The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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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: Mam’selle

The song of the day for Monday, July 19, 2021, is “Mam’selle.”

About This Song

“Mam’selle” was written by Edmund Goulding and Mack Gordon for the 1947 film The Razor’s Edge, which starred Tyrone Power. This lovely song has been widely recorded by artists including Frank Sinatra, Dennis Day, Frankie Laine, and, of course, Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Mam’selle” in 1959 for the album Tony Sings For Two, which was released in 1962. Bennett recorded all of the songs on this album with only Ralph Sharon on piano–no other instruments. It’s a really gorgeous album, as is this song.

Mam"selle

Listen to Mam"selle on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Mam’selle,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Skylark

The song of the day for Saturday, July 3, 2021, is “Skylark.”

About This Song

“Skylark” was written in 1941 by Hoagy Carmichael and Johnny Mercer. Mercer is said to have worked on the lyrics for “Skylark” for a full year. It is also said that he wrote the lyrics to express his feelings for Judy Garland, with whom he had been involved. Whether true or not, the song and the lyrics are outstanding and it easily became a jazz and popular standard, with many fine recordings.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Skylark” with Ralph Sharon at the session for the 1961 album Tony Sings For Two. The song was omitted from the original LP, but was included on the 1995 CD release of the album.

Skylark

Listen to Skylark on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Skylark,” as well as Tony Sings For Two is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me

The song of the day for Monday, May 24, 2021, is “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me.”

About This Song

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the musical By Jupiter in 1942. Directed by Joshua Logan, it starred Ray Bolger, Vera-Ellen, and Constance Moore. It was their last full-length work. In American Popular Music, Alec Wilder called this song “one of the loveliest songs Rodgers or any other theater writer has ever written. In the area of this form of music, it is a masterpiece.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me” on October 28, 1959, at the CBS 30th Street Studio with just Ralph Sharon for the album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.

It was a remarkable session, as Bennett relates in his autobiography, The Good Life:

We booked time in the studio and pored through music books, trying one tune after another. The arrangements were spontaneous, and we finished each song in one or two takes. In one afternoon we laid down sixteen tunes–which must be some kind of record–twelve of which made it onto the album, which became 1961’s Tony Sings For Two. Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw there no dissuading me, he turned to Frank Laico and said, “I’m leaving. I can’t support this.” Tony Sings For Two turned out to be one of my finest records ever.

Nobody"s Heart Belongs To Me

Listen to Nobody"s Heart Belongs To Me on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“Nobody’s Heart Belongs To Me,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Where or When

The song of the day for Thursday, April 1, 2021, is “Where or When.”

About This Song

“Where or When” was written by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the 1937 musical Babes in Arms. Benny Goodman recorded “Where or When” in 1941 with a very young Peggy Lee. It is a favorite song of many vocalists and has had many fine recordings.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Where or When” with Ralph Sharon for their 1961 album Tony Sings For Two.

Where or When

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

“Where or When,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

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