AUTUMN IN NEW YORK

Music and lyrics: Vernon Duke

Year: 1934

Origin of the song

On 27 December 1934, the musical Thumbs Up!, which was performed a hundred and fifty six times, premiered at the St. James Theatre of New York. Vernon Duke composed three songs for the show but only ‘Autumn in New York’ was included; the other two were discarded. The actor and singer J. Harold Murray performed the song during the last act of the play.

Duke wrote ‘Autumn in New York’ during his holidays in Westport (Connecticut). According to him, it lacked of what the editors call ‘popular appeal’. He used to bring up that he played it a few times during the meetings he used to hold there and the people used to leave the bar in the middle of the song.

Other Vernon Duke’s noteworthy compositions are: ‘April in Paris’ (1932), ‘What Is There to Say’ (1933), ‘I Can’t Get Started (with You)’ (1935), ‘Cabin in the Sky’ (1940), and ‘Taking a Chance on Love’ (1940).

Versions in the top charts

PERFORMERS	DATE OF RECORDING	DAY OF ENTRANCE	PERMANENCE WEEKS	HIGH POSTION REACHED
Frank Sinatra	1947.12.04	1949.01.29	1	27	Frank Sinatra (voc), Axel Stordahl Orchestra

Jazz. Outstanding performances

Instrumental

PERFORMERS	DATE OF RECORDING	MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
Stan Kenton Orchestra	1951.09.20	Stan Kenton (p, dir), Conte Candoli, John Coppola, Maynard Ferguson, John Howell, Stu Williamson (tp), Harry Betts, Bob Fitzpatrick, Dick Kenney, Bill Russo, George Roberts (tb), Stan Fletcher (tu), Art Pepper, Bud Shank (as), Bart Calderall, Bob Cooper (ts), Bob Gioga (bars), Ralph Blaze (g), Don Bagley (b), Shelly Manne (d)
Charlie Parker with strings	1952.01.22	Chris Griffin, Al Porcino, Bernie Privin (tp), Will Bradley, Bill Harris (tb), sin identificar (fl, ob), Toots Mondello, Charlie Parker, Murray Williams (as), Art Drellinger, Hank Ross (ts), Stan Webb (bars), Lou Stein (p), Art Ryerson (g), Bob Haggart (b), Don Lamond (d), sting section, Joe Lippman (dir)
Buddy DeFranco Quartet	1953.04.15	Buddy DeFranco (cl), Kenny Drew (p), Milt Hinton (b), Art Blakey (d)
Modern Jazz Quartet	1953.06.25	Milt Jackson (vib), John Lewis (p), Percy Heath (b), Kenny Clarke (d)
Bud Powel Trio	1953.08.14	Bud Powell (p), George Duvivier (b), Art Taylor (d)
Shelly Manne & Friends	1954.09.10	Shorty Rogers (tp), Jimmy Giuffre, (cl, ts, bars), Shelly Manne (d)
Dexter Gordon Quartet	1955.09.18	Dexter Gordon (ts), Kenny Drew (p), Leroy Vinnegar (b), Larance Marable (d)
Chet Baker Quartet	1955.10.24	Chet Baker (tp), Gerard Gustin (p), Jimmy Bond (b), Nils-Bertil Dahlander (d)
Hampton Hawes Trio	1955.12.03	Hampton Hawes (p), Red Mitchell (b), Chuck Thompson (d)
Kenny Dorham & Jazz Prophets	1956.05.31	Kenny Dorham (tp), Bobby Timmons (p), Sam Jones (b), Arthur Edgehill (d)
Phineas Newborn Jr. Quartet	1956.10.22	Phineas Newborn, Jr. (p), Calvin Newborn (g), George Joyner (b), Philly Joe Jones (d)
Jimmy Smith Trio	1957.05.08	Jimmy Smith (org), Eddie McFadden (g), Donald Bailey (d)
Ahmad Jamal Trio	1958.09.06	Ahmad Jamal (p), Israel Crosby (b), Vernell Fournier (d)
Sun Ra Sextet	1991.11.??	Sun Ra (sint), John Gilmore (ts), Chris Anderson (p), Bruce Edwards (g), John Ore (b), Earl Smith (d)
John Stetch Quartet	2000.03.18	John Stetch (p), Bill McHenry (ts), Ben Street (b), Jeff Ballard (d)
Joe Lovano Quartet	2004.09.08	Joe Lovano (ss, ts), Hank Jones (p), George Mraz (b), Paul Motian (cim, d)
Chico Hamilton Trio	2007.12.29	Chico Hamilton (d), Cary DeNigris (g), Paul Ramsey (b)

Vocal

PERFORMERS	DATE OF RECORDING	MUSICIANS WHO TOOK PART IN THE RECORDING
Jo Stafford	1947.10.31	Jo Stafford (voc), Paul Weston Orchestra
Billie Holiday & Her Orchestra	1952.04.01	Billie Holiday (voc), Charlie Shavers (tp), Flip Phillips (ts), Oscar Peterson (p), Barney Kessel (g), Ray Brown (b), Alvin Stoller (d)
Sarah Vaughan	1956.10.29	Sarah Vaughan (voc), Hal Mooney Orchestra
Jeri Southern	1956.??.??	Jeri Southern (voc), Tutti Camarata Orchestra
Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong	1957.07.23	Ella Fitzgerald (voc), Louis Armstrong (tp, voc), Oscar Peterson (p), Herb Ellis (g), Ray Brown (b), Louis Bellson (d)
Frank Sinatra	1957.10.03	Frank Sinatra (voc), Billy May Orchestra
The Hi-Lo’s	1960.09.??	Gene Puerling, Clark Burroughs, Bob Morse & Bob Strasen (voc), Marty Paich Orchestra
Mel Tormé	1963.12.02	Mel Tormé (voc), Arnold Koblentz (ob), Jimmy Rowles (p), Dave Barbour (g), Joe Mondragon (b), Shelly Manne (d), string section, Dick Hazard (dir)
Julia Dollison	2005.??.??	Julia Dollison (voc, p), Ben Monder (g), Matt Clohesy (b), Ted Poor (d)

On cinemas

The song 'Autumn in New York' is included in the soundtrack of the following movies:

ORIGINAL TITLE	TITLE IN SPAIN	YEAR OF PRODUCTION	PERFORMERS OF THE SONG IN THE FILM
Autour de minuit	Alrededor de la medianoche	1986
When Harry Met Sally	Cuando Harry encontró a Sally	1989	Harry Connick, Jr.
The Pickle	El pepinillo	1993
Autumn in New York	Otoño en Nueva York	2000	Yvonne Washington
The Angriest Man in Brooklyn	El hombre más enfadado de Brooklyn	2014	Nataly Dawn