• Home
  • About
    • About This Blog
    • About the Authors
  • Song of the Day
  • Tony Live!
  • Music and Art
    • 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

February 3, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Tuesday, February 4, 2020, is “The Rules of the Road.”

About This Song

“The Rules of the Road” was written in 1961 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole, and Rosemary Clooney.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “The Rules of the Road” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low. Accompanying Bennett was the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Hal Gaylord on bass and Billy Exiner on drums.

“The Rules of the Road,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Exiner, Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman, Hal Gaylord, Ralph Sharon, Ralph Sharon Trio, Tony Bennett, When Lights Are Low

January 13, 2020 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: It Had To Be You

The song of the day for Tuesday, January 14, 2020, is “It Had To Be You.”

About This Song

“It Had to Be You” was written by Isham Jones and Gus Kahn in 1924. It’s a popular standard with many fine recordings, including those by Paul Whiteman, Cliff Edward,s and Frank Sinatra. It has also be used in several films, including Casablanca and Annie Hall.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “It Had To Be You” with the Ralph Sharon Trio for the album When Lights Are Low. Sharon wrote the arrangement; his piano on this song is lovely.

“It Had To Be You,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Gus Kahn, Isham Jones, Ralph Sharon, Ralph Sharon Trio, Tony Bennett, When Lights Are Low

October 5, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Playlist of the Week: Tony Likes a Jimmy Van Heusen Song

The playlist for the week of October 6, 2019, is Tony Likes a Jimmy Van Heusen Song.

Jimmy Van Heusen was one of the great songwriters in mid-20th-century popular film music. He wrote many songs that are well-known and popular to this day. He is also the person who wrote the song that was my absolute favorite song when I was five years old: “Swinging on a Star.” I was told, as an adult, that I drove my parents crazy by constantly singing, loudly, phrases from this song. “Or would you rather be a pig?” Or a mule or a fish. Well, you get the idea.

Swinging on a Star. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From The Playground.
Darn That Dream. Lyrics by Eddie DeLange. From Cloud 7.
The Second Time Around. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From The Movie Song Album.
Call Me Irresponsible. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From Perfectly Frank.
Here’s That Rainy Day. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From Perfectly Frank.
Nancy. Lyrics by Phil Silvers. From Perfectly Frank.
But Beautiful. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album.
What Makes It Happen. Lyrics by Sammy Cahn. From Tony Makes It Happen!
All My Tomorrows. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From Perfectly Frank.
I Thought About You. Lyrics by Johnny Mercer. From Perfectly Frank.
It Could Happen To You. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From When Lights Are Low.
Oh! You Crazy Moon. Lyrics by Johnny Burke. From When Lights Are Low.

Filed Under: Playlist of the Week Tagged With: Cloud 7, Eddie DeLange, Jimmy Van Heusen, Johnny Burke, Johnny Mercer, Perfectly Frank, Sammy Cahn, The Movie Song Album, The Playground, The Tony Bennett/Bill Evans Album, Tony Makes It Happen!, When Lights Are Low

September 18, 2019 By Suzanne 2 Comments

Song of the Day: The Rules of the Road

The song of the day for Thursday, September 19, 2019, is “The Rules of the Road.”

About Today

Today is your blogger’s birthday and so I’m treating myself. I really love this song and especially this version.

About This Song

“The Rules of the Road” was written in 1961 by Cy Coleman and Carolyn Leigh. In addition to several recordings by Tony Bennett, the song has also been recorded by Lena Horne, Shirley Horne, Nat King Cole, and Rosemary Clooney.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded this version of “The Rules of the Road” in 1964 for his album When Lights Are Low. This album uses the Ralph Sharon Trio, with Sharon on piano, Hal Gaylord on bass, and Billy Exiner on drums.

“The Rules of the Road,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Exiner, Carolyn Leigh, Cy Coleman, Hal Gaylord, Ralph Sharon, When Lights Are Low

July 10, 2019 By Suzanne Leave a Comment

Song of the Day: I’ve Got Just About Everything

The song of the day for Thursday, July 11, 2019, is “I’ve Got Just About Everything.”

About This Song

Written by the marvelous jazz pianist and composer Bob Dorough, this song is a true joy to listen to. In his liner notes for Forty/Fifty Years: The Artistry of Tony Bennett, Bennett says that “this one explains how a singer feels when he sings a song everyone likes.”

Bob Dorough recently passed away. In the early days of this blog, I wrote to Bob about how much I liked this song and enjoyed featuring in here. He wrote back. thanking me for writing. He was a lovely man and a fine composer and performer.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “I’ve Got Just About Everything” in 1964 with The Ralph Sharon Trio for his album When Lights Are Low. This recording clearly demonstrates the excellence of the trio. Listening to Sharon on piano, Billy Exiner on drums, and Hal Gaylord on bass, I can’t imagine a better recording.

I’ve Got Just About Everything – 2011 Remaster

I’ve Got Just About Everything – 2011 Remaster, a song by Tony Bennett on Spotify

“I’ve Got Just About Everything,” as well as When Lights Are Low, is available from iTunes.

Filed Under: Song of the Day Tagged With: Billy Exiner, Bob Dorough, Hal Gaylord, Ralph Sharon, Tony Bennett, When Lights Are Low

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • …
  • 12
  • Next Page »

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

  • Duke Ellington and the Harlem Renaissance
  • Song of the Day: The Right To Love
  • Song of the Day: Rags To Riches
  • Song of the Day: The Right To Love
  • Song of the Day: I’m Just a Lucky So and So
  • Song of the Day: It Don't Mean a Thing (If It Aint' Got That Swing)
  • Home
  • About
  • Song of the Day
  • Tony Live!
  • Music and Art
  • And More
  • The Interactive Tony Bennett Discography

Copyright © 2021 The Year of Tony Bennett · Genesis Framework by StudioPress · WordPress