• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
    • Tony Live!
    • Music
      • Viva Duets
      • Songs
      • Albums
    • Art
  • And More
    • Collaborator of the Month
    • Songwriter of the Month – 2016
    • News
      • Cheek To Cheek
      • Bennett & Brubeck -The White House Sessions Live 1962
      • Life is a Gift
      • Viva Duets
      • Zen of Bennett
      • Other News
    • About His Collaborators
    • Musings
    • Extras
      • Books
      • Interviews
      • Media
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

March 1, 2015 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I Didn’t Know What Time It Was

The song of the day for Sunday, March 1, 2015 is “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was.”

About This Song

“I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” was written in 1939 by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart for the musical Too Many Girls. Benny Goodman, Jimmy Dorsey and Artie Shaw all recorded the song in 1939. It was not recorded much for the next decade, but starting in the early 1950s, it became very popular again and has become a respected jazz standard.

In his book The Jazz Standards, Ted Gioia states “I am fascinated by the construction of the melody here, in which phrases start on the high notes and then descend into the mid- and low-registers. Our composer seems to determined to reverse the usual formula of hit song writers. … Yet the constant downward motion of the melody perfectly matches the words here, which evoke a love born in the midst of a confused, almost depressed state of mind.” It’s worth noting that Larry Hart’s alcoholism had become completely out of control; in fact, he would be dead in four years. Perhaps because of the unusual construction of the melody, the song has become a jazz standard that stands up to many kinds of interpretations, such as the famous Art Blakey and Wayne Shorter version from 1963.

About This Version

“I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” is the first song on our album of the month for March: Tony Sings For Two. I love Sharon’s piano introduction to this song, as it leads off the album. Bennett is in fine voice and seems to enjoy singing. There’s a certain urgency to the finish that seems quite in sync with the lyrics and serves the song well, which clocks in a fast 1:25 minutes.

I Didn"t Know What Time It Was

Listen to I Didn"t Know What Time It Was on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1961.

“I Didn’t Know What Time It Was,” as well as Tony Sings For Two, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Lorenz Hart, Ralph Sharon, Richard Rodgers, Tony Sings for Two, Too Many Girls

September 12, 2014 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: You’re Nearer

The song of the day for Friday, September 12, 2014 is “You’re Nearer.”

About This Song

Written in 1940 for the film version of Too Many Girls, this song by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart is not one of their better-known songs, but it is a lovely song nonetheless. It has not been widely recorded, but there are excellent recordings by Judy Garland, Jeri Southern and, of course, Tony Bennett and Bill Evans.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Bill Evans recorded “You’re Nearer” for their second album, Together Again, released in 1977. After the release of Together Again, Richard Rodgers wrote that “Tony’s recording of “You’re Nearer” makes me extremely happy and would affect Larry Hart the same way if he could hear it.”

You"re Nearer

Listen to You"re Nearer on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1977.


“You’re Nearer,” as well as the album Together Again, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Bill Evans, Lorenz Hart, Richard Rodgers, Together Again, Too Many Girls

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

  • Song of the Day: The Right To Love
  • Song of the Day: You Must Believe in Spring
  • Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance
  • Song of the Day: The Good Life
  • Song of the Day: Make Someone Happy
  • Song of the Day: Dat Dere
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Album of the Week
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2023 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress