Songs of September

 

Today I was thinking about a couple of songs that have the month of September as their theme. They are September in the Rain and September Song. Years ago the muse gave me an affinity for songs that honor the months; and for songs that honor the seasons, such as Autumn Leaves, Autumn in New York, Moonlight in Vermont, and Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! The muse must have given millions of other people an affinity for them, too. CDs that include these classic songs are selling on the Internet and in music stores. Musicians and vocalists are still including them in their performances around the world.

I’ve heard recordings of September in the Rain by such legends as Sarah Vaughan, Frank Sinatra, and Dinah Washington. And I’ve listened to CDs that include September Song sung by Nat King Cole, Frank Sinatra, and The Platters. While I admire and enjoy the work of all of these legends, I prefer to listen to only two of them sing what I call the “Songs of September.”

Dinah Washington wins with September in the Rain. The lyrics of this song describe the rain as being a sweet refrain, a reminder of a love affair that happened during a September in the past. Washington’s strong voice and blues style add something special to this standard. These qualities along with her timing and clear enunciation (which can be heard on all of her recordings) enable Dinah to own September in the Rain.

The Platters, a bluesy pop group from the early rock and roll era, does the best job on September Song. A ballad sung slowly by some artists, September Song is a metaphor for a young person (May) and an older person (September) who are in love. The song bemoans what little time the couple has left; because, according to the song, September isn’t far from the end of the year and the end of life. Although the lyrics are a little sad, The Platters’ rendition of the song is upbeat, rendering the sound of it not sad at all.

The September-themed songs are nice. And the unique treatment of them by the artists mentioned above makes them great to listen to now and any time of year.  --- Vwg

Thinking about Louis Armstrong During the Month of His Birthday

 

During the month of Louis Armstrong’s birthday, I'm remembering some important events in the great jazz trumpeter's life.  He was born on August 4, 1901 in New Orleans.  While growing up he was influenced by musician Joe King Oliver, who was his mentor and father figure.  In 1922, he followed King Oliver from New Orleans to Chicago and continued to be influenced by him.

A TV program that aired last year included film footage from the1950s with Armstrong in a performance with the New York Philharmonic and Leonard Bernstein.  After the program, there was an interview with Bernstein regarding Louis Armstrong.

Bernstein said in a heartfelt way that what Armstrong was doing was real, true, honest, simple, and noble.  As I watched Bernstein utter this passionate statement about Louis Armstrong, I thought, Wow!  What a wonderfully warm and sincere compliment.                                                                     

And I thought about Armstrong's performance of the song "It's a Wonderful World" and how inspiring it is.
    

Louis Armstrong died on July 06, 1971 in Queens, New York.  His life is celebrated inside The Louis Armstrong House Museum in New York.

On Discovering the Song "Paris Is at Her Best in May"

When some people first heard the song "Paris Is at Her Best in May," they might have heard the recording of it by Sammy Davis Jr.  After hearing it, they may have searched for the recording online and learned that the only CD with Sammy Davis Jr. singing that song was a CD containing an old TV show called The Sammy Davis Jr. Show.  That show featured guests such as Frank Sinatra and Dean Martin.  Some folks might not have wanted to buy the whole TV show, as it were, just for one song.  But for some like myself, if that was the only way we were going to get it, then that's the way it was going to be. 

"Paris Is at Her Best in May" is number six on that TV program of 12 tunes.  The lyricist and composer credits on the back of the CD appear as follows:  English lyrics by Gene Lees/Original French text by Charles Aznavour/ Music by Charles Aznavour & Pierre Roche.  

I'd like to have a video of Sammy Davis Jr. singing "Paris Is at Her Best In May," but the only video I could find had him singing another song first, and I didn't think the quality of that rendition was as good as his performance on the old TV program. 

Fortunately there's a great alternative video out there featuring two other artists singing, "Paris Is at Her Best in May."  That video appears today in a brief post on my other blog, Paris Related Pieces.  Check it out.  It might please you as much as it's pleased me.