It’s been drier in New Orleans this week, but I still have rain on my mind. Hence the return of last Friday’s featured image.

Rainy Night In Georgia was written by Tony Joe White in 1967. Why a Louisianan wrote a tune set in Georgia is beyond me. That was, however, before the Saints-Falcons rivalry was a thing.

White was the first to record Rainy Night In Georgia: It didn’t become a hit until Brook Benton recorded it in 1970. Benton had a warm and soothing voice that fit the song like a glove. A wet glove but a glove, nonetheless.

We begin with the songwriter:

Brook Benton made TJW’s song a standard.

Boz Scaggs with a mournful version recorded not long after a friend’s funeral.

Aaron Neville. Say no more.

Speaking of warm and soothing voices, George Benson recorded the TJW classic in 2009.

Lucinda Williams knows her way around a sad song as either a singer or songwriter.

What would the Friday Cocktail Hour be without instrumental versions of the week’s tune? This time, Al Hirt followed by Herbie Mann.

That’s it for this week. Let’s toast a slow starting hurricane season. It’s what Bogie and Claire Trevor would want. Never argue with them.