SEPTEMBER OF MY YEARS

   SEPTEMBER OF MY YEARS 

Arranged and Conducted by Gordon Jenkins 

                                                            LP Originally Released September 1965 

The first time I heard this song,  I was 14 years old and while I liked it very much, I didn't feel particularly identified with its lyrics. Now, 55 years later, the song has acquired deep and very relevant meanings for me.  It has become one of the iconic numbers in Frank Sinatra's repertoire.

One day you turn around and it's summer
Next day you turn around and it's fall
And the springs and the winters of a lifetime
Whatever happened to them all?

As a man who has always had the wand'ring ways
Now I'm reaching back for yesterdays
'Til a long-forgotten love appears
And I find that I'm sighing softly as I near
September, the warm September of my years

As I man who has never paused at wishing wells
Now I'm watching children's carousels
And their laughter's music to my ears
And I find that I'm smiling gently as I near
September, the warm September of my years

The golden warm September of my years

 

CHRISTMAS MUSIC

Ever since I was a little kid, Christmas music was for me a very important part of the Yuletide celebrations.  As far as I can recall, the yearly ritual of trimming the tree was always accompanied by traditional holiday music my mom would play on the living room phonograph and that music became imbedded in my subconscious so deeply that, from then on, Christmas wasn't really Christmas if we didn't play those beautiful songs.

Over the years, my musical tastes have varied somewhat but not so much as to draw me away from the vintage recordings I heard during my early years. I still enjoy those old Xmas tunes and I have collected a sizable amount of seasonal cds to help me remember my first family Christmas celebrations.
And of course, like everyone else I suppose, I have my special favorites among them.

This is the first Christmas album I remember I listened to while fixing the tree's decorations.

I wonder what ever happened to "The Caroleers".

The ever popular Bing Crosby staple! And Frank Sinatra's chart topping Jolly Christmas album!

 

 

No Christmas is complete without the sound of the Ray Conniff singers or Alvin and the Chipmunks.

The smooth crooning sounds of Dino and Andy Williams also help to make the season bright.

  

Another indispensable classic: Nat King Cole's Christmas Song!

The Boston Pops arrangements of Christmas classics were big favorites in my household.

                                      

Orchestral versions of traditional holiday music are essential to get you in the Christmas mood.

Shopping malls know this all too well!