The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Fascinating Rhythm

The song of the day for Sunday, September 27, 2020, is “Fascinating Rhythm.”

About This Song

Written in 1924 by George and Ira Gershwin for the Broadway musical Lady Be Good, “Fascinating Rhythm” was introduced by Cliff Edwards and Fred and Adele Astaire. The Astaires also recorded the song in 1926 with Gershwin on piano. “Fascinating Rhythm” was and still is, a jazz number. For that reason, it has never been out of favor with jazz artists, both vocal and instrumental.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Fascinating Rhythm” in 1949 as Joe Bari on a 78 rpm record on the Leslie label. “Vieni Qui” was on the flip side. This record was long thought lost, but a copy was found and so it was able to be released in the 2011 Complete Collection on Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 1.

“Fascinating Rhythm,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Got Rhythm

The song of the day for Saturday, September 26, 2020, is “I Got Rhythm.”

About Today

Today marks the birthday of George Gershwin, who was born on September 26, 1898.

About This Song

“I Got Rhythm” was written by George and Ira Gershwin in 1928. Gershwin originally wrote this song with a slow tempo for the 1928 musical Treasure Girl. In 1930 for Girl Crazy, he decided on a faster rhythm. The song was introduced by Ethel Merman and became wildly popular based on her performance. It has been recorded many times by artists including Miss Merman, Fred Astaire, John Pizzarelli, and Ethel Waters. It’s one of the great jazz standards.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I Got Rhythm” for his 1995 album Here’s To The Ladies, which featured songs made famous by great women singers on the 20th century. This song is, of course, associated with Ethel Merman. Bennett and Ralph Sharon did the arrangements for the entire album.

“I Got Rhythm,” as well as Here’s To The Ladies, is available from Apple Music.

While you’re here, I hope you’ll take a moment to listen to Ethel Merman’s recording from Girl Crazy. She sure had a set of pipes!

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Hi-Ho

The song of the day for Friday, September 25, 2020, is “Hi-Ho.”

About Today

In honor of the birth of Jacob Bruskin Gershowitz on September 26, 1898, The Year of Tony Bennett begins a week-long celebration of the music of George Gershwin.

About This Song

“Hi-Ho” was written in 1936 by George and Ira Gershwin. “Hi-Ho” has been called ‘Gershwin’s least-known great song’ by blogger Walter Rimler. It was one of the first songs the Gershwin brothers wrote when they first came to Hollywood and was slated for the movie Shall We Dance, featuring Fred Astaire dancing in the streets of Paris. The song was cut due to concerns over the costs for filming the sequence. The song faded from view and was only published in 1967. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Hi-Ho” in 1968 for the album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.


“Hi-Ho,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Don’t Like Goodbyes

The song of the day for Thursday, September 24, 2020, is “Don’t Like Goodbyes.”

About This Song

“Don’t Like Goodbyes” was written by Harold Arlen, with lyrics by Arlen and Truman Capote, for the 1954 Broadway musical House of Flowers, based on Capote’s novella of the same name. The song was introduced by Pearl Bailey. While the musical was not well-reviewed, the Arlen-Capote score is quite wonderful, including not only today’s song but the exquisite “A Sleepin’ Bee,” which Tony Bennett has recorded twice (in 1959 for Tony Sings For Two and at the 1962 Carnegie Hall concert). “Don’t Like Goodbyes” has been recorded by Pearl Bailey, Frank Sinatra, and Barbra Streisand.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Don’t Like Goodbyes” for his 2004 album The Art of Romance. Jorge Calendrelli wrote the arrangement.

“Don’t Like Goodbyes,” as well as The Art of Romance, is available from Apple Music.

By Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: Autumn In New York

The song of the day for Wednesday, September 23, 2020, the first full day of the Autumn season is “Autumn In New York.”

About This Song

“Autumn In New York” was written by Vernon Duke for the 1934 Broadway musical Thumbs Up! The song has proved quite popular over the years, with recordings by Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Sarah Vaughan, and many, many more.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Autumn In New York” in 1992; the recording is an outtake from Perfectly Frank. Thankfully, the recording was released in 2011 with the Complete Collection box set on the Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2 disk.

“Autumn In New York,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes and Other Delights, Vol. 2 is available from Apple Music.

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