The song of the day for Sunday, September 22, 2024, is “Close Your Eyes.”

About This Song

“Close Your Eyes” was written in 1933 by Bernice Petkere. Petkere was named by Irving Berlin as the “Queen of Tin Pan Alley.” A vaudeville performer as a child, she sold her first song in 1931, “Starlight,” recorded by Bing Crosby. “Close Your Eyes” is her most well-known song. The song started getting jazz treatments in the 1950s, starting with a great duet from Coleman Hawkins and Milt Jackson.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Close Your Eyes” on July 31, 1953; the recording was released in 1956 in the Columbia collection Because Of You and again in Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, released in 2011 in The Complete Collection box set. This version was arranged by Gil Evans and features The Pastels on background vocals.

“Close Your Eyes,” as well as Rarities, Outtakes & Other Delights, Vol. 1, is available on Apple Music.