Songs I Heard This Week (Autumn)
It’s no secret that I absolutely love seasonal music. In fact, most music I listen to on a daily basis reflects my feelings, moods, or my current settings. I love building a soundtrack to life and that includes specific music I tune into every season that I revisit year after year and becomes a significant part of the way I celebrate. Autumn is certainly no different and though I have amassed quite a collection of fall-themed music, I will try to stick to some highlights I’ve been playing so far. Who knows, maybe one or more will make its way to your seasonal playlist and solidify those warm memories of these cooler days.
Fall has not officially begun for me until I put on George Winston’s album, Autumn. The opening song, “Colors/Dance”, captures the essence of the season as if you can visualize the leaves changing colors to the wind blowing them from the trees. It’s a song you simply feel. If you enjoy this type of instrumental piano seasonal music, I also highly recommend David Huntsinger’s album, Autumn in New England.
Dan Fogelberg is one of my favorite singer/songwriters of all-time. He is a true poet and never is that fact more on display than with his song, “The Reach”, which appeared on his masterpiece album, The Innocent Age. Here is what he said inspired this magnificent song…”In 1978 I purchased an old sea captain’s house on an island in Maine. I became (and still am) completely enraptured with the sea. Summer in Maine is always special but in autumn when the tourists retreat and an island returns to its quiet, isolated existence is when I find it most endearing. I dearly love this song.” And he perfectly depicts what he was a witness to.
I would say this song about ties with Nat’s beautiful rendition of Autumn Leaves. I think this track is a little lesser known which is why I chose to share it instead. All in all, one of the smoothest voices ever to caress a microphone. I’m glad he lived in a time of modern recording.
Saying so long to September tomorrow, but it is a wonderful month to begin this glorious season. You get a nice mix of summer-like days and fall-like days. Mild, beautiful, peaceful, pleasant. James Taylor does it justice!
Billie Holiday has a voice that is just timeless. Here she immediately transports you to sipping coffee at a small cafe in the city with streets dressed in scattered foliage.
One of my happy songs. Feels like a cool October evening and makes me want to dance.
A sweet, sad, dreamy downtempo electronic track by ATB from the album, No Silence. “As I’m walking through the rain, cold tears falling down my face like the autumn leaves on a windy day…”
“September of My Years” is an incredibly poignant album by Frank Sinatra in which he croons from the perspective of a man entering middle age. There is a melancholy tone to the album, making it a perfect addition to any fall-themed playlist. I especially like this song and lyrics such as, “Fall is a lovely time of the year when leaves turn to golden brown. But soon fall is ending and winter is near and the leaves start tumblin’ down.”
Haunting love song from Justin Hayward of The Moody Blues. Appeared on the album, Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds, an album musical adapted from the science-fiction novel The War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells in a rock opera style.
Like most fally songs, this one has a hint of melancholy and sadness. I was just telling my brother how much I would have loved this arrangement to have been recorded by The Beach Boys in their prime, but since it was recorded in 2005, it wasn’t really going to happen. However, the Ella Fitzgerald version from 1949 is quite beautiful as well. But I do so love that four-part harmony!
BONUS SONG…
Last, and most certainly least, I thought I would include my own fall-insired track, “Autumn”, from the album Seasons. My inspiration for this track was relating to the fall and when dark days are on the horizon. Sometimes you just feel it in the air, but to find peace with God to watch over you through those winter months. “Sleep in peace, and do not be afriad…”
