You’re probably wondering why a picture of Bette Davis in The Letter is the featured image. Pulp Fiction Thursday took the week off and I thought y’all needed something noirish to ease any withdrawal symptoms. Shorter Adrastos: I did it for our readers.

The Letter was written by Wayne Carson in 1967. He shopped it to Chip Moman of American Recording Studio in Memphis. Sold.

The Letter has been a hit several times since it was first recorded by The Box Tops with Alex Chilton on lead vocals:

Alex Chilton sang the song in a gruff voice. That made it a natural for Joe Cocker. Who’s gruffer than Joe?

Walden Robert Cassotto DBA Bobby Darin was a smooth singer, never gruff. I still dig his take on the song.

Remember Melanie the hippie dippy folkie? Here she is:

Next up, Whitney Houston’s crazy auntie Dionne Warwick in her pre-psychic friends hotline days:

Things get gruff again with this rocking version of The Letter by Randy Bachman and Burton Cummings of Guess Who fame. Canada, baby.

What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time, Herbie Mann followed by Booker T. & The MGs.

That’s it for this week. Is there such a thing as a rain dance toast? We need rain to cool things off in New Orleans. It’s what Mac, Irma, Allen, and Aaron would want. Never argue with them.