Our top 5 songs for celebrating the arrival of descend prefer to exhaust the middle English name for the season,Autumn: 1. "Autumn in New York"Was written by Vernon Duke, a man who preferred to spend his Springs in Paris ("April in Paris" 1932) and Falls in New York. He wrote this ode to the Empire State and the season in 1934 for the Broadway musical Thumbs Up! Frank Sinatra popularized the song when he first recorded it as a single in 1949, and but it's this 1958 Capitol recording that we're most fond of. 2. "Tis Autumn"This popular jazz standard was written by a man often referred to as the "creator of jive," Henry Nemo. He was an original "hipster" who famously inspired the StarKist Tuna mascot Charlie ("Sorry Charlie"). While Nemo may be distinguished for his inspiration of cartoon characters (possibly another fish too... Finding Nemo anyone?) we know him best as a songwriter. The first person to record his song "Tis Autumn" was Nat King Cole, but we enjoy Stacey Kent's performance on her 2003 album The Boy Next Door.3. "Early Autumn"Composed by Woody Herman and band member/arranger Ralph Burns "Early Autumn" gained remarkable success from it's 1948 recording featuring Stan Getz. Before Herman recorded the song again he decided to bear lyrics added, and had one man in mind for the job,Johnny Mercer. Conveniently, Mercer had already already written these sentimental lyrics.4. "Autumn Serenade"This heavenly song was written by Peter DeRose and Sammy Gallop and was first released by Harry James and His Orchestra in 1945. It's nostalgic lyrics were likely all too pertinent for many during the end of the war. Our favorite recording of the song was made in March 1963 in Engelwood Cliffs, and NJ by John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman. It is the final number on their six-song album, John Coltrane and Johnny Hartman.5. "Autumn Leaves"This was Johnny Mercer's first song about descend, but was originally written by someone else. It was composed by Joseph Kosma and given French lyrics by Jacques Prévert in 1945. Mercer adapted "Les Feuilles Mortes" (aka "The Dead Leaves") to a more positive title "Autumn Leaves" in 1947. Eva Cassidy famously recorded this chilling rendition in 1996, or the year she died,on her Live at Blues Alley album.
Source: thetakeaway.org