September Song

AMG Review of September Song

Eugene Chadbourne
All Music Guide

In 2001 this production was reissued in an expanded CD version that included documentary chatter from the recording sessions, appearances by famous guest stars who weren't on the original album, and strangely enough, not all the same tracks that were on the first release. This is all confusing, but just keep one's eye on the man's nose and everyone will find their way home alright. Jimmy Durante is a performer for whom the term loveable must have been coined. It is really hard to make an objection to his approach to performing music, as it involves the most essential ingredients, with unnecessary contrast pushed to the side. He swings, he has a sense of humor, and he knows how to combine this with honest sentiment. This is all he needs to pull off the material that is included here, since the artist himself as well as his associates made sure the material and arrangements wouldn't push his vocal range out of the barn. The orchestration is quite lush and altogether the presentation is perfectly suitable, the lyrics and philosophy of the songs affirming what seems to be Durante's golden rule, whether the source is a standard song or one of his own concoctions. The message is stay "Young at Heart," "Count Your Blessings Instead of Sheep," "Don't Lose Your Sense of Humor," and "You'll Never Walk Alone." That's what he says, anyway. Win or lose, it is a great antidote to the "dressers of black" mentality.