For those in the northern hemisphere, fall nips the air, and for some of us the autumnal melancholy is a little more particular this season. Here is an encore presentation of a favourite Song of the Week that drifts like a leaf in an October wind from French poem to Hungarian tune to American lyric. This is the story of a classic standard from Yves Montand to Ian Fleming, with performances by an array of stars from Cora Vaucaire and Tino Rossi to Nat King Cole and Eva Cassidy.
Click above to listen.
Thank you for all your kind comments on our last audio episode, about "Hey There". Connie, a First Day Founding Member of The Mark Steyn Club from Oklahoma, says simply:
That was beautiful, thank you.
Steve, a Manhattan Steyn Clubber, agrees:
Beautiful appreciation of a beautiful song. I pass by the Brill Building every now and then. Next time I do, I hope the mystic chord of memory takes me back to the Adler and Ross songwriting team.
For Bufcat, one of our German members, the song brought back personal memories:
Dear Mark,
Thank you so much for your tribute to Jerry Ross and Richard Adler via the amazing story of "Hey There" from Pajama Game. I was a high school junior in 1972 when I played the lead character Sid Sorokin in the high school musical. If I were to live as long as Methuselah I would not forget the lyrics to this song.
One more - from First Week Founding Member Calvert Whitehurst:
Rosemary Clooney's version of 'Hey There' is the definitive one. I met her back in the '70's. I was a volunteer usher at the local civic theater and she was touring with Helen O'Connell, Rose-Marie, and Margaret Whiting in '4-Girls-4'. A very nice lady - although at a post-opening night reception, I chatted with the road manager, who told me that while individually they were great gals, they didn't especially like each other.
Well, I don't know about half that line-up, Calvert, but, from my own experience, Rosie certainly had a great respect for Maggie.
This airing of Steyn's Serenade Song of the Week is a special presentation of The Mark Steyn Club. We do enjoy your comments on the show. Steyn Clubbers are welcome to leave them below - or anybody can leave them over at Serenade Radio, where they love hearing from listeners.
~Steyn's Song of the Week airs thrice weekly on Serenade Radio in the UK, one or other of which broadcasts is certain to be convenient for whichever part of the world you're in:
5.30pm Sunday London (12.30pm New York)
5.30am Monday London (4.30pm Sydney)
9pm Thursday London (1pm Vancouver)
Whichever you prefer, you can listen from anywhere on the planet right here.
~If you would rather read Mark on "Autumn Leaves", his essay on the song is just one of many collected together in his book A Song For The Season. Personally autographed copies of this beloved book among Steyn fans are available from the SteynOnline bookstore - and, if you're a Mark Steyn Club member, don't forget to enter the special promo code at checkout to enjoy the special Steyn Club member discount.