Saluting the Autumn Season in Music – Welcome to “The Playlist”

Between mid-September and mid-December, the autumn season brings us cooler temperatures, a change in the colors in the leaves, a presence of pumpkins, the holiday rush from Halloween through Thanksgiving and "Black Friday" to get to Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa (whatever you are celebrating).  Putting this season to music is the challenge I take on this week.  This is the debut of "The Playlist".

The challenge I take on every week is to tie music to a topic - whether through the title of the song, the name of the band, or the album, or something in the song that triggers that image.  Autumn has many sides to the season.  Halloween has a few classic songs: from Bobby Picket's "The Monster Mash", to the Edgar Winter Group's "Frankenstein" (might be a stretch, but the title of the song fits Halloween).  Election Day is saluted (somewhat) by members of Duran Duran, Adam Sandler is all over Thanksgiving, while December appears long to the Counting Crows.

We can find the waking up into autumn, wishing everyday was Halloween, and then struggle though the rain in November.  Meanwhile, another word for the Autumn season is Fall - you think this is more stretching but these are my rules, but I will not use falling because that is not "Fall".

With all of this in mind, let's load an iPod and give you 20 songs that is my Autumn (or Fall) "Playlist":

Earth, Wind and Fire - September (good place to start)

Green Day - Wake Me Up When September Ends (which would make it October)

Expose - Seasons Change (yes they do, and this is Autumn)

The Bangles - Hazy Shade of Winter (isn't that Autumn - "Look Around, Leaves Are Brown")

Smashing Pumpkins - Today (do I need to explain this one?)

Ministry - Everyday is Halloween (New Wave 80's)

Bobby "Boris" Pickett - The Monster Mash (only time you hear this song is 2nd half of Oct.)

Michael Jackson - Thriller (just for the voice of Vincent Price, it says Halloween)

Santana - Black Magic Woman (what's Halloween without some Black Magic)

KISS - Lick It Up (costumes = Halloween, stripped of it back then = scary)

Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy (Trick or Treat!)

Arcarida - Election Day (time to leave October with members of Duran Duran)

Wyclef Jean - Gone 'Til November (must like Autumn)

Guns 'N' Roses - November Rain

Adam Sandler - The Thanksgiving Song ("Love to eat turkey")

Counting Crows - A Long December (usually is)

Collective Soul - December

Linkin Park - My December

The Fixx - Stand or Fall (Autumn = Fall - my rules!)

Jane Child - I Don't Want to Fall in Love (done pushing)

I'm trying to create the ultimate 20-song block around one theme every week.  Feel free to resond with your thoughts, and let's see if I left something out that would work.