This week, we’re returning to a tune from the Great American Songbook. I wanted another rain song and Come Rain Or Come Shine is as good as it gets.

The featured image is of Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer partying down. They wrote Come Rain Or Come Shine in 1946 for the Broadway musical St. Louis Woman. It’s an often recorded song; according to Secondhandsongs.com it’s been cut nearly 700 times. That’s a whole lotta cutting.

We begin with an early version by Sarah Vaughan:

When Count Basie and Joe Williams played together, magic happened.

Here’s Judy Garland with an arrangement by Nelson Riddle:

Ella Fitzgerald and Billy May. Say no more.

The most unlikely artist to cover the Arlen-Mercer classic. Good gawd, y’all:

It’s time for New Orleans to represent. Come on down, Aaron Neville.

Finally, a blues rock version from BB King and Eric Clapton.

What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time, Nat Adderley followed by Oscar Peterson:

Have I told you lately how much I love Oscar Peterson?

That’s it for this week. We had some rain after last week’s rain song. This time we’re calling on Burt Lancaster as Starbuck in The Rainmaker. It’s what Burt would want. Never argue with him.