The 12-page foldout CD insert contains songwriting, arranging, and producing credits for each track, as well as recording dates and chart positions attained if any.

It also contains large photographs of Bennett in the recording studio from early and late periods in his career, as well as thumbnail-sized images of all the albums covers from Bennett's Columbia catalog, in chronological order.

AllMusic describes The Essential Tony Bennett as "an excellent, exhaustive retrospective of a lengthy, hit-filled career at Columbia.

In 2008, a 3 disc version entitled The Essential Tony Bennett: Limited Edition 3.0 was released.

[4] From track 19 of Disc One on, most selections are credited with the Ralph Sharon Trio.