Early Autumn (song)

"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. 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. Herman asked Johnny Mercer to write lyrics in 1952 and he re-recorded the song taking the vocal duties himself.
Woody Herman and Jo Stafford recorded versions of the song that both charted in the US in 1952.

Notable covers

Woody Herman — instrumental version.
Woody Herman — single release in 1952 for the Mars label.
Billy Eckstine
Ted Heath and His Music, vocal by Lita Roza.
Jo Stafford — single version that peaked at #25 on the Billboard singles chart.
Ella Fitzgerald – a single release for Decca Records in 1956
Sun Ra and his Intergalactic Arkestra featuring vocalist Ricky Murray
Ella Fitzgerald – new version for her album Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook
Johnny Mathis – Wonderful, Wonderful
Anita O'Day - Anita O'Day Sings the Winners
Stan Getz – Stan Getz & Strings
Cleo Laine - I Am a Song
Anita Kerr Singers – Round Midnight
Patricia Barber - Split
Diana Krall - included on the Mark Whitfield album Forever Love.
The Four Freshmen – In Session.
Patti LuPone – The Lady with the Torch.
Guy Marchand – A guy in blue .
St. Vincent – Gangster Squad: Music from and Inspired by the Motion Picture.

Personnel on the 1947 recording were: