:

The Man That Got Away - A Star Is Born (1954)

Of course this is the original version that was written for Judy by Harold Arlen for the film A Star Is Born in 1954. Judy Garland is 32 years old here.

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Song of the Day: There’s a Lull in My Life

The song of the day for Friday, July 30, 2021, is “There’s a Lull in My Life.”

About This Song

“There’s a Lull in My Life” was written in 1937 by Harry Revel and Mack Gordon. It was written for the 1937 film Wake Up and Live, where it was introduced by Alice Faye. The song is considered somewhat experimental for its time.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’s a Lull in My Life” in 1964 for his album Who Can I Turn To. George Siravo wrote the arrangement.

There"s a Lull In My Life

Listen to There"s a Lull In My Life on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1964.

“There’s a Lull in My Life,” as well as Who Can I Turn To is available on Apple Music.

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