The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: There’ll Be Some Changes Made

The song of the day for Tuesday, November 8, 2016 is “There’ll Be Some Changes Made.”

About This Song

“There’ll Be Some Changes Made” was written in 1921, with music by Benton Overstreet and lyrics by Billy Higgins, two African-American vaudeville performers. Ethel Waters had a hit recording of this song in late 1921; other early recordings include those by Marion Harris, Josie Miles, Fats Waller, and the Chicago Rhythm Kings. Later recordings include those by Billy Holiday, Peggy Lee and Tony Bennett. Even western singers have been drawn to the song by artists including Chet Atkins, Bob Wills and His Texas Playboys and Pee Wee Russell’s Rhythmakers.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “There’ll Be Some Changes Made” in 1975 on his own Improv label for the album Tony Bennett Sings “Life Is Beautiful”, released in 1975. He is backed by the Torrie Zico Trio, consisting of Zito on piano, John Guiffrida on bass, and Chuck Hughes on drums.

There"ll Be Some Changes Made

Listen to There"ll Be Some Changes Made on Spotify. Song · Tony Bennett · 2004


“There’ll Be Some Changes Made,” as well as The Complete Improv Recordings, is available from iTunes.

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Song of the Day: I Used To Be Color Blind

The Song of the Day for Sunday, November 25, 2012 is I Used To Be Color Blind.

About I Used To Be Color Blind

This song was written by Irving Berlin in 1938 for the Fred Astaire film Carefree.

About This Version

One of my favorite small moments in the new Zen of Bennett documentary is when Mr. Bennett discovers that his black shoes were polished with brown shoe polish. He makes a little joke that the person who shined the shoes must have been color blind, at which point Lee Musiker brings up this song, thinking it may have been a Gershwin tune. Mr. Bennett says no, it’s by Irving Berlin and then throws out a the first few bars of the song. As someone who herself sings snippets of songs from the Great American Songbook for just about any occasion, I found it very charming. Besides, it’s a great song.

This version was recorded by Tony Bennett for his 1972 album under his own Improv label, Life Is Beautiful. It was arranged and conducted by the great Torrie Zito and featured the Torrie Zito Trio, with Mr. Zito (piano), John Giuffrida (bass) and Chuck Hughes (drums).