Monday’s Music Moves Me: Indian Summer

So, today’s assignment from Robin, our guest conductor for this month, is “songs of the season, either Halloween or autumn.”

The way I see it, autumn is two-thirds over. It started September 1, which yes, I know is not the official (i.e. astronomical) first day of fall, but as far as the weather people are concerned, that’s when it starts. After all, in most normal parts of the country, that’s when it starts getting cooler, and by December 1, winter kicks in, with its snow and temperatures that are colder than a penguin’s butt…

This year, it stayed in the 90’s (which for all you centigrade/Celsius fans is temperatures from 32-37) until the end of September, then abruptly turned cooler, so that now we actually have temperatures in the 60’s during the day and close to 50 at night. It’s almost as though we lost a month of autumn. But that’s okay.

Usually after the first time the temperatures dip below freezing, we’re rewarded with a warm period called Indian summer, or, if you prefer, Native American summer. Guess it’s not politically correct to call it that. There’s a famous cartoon called “Injun Summer” (more of an illustrated story, really) that was printed in the Chicago Tribune for many years (1907-1992) that they’d drag out of the vault and print in the Sunday magazine around this time.

“Indian Summer” is a popular name for songs. I went looking on YouTube and found ten of them, and we all know that ten is a playlist.

The artists in this list, all singing their version of “Indian Summer,” are:

Brooks & Dunn
The Doors
Stereophonics
Gatlin Brothers, Roy Orbison, and Barry Gibb
Sarah Vaughan
Simon Phillips and Protocol (Andy Timmons, Everette Harp, Steve Weingart, and Del Atkins)
Gavin DeGraw
Beat Happening
Poco
Tyler Hilton

And that’s Monday’s Music Moves Me for October 28, 2019.

Monday’s Music Moves Me is sponsored by X-Mas Dolly, Callie, Cathy, Alana, and Stacy, so be sure and visit them, where you can also find the Linky for the other participants.

Monday’s Music Moves Me: Fall-ish Songs

Cathy has set as the theme for today “songs about things you like about autumn.” I put together a list of ten songs that more or less fit the theme. A lot of new stuff to me in here. Hope you like it.

John Fogerty, “Centerfield” I have to start with this because, as of Saturday, THE ATLANTA BRAVES ARE NATIONAL LEAGUE EAST DIVISION CHAMPIONS! There will be October baseball in Atlanta! To quote Marie (a/k/a Xmas Dolly, who if she’s watching, get well and hurry back, we miss you), WHOO HOO!
Eva Cassidy, “Autumn Leaves” Eva Cassidy was a jazz singer and guitarist who was only 33 when she passed away from melanoma (see, I told you, wear sunscreen!). Pretty much unknown outside of Washington, DC, her music became better known after her death. This is a timeless standard.
Justin Hayward, “Forever Autumn” We all know Justin Hayward as the guitarist and lead singer for The Moody Blues. This is from 1978’s Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds. Jeff reportedly wanted “the guy who sang ‘Nights In White Satin'” to sing it.
Earth, Wind & Fire, “September” Released in 1978, from The Best of Earth, Wind & Fire Vol. I, this got to #1 on the R&B chart and #8 on the Hot 100 that year.
Amy Winehouse, “October Song” Like a lot of songs that are named after months, it doesn’t mention anything about the month itself. But hey, it’s Amy Winehouse…
The Brothers Four, “Try To Remember” I usually use Jerry Orbach’s version, and said, “no, let’s try someone else.” The Brothers Four (none of whom are actually brothers) are a folk-singing quartet from the Seattle area, known for their 1960 song “Greenfields.”
Freddie Joachim, “Autumn Rain” Freddie is a devotee of hip-hop, jazz, and soul music who is also a performer and producer. This is from his second album, 2010’s Midway, which is all instrumental, meaning I like it already.
Yerin Baek, “November Song” Another artist I will follow up on, Baek Ye-rin (Yerin Baek to the rest of us) is a South Korean singer who is also a member of 15& with Park Ji-Min (the name refers to their age when they started). Now 21, she recorded this a couple of years ago for her first EP, 2016’s Frank.
Billie Holiday, “Autumn In New York” A classic song by Lady Day. Lord knows we need one by now…
Nicole Westbrook, “It’s Thanksgiving” Nicole recorded this in 2012, when she was twelve years old. She’s an actress and singer in a world of adolescent actresses and singers. What more is there to say?

So, in summary: I like autumn because of the baseball postseason, the leaves, the rain, the cooler weather, and of course Thanksgiving. Not to mention the near-constant reminder that Christmas is coming, the geese are getting fat… Really, fall just started Saturday, and I heard “Jingle Bells” on TV for the first time on Friday. It was still summer!!!

And that’s Monday’s Music Moves Me for September 24, 2018.

Monday’s Music Moves Me is sponsored by X-Mas Dolly, Callie, Cathy, Alana, Michelle and Stacy, so be sure and visit them, where you can also find the Linky for the other participants.

The Friday 5×2: Your Autumn Songs

You all managed to come up with ten songs about Autumn to go along with the ten I did on Monday, and I’m sure that you’ll come up with even more after we finish here. Here’s your list.

Guns ‘n Roses, “November Rain” My brother Patrick came up with this suggestion, and apologized that it’s a long one. G n’ R released this in 1992 from their Use Your Illusion I album. It climbed all the way to #3 on the Hot 100, making it the longest song ever to break the Top Ten.
Gordon Lightfoot, “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald” Ed Thierbach had several suggestions for this list. I was always under the impression that the event this song remembers happened a hundred years ago, but it happened in November 1975. Almost exactly a year later, this song reached #1 in Canada, #1 on the Cash Box survey, and #2 (behind Rod Stewart’s “Tonight’s The Night”) on the Hot 100.
Neil Diamond, “September Morn” Another one from Ed. Since they won’t be playing Neil’s “Sweet Caroline” at Red Sox games until next spring, it’s oddly appropriate. It was the title track from Neil’s 1979 album, and his 30^th Top 40 single, reaching #17 on the Hot 100, #14 on the Cash Box survey, #7 on the Record World survey, and #1 on the Canadian Adult Contemporary chart.
Jerry Orbach, “Try To Remember” Sandi gave me this suggestion and the next. This is from the 1960 musical The Fantasticks and is sung by the man who first sang it on Broadway, who many of you know as Det. Lenny Briscoe from Law & Order. I like this the best of any version of it.
Robert Goulet, “If Ever I Would Leave You” Sandi’s second suggestion is from the 1960 musical Camelot, written by Lerner & Loewe. Robert Goulet is the first to sing it on Broadway, another man with a fantastic voice.
Justin Hayward, “Forever Autumn” Eugenia thought of this. The song was written by Jeff Wayne, Gary Osborne and Paul Vigrass and was part of Wayne’s musical Musical Version Of The War Of The Worlds.
Basil Poledouris, “Hymn To Red October” Ed came up with this. It was part of the soundtrack for the 1990 film The Hunt For Red October.
Sonny Boy Williamson II, “November Boogie” This was from Dan Antion, who said a blind man who was at his father’s bowling alley heard Dan’s birthday was in November and started playing this one. It was on a 1966 EP with several other songs.
Vivaldi, “Autumn” Birgit went classical on us and took this from Vivaldi’s The Four Seasons. It full name is Concerto No. 3 in F Major, Opus 8, RV 293, “L’Autunno.”
Green Day, “Wake Me Up When September Ends” 15 And Meowing thought of this one, which I wouldn’t have. It was released in 2005 as the fourth single from their 2004 album American Idiot, rose to #6 on the Hot 100, and has been certified platinum.

Thanks to everyone who suggested songs. That’s the Friday 5×2 for October 13, 2017.

Monday’s Music Moves Me: Autumn Is Falling

This one gave me a little trouble. There are lots of songs about spring, summer, and winter, but autumn? Not quite so many. I found ten, and I’m sure there are plenty more. Here are the ten I found.

Chet Baker, “Autumn Leaves” Actually kind of a supersession with Baker, Paul Desmond (saxophone), Bob James (piano), Ron Carter (bass) and Steve Gadd (drums). I think Desmond’s contributions might have been dubbed in from an earlier session; I know the film of him is probably from the Sixties.
Leon Redbone, “Shine On Harvest Moon” I love Leon’s voice and the approach he took to this one.
Neil Young, “Harvest Moon” Title track of his 1992 album, which many people see as a sequl to his Harvest album from the Seventies.
Jimmy Durante, “September Song” Yes, Durante lost my Battle of the Bands to The Platters last September, and no, I don’t care, I love the way Jimmy does it.
Earth, Wind and Fire, “September” Released in November 1978, it reached #1 on the R&B chart and #8 on the Hot 100.
Tom Waits, “November” Tom’s voice kind of sounds like it should be autumn, regardless of what season it is out there.
The Mamas & The Papas, “California Dreamin'” I know the lyrics say it’s winter, but the image of brown leaves and a gray sky says autumn, so I went with it.
The Happenings, “See You In September” Any excuse to play this one. I love the harmony, which gives this a Four Seasons vibe.
Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong, “Autumn In New York” The more I hear them together, the better I like it. You wouldn’t think it would work, but somehow it does.
Hall & Oates, “Fall In Philadelphia” From their 1972 debut album.

You know the drill: if you have additions to make, drop me a comment, and I’ll play them Friday if there are enough. That’s Monday’s Music Moves Me for October 9, 2017.

Monday’s Music Moves Me is sponsored by X-Mas Dolly, Callie, Cathy, and Stacy, so be sure and visit them, where you can also find the Linky for the other participants.