SEPTEMBER SONG
Music: Kurt Weill- Lyrics: Maxwell Anderson
Year: 1938
Origin of the song
Actor Walter Huston sang 'September Song' at the end of the first act of the musical Knickerbocker Holiday, which premiered on 19 October 1938 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in New York. He recorded the song the following month, and the album was ranked 12th on the charts. Years later, the NARAS (National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences) honoured the recording with the Hall of Fame Award.
Walter Huston had accepted a role in the musical Knickerbocker Holiday provided he was allowed to sing a romantic theme. The actor knew the limitations of his voice, but in reality his biggest problem was remembering the melody.
In 1944, United Artists produced a film version of Knickerbocker Holiday, directed by Harry Joe Brown and starring Nelson Eddy, Charles Coburn and Constance Dowling. The sharp satire the Broadway musical kept was reduced and only three songs were preserved from the original score, including 'September Song', sung by Charles Coburn. The audience and critics agreed that the film was boring and disappointing. As a curiosity, Carmen Amaya acted in the film impersonating a gypsy dancer.
Versions in the top charts
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
DAY OF ENTRANCE |
PERMANENCE WEEKS |
HIGH POSITION REACHED |
|
|
1938.11.14 |
1938.01.28 |
5 |
12 |
Walter Huston (voc), Maurice de Abravanel Orchestra |
|
|
Dardanelle Trio |
1946.??.?? |
1946.12.14 |
2 |
11 |
Dardanelle Hadley (p, voc), Tal Farlow (g), Paul Edenfield (b) |
|
Frank Sinatra |
1946.07.30 |
1946.12.21 |
2 |
8 |
Frank Sinatra (voc), Axel Stordahl Orchestra |
|
Stan Kenton Orchestra |
1951.03.20 |
1951.04.28 |
11 |
17 |
Vocal group |
|
Liberace |
1952.01.?? |
1952.05.03 |
1 |
27 |
Instrumental |
|
Roy Clark |
1969.??.?? |
1969.09.27 |
7 |
40 |
Roy Clark (voc, g), Hank Levine Orchestra
Country & Western
charts |
Jazz. Outstanding perfomances
Instrumental
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1945.04.05 |
Artie Shaw (cl, dir), Roy Eldridge, Paul Cohen, George Schwartz, Bernie Glow (tp), Harry Rodgers, Gus Dixon, Ollie Wilson, Bob Swift (tb), Rudy Tanza, Louis Prisby (as), Jon Walton, Herbie Steward (ts), Chuck Gentry (bars), Dodo Marmarosa (p), Barney Kessel (g), Morris Rayman (b), Lou Fromm (d) |
|
|
1946.08.21 |
Don Byas (ts), Sanford Gold (p), Leonard Gaskin (b), Max Roach (d) |
|
|
1947.07.18 |
Django Reinhardt (g), Hubert Rostaing (cl), Eugène Vées (g), Emmanuel Soudieux (b), André Jourdan (d) |
|
|
1949.01.31 |
Sidney Bechet (ss), Albert Snaer (tp), Wilbur De Paris (tb), Buster Bailey (cl), James P. Johnson (p), Walter Page (b), George Wettling (d) |
|
|
1950.06.?? |
Dave Brubeck (p), Ron Crotty (b), Cal Tjader (d, vib) |
|
|
1950.10.13 |
Red Norvo (vib), Tal Farlow (g), Charles Mingus (b) |
|
|
1954.05.27 |
Coleman Hawkins (ts), unidentified (p, org, b), Buddy Smith (d) |
|
|
1955.09.07 |
Art Tatum (p), Harry 'Sweets' Edison (tp), Lionel Hampton (vib), Barney Kessel (g), Red Callender (b), Buddy Rich (d) |
|
|
1958.02.26 |
Jimmy Smith (org), Eddie McFadden (g), Donald Bailey (d) |
|
|
1958.12.30 |
Chet Baker (tp), Kenny Burrell (g), Paul Chambers (b), Connie Kay (d) |
|
|
Erroll Garner Trio |
1961.08.03 |
Erroll Garner (p), Eddie Calhoun (b), Kelly Martin (d) |
|
1979.09.21 |
Art Pepper (as), Tommy Flanagan (p), Red Mitchell (b), Billy Higgins (d) |
|
|
Chris Potter & Kenny Werner |
1994.09.10 |
Chris Potter (ss, ts, cl), Kenny Werner (p) |
Vocal
|
PERFORMERS |
DATE OF RECORDING |
MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
|
|
1944.11.19 |
Teddy Wilson (p), Charlie Ventura (ts), Remo Palmieri (g), Billy Taylor (b), Sarah Vaughan (voc) |
|
|
1946.07.30 |
Frank Sinatra (voc), Clyde Hurley, Manny Klein, Zeke Zarchy (tp), Hoyt Bohannon, George Jenkins, Edward Kuczborski (tb), Richard Perissi (tpa), Fred Dornbach, Herbert Haymer, Jules Kinsler, Harry Klee (sax), Mark McIntyre (p), Dave Barbour (g), Philip Stephens (b), Ray Hagan (d), string section, Axel Stordahl (dir) |
|
|
1954.12.16 |
Sarah Vaughan (voc), Clifford Brown (tp), Paul Quinichette (ts), Herbie Mann (fl), Jimmy Jones (p), Joe Benjamin (b), Roy Haynes (d) |
|
|
1959.11.11 |
Tony Bennett (voc), Ralph Sharon (p), Billy Bean, Al Caiola, Bucky Pizzarelli (g), Don Payne (b), Panama Francis (d), Bradley Spinney (per), string section, Frank DeVol (dir) |
|
|
1960.04.19 |
Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Paul Smith (p) |
|
|
1961.12.20 |
Nat Cole (voc), George Shearing (p), Emil Richards (vib), Al Hendrickson (g), Al McKibbon (b), Shelly Manne (d), string section, Ralph Carmichael (dir) |
|
|
Mel Tormé with Rob McConnell & The Boss Brass |
1986.05.?? |
Mel Tormé (voc), Rob McConnell (tb, dir), Arnie Chycoski, Erich Traugott, Guido Basso, Dave Woods, John McLeod (tp, fis), Ian McDougall, Bob Livingston, Dave McMurdo, Ron Hughes (tb), George Stimpson, James MacDonald (tpa), Moe Koffman (cl, ss, as, fl), Jerry Toth (as, cl, fl), Eugene Amaro (ts, fl), Rick Wilkins (ts, cl), Robert Leonard (bars, cl, fl), Jim Dale (p), Ed Bickert (g), Steve Wallace (b), Jerry Fuller (d), Brian Leonard (per) |
|
Rosemary Clooney & Marian McPartland |
1991.10.14 |
Rosemary Clooney (voc), Marian McPartland (p) |
|
Betty Carter |
1996.01.25 |
Betty Carter (voc), Andre Hayward (tb), Mark Shim (ts), Xavier Davis (p), Curtis Lundy or Matt Hughes (b), Gregory Hutchinson (d) |
|
2001.12.29 |
Dee Dee Bridgewater (voc), unidentified orchestra, Cecil Bridgewater (dir) |
On cinemas
The song 'September Song' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:
|
ORIGINAL
TITLE |
TITLE IN
SPAIN |
YEAR OF PRODUCTION |
PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM |
|
Knickerbocker Holiday |
Pierna de plata |
1944 |
Charles Coburn |
|
September Affair |
Idilio en septiembre |
1950 |
Walter Huston |
|
Pepe |
Pepe |
1960 |
Maurice Chevalier |
|
Catch 22 |
Trampa 22 |
1970 |
Django Reinhardt |
|
Radio Days |
Días de radio |
1987 |
Background music |
|
Texasville |
Texasville |
1990 |
Willie Nelson |
|
Historias del Kronen |
Historias del Kronen |
1995 |
Australian Blonde |