The Year of Tony Bennett

An Appreciation of the Art and Music of Tony Bennett

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Song of the Day: Sweet Georgie Fame

The song of the day for Saturday, April 17, 2021, is “Sweet Georgie Fame.”

About This Song

“Sweet Georgie Fame” was written in 1967 Blossom Dearie and Sandra Harris. Dearie told The New York Times in 1981 “I was in London in 1966, when a bass player told me I should go hear the skiffle, rock, blues and jazz singer Georgie Fame, He said I’d like him, and I did – very much. Then I was visiting a friend, where Georgie Fame’s records were on, and her kids were dancing to them. I got a melody from that, and my friend’s sister, Sandra Black (Harris) wrote words to it.”

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Sweet Georgie Fame” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Sweet Georgie Fame

Listen to Sweet Georgie Fame on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Sweet Georgie Fame,” as well as Yesterday I Heard Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Yesterday I Heard The Rain

The song of the day for is “Yesterday I Heard The Rain.”

The Year of Tony Bennett joins music lovers from all over in mourning for Armando Manzanero, composer of today’s song, who died on December 28, 2020, from Covid-19.

About This Song

Entitled “Esta Tarde Vi Llover” in the original Spanish, is one of Armando Manzanero’s most highly regarded songs, written in 1968. Born in 1935, Manzanero studied music in Mexico City and composed his first song at the age of 15. At the age of 16, he became a professional pianist. His songs, like “Yesterday I Heard The Rain” are beautiful and romantic songs. He is considered to be one of the most successful composers from Latin America. Gene Lees wrote the English lyrics.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Yesterday I Heard The Rain” in 1968 for the album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Yesterday I Heard The Rain (Esta Tarde Vi Llover) – 2011 Remaster

Listen to Yesterday I Heard The Rain (Esta Tarde Vi Llover) – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Yesterday I Heard The Rain,” as well as the album Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Hi-Ho

The song of the day for Monday, November 9, 2020, is “Hi-Ho.”

About This Song

Written by George and Ira Gershwin, “Hi-Ho” has been called ‘Gershwin’s least-known great song’ by blogger Walter Rimler. It was one of the first songs the Gershwin brothers wrote when they first came to Hollywood and slated for the movie Shall We Dance featuring Fred Astaire dancing in the streets of Paris. The song was cut due to concerns over the costs for filming the sequence. The song faded from then and was only published in 1968. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Hi-Ho” in 1968 for his album Yesterday I Heard The Rain, featuring an arrangement by Torrie Zito.

Hi-Ho – 2011 Remaster

Listen to Hi-Ho – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Hi-Ho,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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Song of the Day: Get Happy

The song of the day for Sunday, November 8, 2020, is “Get Happy.”

About This Song

“Get Happy” was written by Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler for the 1930 The Nine-Fifteen Revue, where it was introduced by Ruth Etting. Most people today are more familiar with Judy Garland’s wonderful song and dance performance in the 1950 movie Summer Stock.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Get Happy” for his 1968 album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.

Get Happy – 2011 Remaster

Listen to Get Happy – 2011 Remaster on Spotify. Tony Bennett · Song · 1968.

“Get Happy,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

We also have Judy Garland from Summer Stock:

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Song of the Day: Hi-Ho

The song of the day for Friday, September 25, 2020, is “Hi-Ho.”

About Today

In honor of the birth of Jacob Bruskin Gershowitz on September 26, 1898, The Year of Tony Bennett begins a week-long celebration of the music of George Gershwin.

About This Song

“Hi-Ho” was written in 1936 by George and Ira Gershwin. “Hi-Ho” has been called ‘Gershwin’s least-known great song’ by blogger Walter Rimler. It was one of the first songs the Gershwin brothers wrote when they first came to Hollywood and was slated for the movie Shall We Dance, featuring Fred Astaire dancing in the streets of Paris. The song was cut due to concerns over the costs for filming the sequence. The song faded from view and was only published in 1967. Tony Bennett’s was the first recording of this song.

About This Version

Tony Bennett recorded “Hi-Ho” in 1968 for the album Yesterday I Heard The Rain. Torrie Zito wrote the arrangement.


“Hi-Ho,” as well as Yesterday I Heard The Rain, is available from Apple Music.

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