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 Thursday, March 18, 2021, 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” with Ralph Sharon for their legendary (and impeccable) album Tony Sings For Two. The entire album was recorded on October 28, 1959 (under the protest of Bennett’s producer Mitch Miller), though the album wasn’t released until February 6, 1961. It is very close to perfect in every way.

Street of Dreams

Listen to Street of Dreams on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

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

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Song of the Day: I’m Through With Love

The song of the day for Thursday, March 11, 2021, is “I’m Through With Love.”

About This Song

“I’m Through With Love” was written in 1931 by Fud Livingston, Matty Malneck, and Gus Kahn. The song has been popular since it was written, with recordings by Nat Cole, Chet Baker, Dizzy Gillespie, and Sarah Vaughan, among many recordings. Marilyn Monroe sang the song in the 1959 film Some Like It Hot.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’m Through With Love” with Ralph Sharon for Bennett’s 1961 album Tony Sings For Two.

I"m Thru With Love

Listen to I"m Thru With Love on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“I’m Through With Love,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: A Sleepin’ Bee

The song of the day for Saturday, February 20, 2021, is “A Sleeping’ Bee.”

About This Song

“A Sleeping’ 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 Sleeping’ Bee” with Ralph Sharon in 1959 for their album Tony Sings For Two, released in 1961.

A Sleepin" Bee

Listen to A Sleepin" Bee on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

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

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Song of the Day: Happiness is a Thing Called Joe

The song of the day for Wednesday, January 20, 2021, is “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe.”

We are pleased to present today’s song in honor of the inauguration of the 46th president of the United States, Joseph Robinette Biden Jr.

About This Song

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” was written in 1940 by Harold Arlen and Yip Harburg. It’s from the 1940 Broadway musical Cabin in the Sky, starring Ethel Waters and Dooley Wilson. The song was introduced by Ethel Waters, sung to her husband Joe, played by Dooley Wilson. The 1943 film version of Cabin in the Sky also featured Miss Waters with the role of Joe played by Eddie Anderson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Happiness is a Thing Called Joe” in 1959 with Ralph Sharon. The two booked the CBS 30th Street Studio to record. Sharon brought in a briefcase of sheet music and they chose a song, found a good key, and recorded the songs in one or two takes. In a single session, they recorded 16 songs. Twelve of those songs were released, finally, in the 1961 album Tony Sings For Two.

Bennett tells this story in his autobiography The Good Life:

Mitch Miller showed up at the start of these sessions, furious that I was really going through with it. When he saw 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 the my finest records ever.

Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe

Listen to Happiness Is A Thing Called Joe on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

“Happiness is a Thing Called Joe,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: The Man That Got Away

The song of the day for Tuesday, December 29, 2020, 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. 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 just Ralph Sharon on piano. Bennett and Sharon booked the CBS 30th Street Studio for October 28, 1959, for the two of them to record songs for an album. Sharon brought along a briefcase of sheet music. They would pick a song and Sharon would work up a quick arrangement and they’d record the song, in just one or two takes. In that single session, they recorded 16 songs, 12 of which were on the album Tony Sings For Two, released in February 1961. It’s quite an extraordinary album.

The Man That Got Away

Listen to The Man That Got Away on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 1961

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

And because I love Judy Garland, here’s that scene 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.