The featured image is of composer Kurt Weill at the piano with Walter Huston, Jeanne Madden, and lyricist Maxwell Anderson.

Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson wrote September Song for the 1938 Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday. It was written at the request of Walter Huston who wanted a solo number in the show. He was the star, after all.

I suspect the founder of the Huston theatrical dynasty had no idea how many times this song would be recorded. According to Secondhandsongs.com the total is 533 and counting. As you will see directly, it wasn’t just recorded by the usual FCH suspects. It’s a diverse and downright odd group.

On with the show, this is it.

We begin at the beginning with Walter Huston:

Sarah Vaughan is one of the usual FCH suspects I mentioned at the top of the post. She sings the hell out of the song.

Frank Sinatra recorded September Song three times. This was one of those times.

Lotte Lenya was Kurt Weill’s wife and the keeper of the flame after his death.

Betty Carter puts a modern spin on the Weill-Anderson classic.

It’s time for the unusual suspects: James Brown, Lindsey Buckingham, Lou Reed, and Bryan Ferry.

What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time, Dave Brubeck, Art Pepper, and Cal Tjader.

Have I told you lately that Cal Tjader attended my high school alma mater? Go, San Mateo Bearcats.

That’s it for this week. Let’s drink to September, the month in which heat waves ease. It’s what Bogie, Betty, and Frank would want. Never argue with them.