I Left My Heart in San Francisco
| PROFILE | |
| Composer | George Cory |
| Lyricist | Douglass Cross |
| Year Written | 1953 |
| About I Left My Heart in San Francisco | |
| This song is, of course, Tony Bennett’s signature song. It actually became that quite by accident. As Bennett’s musical director, songwriters were constantly giving Ralph Sharon copies of their songs. Cross and Cory had done that and Sharon had stuck the song in a drawer and forgotten all about it. In 1961, he and Bennett were heading out on tour, which included a stop in San Francisco at The Venetian Room at the Fairmont Hotel on Nob Hill. Sharon came across the music and thought it might be a nice local number for the San Francisco audience. After a performance in Hot Springs, Arkansas, they found a piano and started to work on the song a bit. An early fan was the bartender, who said that he’d buy the first copy if they ever decided to record it. Of course, I Left My Heart in San Francisco was a huge hit at the performance and in January, 1962, Bennett recorded it and released it on a 45 RPM record on the B-side to Once Upon a Time. But gradually, I Left My Heart in San Francisco started getting all the airplay and it became a major hit for Bennett, winning him his first Grammy Award. It is his signature song and is beloved by all of his fans. | |
Lyrics
The loveliness of Paris seems somehow sadly gay
The glory that was Rome is of another day
I’ve been terribly alone and forgotten in Manhattan
I’m going home to my city by the Bay
I left my heart in San Francisco
High on a hill, it calls to me
To be where little cable cars climb halfway to the stars
The morning fog may chill the air, I don’t care
My love waits there in San Francisco
Above the blue and windy sea
When I come home to you, San Francisco
Your golden sun will shine for me
Session / Album Information
1962-1
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was recorded on January 23, 1962 and released in 1962 on the album I Left My Heart in San Francisco. It was arranged by Marty Manning.
This recording released on:
- 1962: CBS 45: AAG 121
- 1962: Columbia 45: 13-33062
- 1962: Columbia 45: 4-42332
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8669 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″ (Mono): CL 1869 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco
- 1962: CBS LP 12″: SBPG 62201 — I Left My Heart In San Francisco [UK]
- 2011: Disc #23 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK23) I Left My Heart in San Francisco
This recording of “I Left My Heart in San Francisco” has been included in 56 albums and single releases. Please refer to I Left My Heart in San Francisco – Additional Releases for additional release information.
1962-2
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was recorded live at Tony Bennett’s concert at Carnegie Hall on June 9, 1962 and was initially released in 1962 on the album Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall. Ralph Sharon arranged the song.
This recording released on:
- 1962: CBS LP 12″: BPG62116 — At Carnegie Hall – Part 1 (UK)
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: CS 8705 — At Carnegie Hall – vol.1
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: C2L 23 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1962: Columbia LP 12″: C2S 823 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1993: Sony Music Special Products CD: 15056 — Tony Bennett Sings for You
- 1995: Sony Music CD: WK 75012 — Tony Bennett At Carnegie Hall
- 1997: Columbia CD: C2K 64609 — At Carnegie Hall June 9, 1962: Complete Concert
- 2011: Disc #25 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK24) Tony Bennett at Carnegie Hall
1962-3
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was recorded on August 28, 1962 and released in 2013 on the album Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962.
This recording released on:
- 2013: Bennett/Brubeck: The White House Sessions Live 1962 (88883718042)
1963
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was recorded on July 30, 1963 with Judy Garland and was released in 2006 on Duets: An American Classic.
This recording released on:
- 2006: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 82876887352 — Duets: An American Classic [Target Stores]
- 2007: Savoy: Romance (Judy Garland: Music From Her Celebrated TV Series
- 2011: RPM Records/Columbia CD — Duets II
1964-1
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was recorded on April 8, 1964 and released in 2011 on Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, as part of the 2011 Complete Collection. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 2011: Disc #74 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK72) Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On
1964-2
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco (reprise)” was recorded on April 8, 1964 and released in 2011 on Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On, as part of the 2011 Complete Collection. It was arranged by Ralph Sharon.
This recording released on:
- 2011: Disc #74 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK72) Tony Bennett Live at the Sahara: From This Moment On
1971
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was recorded on January 31, 1971 and released that year on the album Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra. It was arranged by Marty Manning.
“I Left My Heart in San Francisco” was used in three different medleys in this concert.
The first medley was sung with “I Want To Be Happy”
The second medley was sung with “I Wanna Be Around.”
The third medley was sung with “I’ll Begin Again.”
This recording released on:
- 1971: Columbia LP 12″: C 30953 — Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra
- 2011: Disc #42 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK41) Get Happy with The London Philharmonic Orchestra
1977
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was recorded in May, 1977 and released that year on Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music.
This recording released on:
- 1977: Improv IMP-7123:Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music
- 2004: Concord CD: CCD4-2255 — The Complete Improv Recordings
- 2011: Concord CRE-32955-02 – The Best of the Improv Recordings
- 2011: Disc #54 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK53) Tony Bennett/The McPartlands and Friends Make Magnificent Music
1994
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was recorded and televised live on April 12, 1994 on MTV. The MTV Unplugged album was released in June of that year. The songs from the televised concert were arranged by Tony Bennett and the Ralph Sharon Trio.
This recording released on:
- 1993: Columbia CD: CK 66214 — MTV Unplugged
- 2011: Discs #60/61 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK59) MTV Unplugged
2006
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was recorded in 2006 with Bill Charlap on piano and was released in 2006 on Duets: An American Classic. It was arranged by Jorge Calandrelli.
This recording released on:
- 2006: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 82876809792 — Duets: An American Classic
- 2006: RPM Records/Columbia CD: 82876887352 — Duets: An American Classic [Target Stores]
- 2006: Sony BMG CD: 828768858721 — Duets: An American Classic [Australia]
- 2006: Sony BMG CD: 82876885862 — Duets: An American Classic [UK, Singapore]
- 2011: Disc #70 in The Tony Bennett Complete Collection (88697874602-JK68) Duets: An American Classic
2016
“I Left My Heart In San Francisco” was recorded on September 15, 2016, live at the Radio City Music Hall and was released that year on Tony Bennett Celebrates 90.
This recording released on:
- 2016: Columbia/Sony/RPM CD, LP: 88985 39248 2 — Tony Bennett Celebrates 90