Adam Should Win American Idol: [American_Idol_Extra] Sing Along Sunday: "September Song" from "Knickerbocker Holiday"

Sing Along Sunday: "September Song"

from "Knickerbocker Holiday"

Constance Cummings, Walter Huston

"September Song" is an American pop standard composed by Kurt Weill, with lyrics by Maxwell Anderson. It was introduced by Walter Huston in the 1938 Broadway musical Knickerbocker Holiday, and has since been recorded by numerous singers and instrumentalists. It was used in the 1950 film September Affair, and the popularity of the film caused Huston's recording to hit the top of the 1950 hit parade.^[1] It was used as the credits music in the television series May to December (a quote from the opening line of the song).

Recordings:

Frank Sinatra
Sarah Vaughan
Dion and the Belmonts
Willie Nelson
Andy Williams
Lotte Lenya
Ezio Pinza
Jimmy Durante
Patti Page
Jo Stafford
Ronnie Drew
Anne Shelton.
James Brown on his 1970 big band jazz album Soul on Top.
Lindsey Buckingham on his 1981 debut solo album Law and Order.
In 1985, for the Kurt Weill tribute album Lost in the Stars, the Music of Kurt Weill, Lou Reed recorded an unusual upbeat rock 'n' roll version of the song, featuring mostly his undistorted electric rhythm guitar --- typical of Reed's sound of the era, but ending in a searing lead guitar solo. During the period of the album's initial release, Reed was quoted as saying that he wanted to be known as the "Kurt Weill of rock 'n' roll."
In 1985, Ian McCulloch, best known as the singer with Echo & the Bunnymen, released a version of the song as a (relatively unsuccessful) solo single, backed with a rendition of "Molly Malone".
In 1990, Jeff Lynne recorded the song for his first solo record, Armchair Theatre.
In 1991, seminal Swiss Industrial music band The Young Gods released their album of Kurt Weill songs, Play Kurt Weill, including an almost ambient version of September Song, which remains an audience favorite at their concerts to this day.
In 1997, Lou Reed recorded the song again for the second Kurt Weill tribute album September Songs: The Music of Kurt Weill, this time in a slower, less rocking version.
In 1999, Bryan Ferry recorded a version of this song on As Time Goes By.
In 2009, Patricia Kaas recorded a version of this song on Kabaret (except for the French version of the album).
Recorded by Masha Qrella for her 2009 release Speak Low (Loewe & Weill in Exile), a project commissioned by Haus der Kulturen der Welt (House of World Cultures).
Elaine Paige recorded the song for her 1993 album Romance & the Stage and a live performance was featured on her 2004 greatest hits compilation Centre Stage: The Very Best of Elaine Paige.
Recorded 3 different times by Stan Kenton , once with a band vocal , once with The Four Freshmen and June Christy , once with Tex Ritter

[edit] Instrumental renditions

There are several instrumental renditions as well, one of the most famous of which is the piano solo by Roger Williams, as well as a "smokey" version by jazz-trumpet legend Chet Baker. Other versions include: