Early Autumn (song)

For other uses, see Early Autumn (disambiguation).

"Early Autumn"
Song
Written	Johnny Mercer
Genre	Jazz
Composer(s)	Ralph Burns Woody Herman
Lyricist(s)	Johnny Mercer

"Early Autumn" is a song composed by Ralph Burns and Woody Herman with lyrics by Johnny Mercer. The song grew out of the fourth segment of Burns's "Summer Sequence" concert piece. ^[1] The original recording was made by Herman's second herd on December 27, 1947, which had a notable eight-bar solo by saxophonist Stan Getz. ^[2] Herman asked Johnny Mercer to write lyrics in 1952 and he re-recorded the song taking the vocal duties himself. ^[3]

Woody Herman and Jo Stafford recorded versions of the song that both charted in the US in 1952. ^[4]

Notable covers

• Woody Herman — instrumental version (1949). ^{[5] [6]}
• Woody Herman — single release in 1952 for the Mars label (catalog No. 300). ^[7]
• Billy Eckstine (1952) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QxnLrz6-gNE
• Ted Heath and His Music, vocal by Lita Roza (1952). ^[8]
• Jo Stafford — single version that peaked at #25 on the Billboard singles chart. ^[9]
• Ella Fitzgerald – a single release for Decca Records (catalog No. 29810) in 1956 (recorded in 1952) ^[10]
• Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Arkestra featuring vocalist Ricky Murray (recorded in 1960 and released on Holiday for Soul Dance on Ra's El Saturn Records in 1970)
• Ella Fitzgerald – new version for her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook (1964)
• Johnny Mathis – Wonderful, Wonderful (1957)
• Anita O'Day - Anita O'Day Sings the Winners (1958)
• Stan Getz – Stan Getz & Strings (1961)
• Cleo Laine - I Am a Song (RCA Victor, 1973)
• Anita Kerr Singers – Round Midnight (1975)
• Patricia Barber - Split (1989)
• Mel Tormé – Night at the Concord Pavilion (1990)
• Diana Krall - included on the Mark Whitfield album Forever Love (1997).
• The Four Freshmen – In Session (2005).
• Patti LuPone – The Lady with the Torch (2006).

Personnel

Personnel on the 1947 recording were: ^{[11] [12]}

• Stan Fishelson — trumpet
• Bernie Glow — trumpet
• Marky Markowitz — trumpet
• Ernie Royal — trumpet
• Shorty Rogers — trumpet
• Earl Swope — trombone
• Ollie Wilson — trombone
• Bob Swift — trombone
• Woody Herman — clarinet
• Jimmy Giuffre — clarinet
• Sam Marowitz — alto saxophone
• Herbie Steward — tenor saxophone
• Stan Getz — tenor saxophone
• Zoot Sims — tenor saxophone
• Serge Chaloff — baritone saxophone
• Ralph Burns — piano
• Walt Yoder — bass
• Terry Gibbs — vibraphone
• Don Lamond — drums

References

1. Gioia, Ted (2011). The History of Jazz (2 ed.). Oxford: Oxford University Press. p. 312-313, 336. ISBN   9780190087210.
2. Giddins, Gary (1998). Visions of Jazz. New York: Oxford University Press. p.  407. ISBN   0-19-507675-3.
3. "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
4. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  495. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
5. "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
6. Gilliland, John. (197X). "Pop Chronicles 1940s Program #22 - All Tracks UNT Digital Library". Digital.library.unt.edu. Retrieved 2021-02-15.
7. Whitburn, Joel (1986). Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. Wisconsin, USA: Record Research Inc. p.  211. ISBN   0-89820-083-0.
8. "45worlds.com". 45worlds.com. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
9. "45cat.com". 45cat.com. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
10. "The Online Discographical Project". 78discography.com. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
11. Keeper of the Flame: The Complete Capitol Recordings at AllMusic . Retrieved August 29, 2023.
12. Myers, Marc (October 26, 2021). "The Early Autumn Story and 10 Faves". JazzWax. Retrieved August 29, 2023.

External links

• "Early Autumn" at Jazz Standards