GOOD EVENING MR. AND MRS. AMERICA, AND ALL THE SHIPS AT SEA: THIS IS YOUR DEAR MR. BOIGNER, COMING TO YOU FROM A PLACE CALLED FAR AWAY.
Welcome to the first edition of Philco in the Parlor: a rose-tinted look into the music and entertainment of those golden radio days.
Feel that crisp in the air? See those leaves falling gracefully from the trees? No? Good, welcome to Georgia.
Nevertheless, Mother Earth still changes her sundress for a gown of red and orange, signaling the arrival of yet another autumn. It is days of clear and brisk air, nights of a fiery moon, the flavors and aromas of harvest season. Not to mention: pumpkin-spiced everything, even if that something is just as well without it. I’ll never understand it, frankly. I remember a time when the only “pumpkin spice” we needed came from a homemade pumpkin pie, but I digress.
My hope is to get you into the spirit of the season with some tunes of days gone by: something calming for a walk in the woods, something sweet for a drive in the country, or something warm and wistful for when it is time to curl up with a good book and hot drink. I have compiled a brief selection that I hope you will enjoy.
COMES AUTUMN
A short bill of mellow numbers to get you in that fall mood.
Vaughn Monroe: “The Things We Did Last Summer” (1946)
I thought it appropriate that a list welcoming fall would start with a song that bid farewell to Summer. And with “Ol’ Leather Tonsils” being a personal favorite of mine, this Vaughn Monroe hit was an obvious choice. The song is almost melancholic, a reminiscence of carefree days with a Summer fling. A love that seemed so right went so wrong, leaving the brokenhearted lover only with memories he would treasure through the winter.
The Modernaires: “Autumn Serenade” (1945)
Soft, sweet, slow, with just the right pinch of romance. The Modernaires’ calming vocalizations whisper like the gentle wind in the trees, painting a beautiful picture of the season. It is a song themed perfectly for cool October days, and great for cuddling up under a blanket beside a friend or beloved.
Frankie Carle: “October Twilight” (1947)
A right pretty piece, dreamy piano accompanied by instrumental backing and gorgeous vocals by Nan Wright. We find another song of love lost to summer’s end, with the prayer that her former lover dreams as fondly of yesterday as she does. Perfect for a slow, close dance with the girl in your arms.
Charlie Spivak and His Orchestra: “Autumn Nocturne” (1941)
Mellow instrumental with a lovely piano accompaniment, simply a swell and relaxing little tune.
Kate Smith: “Shine On, Harvest Moon” (1931)
One from out of the early Depression Era, the Songbird of the South’s rendition of the 1908 Bayes/Haworth classic. This number about spooning under the shining moon is a must-listen for that real autumn feeling, even if we are not as eager for the harvest as we once were.
Charlie Parker: “Autumn in New York” (1949)
An instrumental variation by Charlie Parker, one of the great Jazz saxophonists of our time. Charlie commands this piece with smooth saxophone stylings, backed by hauntingly lovely strings and brass. We may not always have the time to go and see the leaves change in Central Park, but this can certainly give you the image.
(For decent vocal renditions, I recommend Billie Holiday and Frank Sinatra)
I’m afraid we’ve come to the end of our time. While brief, my hope is that this selection is an inspiration to dig a little deeper for yourself, to compile a 40s-style fall playlist of your very own. You can find most these songs through that “You-Tube” service, as well as Spotify, iTunes, or whatever folks use these days. I tell you, the whole thing gets me dizzy.
Once again, this is your dear Mr. Boigner, saying thanks for joining me on this edition of Philco in the Parlor. May these coming months bring you only beauty and contentment.