The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Some Other Time

The song of the day for Thursday, July 16, 2020, is “Some Other Time.”

About Today

Today we are honoring Bill Evans, who was born in Plainfield, New Jersey, on July 16, 1929, and died on September 15, 1980, in New York City. You can read more about Evans at the Bill Evans Webpages site.

About This Song

“Some Other Time” was written by Leonard Bernstein, Adolph Green, and Betty Comden for the musical On The Town, the story of three sailors on leave in New York City and their romantic adventures. This song is sung at the end by two of the couples. Inexplicably, this beautiful song was cut from the 1949 film version.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “Some Other Time,” as well as all of the songs on The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, over three days in June 1975.

“Some Other Time,” as well as The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, is available from Apple Music.

Tony insisted that Bill include his solo piano version of “The Bad and the Beautiful” on their second album, Together Again.

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Song of the Day: By Myself

The song of the day for Wednesday, July 15, 2020, is “By Myself.”

About This Song

“By Myself” was written by Arthur Schwartz and Howard Dietz for the 1937 musical Between the Devil, where it was introduced by Jack Buchanan. Another great Schwartz-Dietz song from Between the Devil was “I See Your Face Before Me.” This song was used in the 1953 Fred Astaire film, The Band Wagon.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “By Myself” in 1958 for his 1959 album Hometown, My Town. Ralph Burns wrote the arrangement.

“By Myself,” as well as Hometown, My Town, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Good Life

The song of the day for Tuesday, July 14, 2020, is “The Good Life.”

About This Song

“The Good Life” was written in 1962 by Sacha Distel and Jack Reardon. Originally titled “La Belle Vie,” “The Good Life” was featured in the movie Seven Capital Sins. Tony Bennett is the singer most widely identified with “The Good Life;” other good recordings include those by Betty Carter, Carmen McRae, and Stephane Grappelli. It has been said that Distel wrote this song about Bridgette Bardot, who refused Distel’s marriage proposal.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “The Good Life” in December 1962 for the album I Wanna Be Around, released in early 1963. Marty Manning wrote the arrangement.

“The Good Life,” as well as I Wanna Be Around, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Monday, July 13, 2020, is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“The Rules of the Road” was written in 1961 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole, and Rosemary Clooney. As far as I am concerned, Tony Bennett owns this song.

About This Version

Today features Bennett’s first recording of “The Rules of the Road,” made in 1961 and released on the album I Left My Heart In San Francisco, released in 1962. Ralph Burns wrote the very excellent arrangement.

It appears today marks the 20th time I’ve named “The Rules of the Road” as song of the day. All I can say is that yes, I do love this song that much.

“The Rules of the Road,” as well as I Left My Heart in San Francisco, is available from Apple Music.

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Tony Live! Speak Low

The song of the day for Sunday, July 12, 2020, is “Speak Low.”

About This Song

“Speak Low” was written by Kurt Weill and Ogden Nash for the 1943 musical One Touch of Venus, where it was introduced by Mary Martin and Kenny Baker. In addition to several very fine Tony Bennett recordings, “Speak Low” has been widely recorded by jazz and popular performers, including Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, and Lena Horne.

About This Version

This version is from Tony’s 1994 MTV Unplugged program. This is my favorite of all of his recordings of “Speak Low.” It is hip and very cool–a perfect jazz performance.

“Speak Low,” as well as MTV Unplugged, is available from Apple Music.