September Song

"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 as the credits music in the television series "May to December" (a quote from the opening line of the song).

Recordings

"September Song" has been recorded by numerous vocal artists including Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Dion and the Belmonts, Willie Nelson, Andy Williams, Lotte Lenya, Ezio Pinza, Jimmy Durante, Patti Page, Jo Stafford, Ronnie Drew, and Anne Shelton.

James Brown recorded the song in 1970 for his big band jazz album "Soul on Top".

In 1981, Lindsey Buckingham recorded a glowing and extremely strange version of the song on his 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 and 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 1999 Bryan Ferry recorded a version of this song on As Time Goes By.

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:

*Art Pepper on his album "Straight Life (1980)