The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Top Hat, White Tie and Tails

The song of the day for Monday, December 26, 2022, is “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails.”

About This Song

Irving Berlin wrote “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers. The song was introduced by Mr. Astaire. The film is widely considered to be one of the best of the RKO Astaire and Rogers films; the American Film Institute ranked it 15th on its list of best musicals.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Top Hat, White Tie and Tails” in July 1993 for his album Steppin’ Out. It was arranged by Tony Bennett and Ralph Sharon.

“Top Hat, White Tie and Tails,” as well as Steppin’ Out is available on Apple Music.

Here’s the clip from Top Hat with Fred Astaire

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Song of the Day: Isn’t This A Lovely Day

The song of the day for Thursday, November 24, 2022, is “Isn’t This A Lovely Day”

About This Song

“Isn’t This A Lovely Day” was written by Irving Berlin for the Fred Astaire/Ginger Roger movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoor gazebo. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This A Lovely Day” in May 1987 and was released that year on Bennett/Berlin. This song was arranged by Tony Bennett.

“Isn’t This A Lovely Day,” as well as Bennett/Berlin is available on Apple Music.

As a special treat today, here are Fred and Ginger, from Top Hat:

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Song of the Day: Isn’t This a Lovely Day

The song of the day for Sunday, October 24, 2021, is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day.”

About This Song

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day” was written by Irving Berlin or the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoor gazebo. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This a Lovely Day” in 1987 for the album Bennett/Berlin. Bennett was accompanied by the Ralph Sharon Trio and Sharon has a nice turn in this recording.

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day,” as well as Bennett/Berlin is available on Apple Music.

Here’s that scene from Top Hat. Enjoy!

Top Hat: Isn"t This a Lovely Day (To Be Caught in the Rain)

Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers

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Song of the Day: Cheek To Cheek

The song of the day for Tuesday, May 11, 2021, is “Cheek To Cheek.”

About Today

Israel Berlin, later known as Irving Berlin, was born in Tolochin, Russian Empire on May 11, 1888. His family emigrated to the United States when he was only five years old. He is widely considered on the great songwriters in American history, with his tremendous contributions to both film and stage productions. Berlin lived to be 101 years old, dying on September 22, 1989.

About This Song

“Cheek To Cheek” was written by Irving Berlin for the 1935 film Top Hat, starring Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, where it was introduced (beautifully) by Fred Astaire. Though the song was nominated for an Academy Award (it lost to “Lullaby Of Broadway”), it became a hit in 1935 and has remained popular to this day. Significant recordings include those by Harry James, Glenn Miller, Roy Eldridge, Bing Crosby and many, many more. Fans of the Tom Hanks’ movie The Green Mile might remember this song, as Top Hat is viewed in the prison. For many, it is one of the very first songs that comes to mind when one thinks of Fred Astaire and the 1930s Hollywood musical.

About This Version

Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga recorded “Cheek To Cheek” for their 2014 album Cheek To Cheek. The wonderful Marion Evans wrote the arrangement.

Cheek To Cheek

Listen to Cheek To Cheek on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga · 2014

“Cheek To Cheek,” as well as the album Cheek To Cheek, is available from Apple Music.

About Irving Berlin’s Piano

Berlin was a self-taught pianist who preferred to play on the black keys and played only in F#. He composed on a transposing upright piano, his first one was made in 1909. In 1940, another was made for him by Weser Brothers in New York. He only needed to adjust the transposing mechanism to change the key.The 1940 piano resides in the Smithsonian Museum. This video shows Berlin demonstrating the transposing feature to Dinah Shore and Tony Martin.

Irving Berlin- on television (very RARE clip)

In one of his RARE few television appearances, Irving Berlin explains the workings of his "special" piano to Dinah Shore and Tony Martin, and plays an early composition.

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Song of the Day: Isn’t This a Lovely Day?

The song of the day for Monday, July 20, 2020, is “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?”

About This Song

This delightful song was written by Irving Berlin in 1935 for the Fred Astaire / Ginger Rogers movie Top Hat. In the film, Astaire and Rogers are caught in a rainstorm while sitting in an outdoor gazebo. The song was introduced by Fred Astaire. This song has also been recorded by Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, Diana Krall, Jeri Southern, and Tony Bennett.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Isn’t This a Lovely Day?” in 1987 for his album Bennett/Berlin. Bennett did his own arrangement.

“Isn’t This a Lovely Day?,” as well as Bennett/Berlin, is available from Apple Music.

In 1962, Fred Astaire made an album with pianist Oscar Peterson named Fred Astaire Sings & Swings Irving Berlin. I heard this recording last Saturday on John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey’s Radio Deluxe program and wanted to share it too. The very nice tenor saxophone solo was by Flip Phillips.