New Year’s Eve at the Oldies: ‘Last’ Songs for the Last Day of the Year

Happy New Year, everybody. Not that there is much to be happy about. As as our great republic approaches its end, whether with a whimper or a bang remaining to be seen, Irving Berlin's "The Song is Ended" seems an appropriate way to convey the thought that happiness in the coming year is more likely to be found by an inner path.  "Take your happiness while you may." Here's a hipster version, my favorite.

Last Night, 1961, The Mar-Keys.

Last Date, 1960, Floyd Cramer. It was bliss while it lasted. You were so in love with her you couldn't see straight. But she didn't feel the same. You shuffle home, enter your lonely apartment, pour yourself a stiff one and put Floyd Cramer on the box. You were young. Custodia cordis was not in your vocabulary, let alone in your life. Years had to pass before it entered both, and serenitas cordis supervened. 

Save the Last Dance for Me, 1960, The Drifters.

At Last, Etta James.

Last Thing on My Mind, Doc Watson sings the Tom Paxton tune. A very fine version.

Last Night I Had the Strangest Dream, Simon and Garfunkel. 

Last Call, Dave van Ronk.  "If I'd been drunk when I was born, I'd be ignorant of sorrow."

(Last night I had) A Wonderful Dream, The Majors. The trick is to find in the flesh one of those dream girls. Some of us got lucky.

This night in 1985 was Rick Nelson's last: the Travelin' Man died in a plane crash. 

It's Up to You.

The Nelson sons here jam with Nelson's legendary sideman, James Burton, master of the Telecaster.

Burton with Orbison and Co. Burton cuts loose at 2:42. There ensues a duel with Bruce Springsteen.

Burton with Elvis.

Bonus: Last Chance Harvey.

Last but not least: Auld Lang Syne.

Not enough nostalgia? Try this.