But first the absolute best version of Dylan's From a Buick Six just to get your blood up. But now that Gary U. S. Bond is in the house, here is Twist, Twist, Senora with a trio of 1940s dancing girls. New Orleans, live, with Jeff Beck.
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September ends. A transitional month leading from hot August to glorious October, Kerouac month in the MavPhil 'liturgy.'
Dinah Washington, September in the Rain
Rod Stewart, Maggie May. "Wake up Maggie, I think I got something to say to you/It's late September and I really should be back at school."
Carole King, It Might as Well Rain Until September
Frank Sinatra, September of My Years
George Shearing, September in the Rain
Walter Huston, September Song
This from a London reader:
Thanks for linking to the George Shearing ‘September’. I had forgotten he grew up in London (in Battersea, just down the road from me). I love the Bird-like flights on the piano. Indeed I think he wrote ‘Lullaby of Birdland’. Another Londoner is Helen Shapiro who does a great version of ‘It might as well rain until September’ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=De0_zZ7qQDA. Great alto voice, never made it in the US as far as I know.
I was first hipped to Shearing by Kerouac who referred to him in On the Road. I too love the 'Bird'-like flights on the piano. The allusion is to Charley 'Bird' Parker, also beloved of Kerouac. (Kerouac month hereabouts starts Monday.) Helen Shapiro is new to me, thanks. She does a great job with the Carole King composition. Believe it or not, King's version is a demo. That's one hell of a demo. A YouTuber points out that Shapiro was not part of the 1964 'British Invasion.' I wonder why.
UPDATE (9/30).
Jim Soriano recommends Try to Remember — which I had forgotten.
UPDATE (10/2)
Mark Anderson introduces me to Big Star, September Gurls. Nice clangy, jangling guitar work reminiscent of the Byrds and some Beatle cuts. Wikipedia article. Which Beatle cuts?
Well, Rain is one, And Your Bird Can Sing is another. Wow! I forgot how good these songs are.