As our autumn weather in these parts slowly turns from glorious to splendid - with at least a month of it remaining - and as summer’s glaring sun has shifted to a sweet golden glow, great songs of autumn come to mind. Throughout the years many musicians have covered some of the classic autumn songs and while the list below includes several of these, it serves more as a personal rather than comprehensive list.

1 - "Autumn Leaves" by Eva Cassidy 

It’s quite easy to place Eva Cassidy’s cover of “Autumn Leaves” at the top of the list.  While other songs show her vocal range better, few offer up the haunting quality of her voice.  Gone too soon.

2 - “Harvest Moon” by Neil Young

Neil Young’s “Harvest Moon” is one of the classic autumn love songs and should rank on any autumn song list.

3 - “Autumn In New York” by Ella Fitzgerald and Louis Armstrong 

Ella FItzgerald, winner of 13 Grammy awards during a recording career spanning almost six decades, teamed up with Louis Armstrong on this classic cover of “Autumn In New York”, recorded in 1957.

4 - “Colors/Dance” by George Winston

This cover of “Colors/Dance” from Winston” fine Autumn LP is one of those great transition songs that, while great at any time of the year, is even better in late autumn. Don’t ask why, just listen.

5 - “When Fall Comes To New England” by Cheryl Wheeler

Leave it to a New Englander to come up with a New England autumn song. Wheeler’s folk music genre may limit her audience, but her song still warrants a spot on an autumn song list.

6 - “Forever Autumn” by Justin Hayward

In 1978, during a break from the Moody Blues, Hayward appeared on Jeff Wayne’s Musical Version of The War of the Worlds with this international hit. It’s another sad love song that only autumn could do justice to.

7 - “October” by U2

Released in 1981, October was the band’s second release and was based on spiritual and religious themes.  This is early U2, and it is a departure from the sound most often associated with them.  Featuring a piano performance by The Edge, it’s a nice addition for all the October birthday people.

8 - “Golden Autumn Day” by Van Morrison

What can one say about Morrison?  Perhaps the greatest musician to come out of Northern Ireland and truly one of the great legends in all of music, “Golden Autumn Day”  comes from his Back On Top LP released in 1999.

10 - “October Road” by James Taylor

Released in 2002, this was Taylor’s nineteenth album, and is considered one of his comeback albums from the late ’90’s and into the early 2000’s. Here's a refreshing version with Taylor and the Dixie Chicks.

9 - “September Morn” by Neil Diamond

One of the great singer-songwriters in pop music history, Diamond was born in New York City in 1941.  “September Morn” comes from the album of the same name, released in 1979, where it peaked at #10 on the U.S. music charts, #14 in the U.K., and #3 in Australia.