'Tis Autumn and the Ray Charles Singers Return

I'm calling a cease-fire to the barrage of "From the Back Room" posts to acknowledge the changing of the seasons by posting another in our series of Ray Charles Singers LPs, in this case Autumn Nocturne.

As with the Spring Is Here and Summertime collections, it presents a well-chosen and beautifully performed array of seasonal specialties - some familiar, some less so. The record dates from 1954.

As with the previous LPs, the cover portrays a couple admiring the wonders of nature. It seems to be the same vista as on the Summertime cover, with autumnal colors added.

Here are a few words about the songs, which in general link the passing of summer with lost love.

The LP's title tune, "Autumn Nocturne" by Josef Myrow and Kim Gannon, had some popularity when written in 1941, but that had waned in the intervening years. Like most of the songs on the LP, it is never heard these days, which makes it all the more welcome. (Myrow also had another season covered with "It Happens Every Spring," lyrics by Mack Gordon.)

"Early Autumn" was first an instrumental piece written by Woody Herman and Ralph Burns for Woody's "Four Brothers" band. Johnny Mercer wrote lyrics for it a few years later, and Woody and Jo Stafford (among others) recorded the new version.

The Ray Charles Singers surround Perry Como, early 1950s

"A Faded Summer Love" is nearly unknown today, but Phil Baxter's song attracted a large number of recordings when written in 1931, deservedly so.

Another piece that is unheard today is "Autumn in Rome." It was new when recorded for this LP. Alessandro Cicognini and Paul Weston wrote the music, Sammy Cahn the words; the number appeared in the film Indiscretion of an American Wife, where it was sung by Patti Page.

"Indian Summer" is perhaps the only misfire on the album, not because of the gorgeous Victor Herbert melody from 1919, or the Al Dubin lyrics from 20 years later. It's because of the annoying, stereotypical tom-tom part in the arrangement.

The most obscure song on the LP may be "When Leaves Bid the Trees Goodbye" by Vee Lawnhurst and Tot Seymour, dating from about 1935.

One of the best remembered songs, conversely, is "The Things We Did Last Summer," a superior work by Jule Styne and Sammy Cahn written in 1946 for, I believe, Frank Sinatra.

"'Tis Autumn" is an fine song by Henry Nemo that was somewhat popular when written in 1941, but is now unfortunately obscure. This performance begins with the verse, which is even less heard than the song's chorus.

The justly famous "Autumn Leaves" began life as "Les feuilles mortes," written by Joseph Kosma and Jacques Prévert. It was sung in the film Les portes de la nuit by Yves Montand. Johnny Mercer came up with the English lyrics that were first recorded by Jo Stafford.

"Shine On, Harvest Moon" dates from the Ziegfeld Follies of 1908, where Nora Bayes and Jack Norworth introduced it. Their names are on the sheet music, but many people think that Edward Madden and Gus Edwards actually wrote it - or perhaps Bayes' pianist Dave Stamper. In any case, this LP includes the verse, which I had never heard before.

Kurt Weill and Maxwell Anderson wrote the poignant "September Song" for Knickerbocker Holiday in 1938. Walter Huston introduced it.

"September in the Rain" is a terrific song that Harry Warren and Al Dubin wrote for 1935's Stars Over Broadway, only for it to be used as background music. But a few years later it popped up in Melody for Two, where it was sung by James Melton.

The LP ends with the optimistic "Autumn in New York," Vernon Duke's anthem from the 1934 revue Thumbs Up! This version is good; I also recommend the astonishing Sarah Vaughan recording from 1956.

The singers on this LP include Katie Carnes, Fran Carroll, Miriam Workman, Lois Winter, Lillian Clark, Rae Whitney, Elise Bretton, Marilyn Palmer, Peggy Powers, Barbara Nelson, Artie Malvin, Mike Stewart, Jerry Duane, Steve Steck, Alan Sokoloff, Ed Lindstrom, Murray Kane, Gene Lowell, Clyde Seckler, Gene Steck, Bob Spiro and Rudy Williams. Charles himself has excellent solos in "Faded Summer Love" and "'Tis Autumn."

Among the instrumentalists are Bernie Leighton, piano, George Barnes, guitar, Bernie Kaufman, reeds, and Nick Perito, accordion.

The sound is generally good and the performances all that you may have come to expect.

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