The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Street of Dreams

The song of the day for Friday, July 5, 2024, is “Street of Dreams.”

About This Song

“Street of Dreams” was written in 1932 by Victor Young and Sam M. Lewis. The song has a classic depression-era sense, where love is one of the few things that may be impossible for those with money, but “no one is poor as long as love is sure.” Bing Crosby was the first singer to record “Street of Dreams”, though the Russ Columbo recording was also popular.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Street of Dreams” on October 28, 1959, accompanied only by Ralph Burns, for the album Tony Sings For Two, which was released in January 1961. Against the wishes of his producer Mitch Mitchell, Tony and Ralph reserved the studio and recorded sixteen songs that day, twelve of which appeared on the album. The arrangements were done on the spot and all of the songs were done in one or two takes.

“Street of Dreams,” as well as Tony Signs For Two, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: My Funny Valentine

The song of the day for Sunday, June 223, 2024, is “My Funny Valentine.”

About This Song

“My Funny Valentine” was written by Richard Rodgers and Larry Hart for the 1937 Broadway musical Babes in Arms, where it was introduced by Mitzi Green. This ballad is one of the most-loved songs in the American songbook and has been sung by most jazz and cabaret artists. In addition to Tony Bennett’s excellent recordings of this song, others include those by Chet Baker, Frank Sinatra, and Miles Davis.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “My Funny Valentine” on October 28, 1959, for the album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.

Bennett shared his thoughts about Tony Sings For Two, from his autobiography The Good Life:

I always wanted to be unpredictable, and so for my next project, I decided to go in the opposite direction from the big orchestral albums I’d been doing lately and cut an intimate piano-vocal album with Ralph Sharon. We booked time at 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 that there was 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.

“My Funny Valentine,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Monday, May 13, 2024, 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 the 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” on October 28, 1959, for the album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.

In his autobiography, Bennett shared this memory about making Tony Sings For Two:

I always wanted to be unpredictable, and so for my next project, I decided to go in the opposite direction from the big orchestral albums I’d been doing lately and cut an intimate piano-vocal album with Ralph Sharon. We booked time at 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 that there was 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.

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

Here’s Judy Garland’s incredible performance of “The Man That Got Away” from A Star Is Born.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Saturday, February 17, 2024, 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 the 1954 film 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” on October 28, 1959, for his album with Ralph Sharon, Tony Sings For Two, released in 1962.

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

And here’s Judy Garland from A Star Is Born:

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Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Friday, January 19. 2024, is “A Sleepin’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleepin’ Bee” was written by Harold Arlen and Truman Capote for the 1954 musical House of Flowers, based on the Truman Capote novella. Set in Haiti, the production featured a trio of steel drummers (more precisely known as pannists) from Trinidad.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “A Sleepin’ Bee” on October 28, 1959, for the album Tony Sings For Two, which was released in 1961.

Tony Bennett talks about the album in his autobiography, The Good Life:

I always wanted to be unpredictable. So for my next project, I decided to go in the opposite direction from the big orchestral albums I’d been doing lately and cut an intimate piano-vocal album with Ralph Sharon. We booked time at 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 that there was 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.

“A Sleepin’ Bee,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available on Apple Music.