There is nothing quite as magical as the perfect record spinning to accompany a drop in temperature, the changing colors of the season, and, of course, the switch in coffee flavors. The crackle of the stylus against one of my grandfather’s old records is nothing short of transcendental. I am a firm believer that music has the power to set the mood for an entire day, and fall is no exception. I have always associated mellow acoustics and gentle vocals with the season of flannels, pumpkins, and foliage. Every year, I look forward to summer gradually slipping into autumn so I can once again dive into the warm, folksy sounds that seem made for this time of year. That said, here are five albums I’m spinning straight into October.
Harvest – Neil Young
As soon as the sun rises on the first day of autumn, it marks the official start of Neil Young season. This 1972 album is basically fall in audio form: evoking images of golden fields through the rustic strum of acoustic guitar and wistful cries of harmonica. It’s essential October evening music, best played as daylight fades.
“Harvest” has the season built right into its title, using the act of reaping a crop as a metaphor for love and longing. “Old Man” is about as reflective as it gets, and listening to it feels like driving with the windows down, wind in my hair as the earth slowly sheds its green. “Heart of Gold” is like receiving an autumn hug — tender, comforting, and familiar in a way that makes me want to sink into the song and stay awhile.
Honorable mention: Harvest Moon – Neil Young
“I want to see you dance again / Because I’m still in love with you / On this harvest moon”
As if Harvest wasn’t enough to get you in the mood, Young returned 20 years later with Harvest Moon, a thematic sequel whose title track deserves an October spotlight of its own. “Harvest Moon” sounds like a crisp, perfectly romantic fall night spent beneath a clear sky. The song celebrates a love that has endured the passing of time and the choice to keep loving someone as you grow old together. That appreciation for something beautiful even as everything around it changes feels especially fitting for a season defined by transition. Just imagine slow dancing outside beneath the moonlight with this playing in the background. I mean, come on — it’s literally called “Harvest Moon.”
All Things Must Pass – George Harrison
George Harrison. My favorite Beatle (don’t tell Paul McCartney — a very close second)! All Things Must Pass is a quintessential 1970 album that finally allowed Harrison to step out of his bandmates’ shadows and showcase the full extent of his talent. After the Beatles’ breakup, this album feels like his declaration of, “Here I am, in all my glory.” Something about the spiritual awakening (in true George Harrison fashion) woven through its lyrics sends me straight into the mysticism of October.
The album’s title track, “All Things Must Pass,” is conceptually ideal for this season — it is literally about accepting that nothing lasts forever, much like the leaves clinging to the trees before finally letting go. Deep cuts like “Beware of Darkness” could even serve as a theme song for Halloween. Beyond its haunting title, the lyrics offer a spiritual warning against the forces that can lead us astray, paired with an eerie atmosphere of organ and electric guitar. And because October isn’t all darkness, give “If Not for You” a listen and sink into the simple yet consuming pleasure of innocently falling in love. But please, listen to it all. Experiencing this album in the fall is an absolute luxury (obvious biases aside).
Poems, Prayers & Promises – John Denver
I couldn’t possibly write a fall music article from Boulder without bringing John Denver into the conversation. This album feels rooted in an appreciation for the places and people that make life feel a little gentler, making it the perfect soundtrack for slowing down and taking in everything around you.
Of course, “Take Me Home, Country Roads” was practically made for a long drive through the mountains, but I have to give some love to “I Guess He’d Rather Be in Colorado.” As a girl lucky enough to call Colorado home, I get it — this song basically begs to be played surrounded by yellow aspens. Poems, Prayers & Promises reminds me that sometimes the best part of this season isn’t watching the world change, but appreciating exactly where you are while it does.
Brothers and Sisters – The Allman Brothers Band
If Harvest is for sitting back and watching October gracefully unfold, Brothers and Sisters is for getting up and going somewhere. The Allman Brothers Band’s 1973 album has the kind of Southern rock and jam energy that makes me want to grab my keys, get in my Bronco and drive with absolutely no destination in mind. There’s a special kind of freedom to this record — lots of blues and just enough twang — that belongs to those precious fall days when staying inside should be considered criminal.
There is quite literally no better song for aimlessly cruising around than “Ramblin’ Man,” and Dickey Betts makes a day spent wandering beneath the changing leaves sound pretty hard to beat. Then there’s “Jessica,” an instrumental that somehow says everything without saying anything at all; the guitar and piano radiate pure autumnal joy while “Come and Go Blues” brings just enough seriousness to slow everything back down. This album makes me want to squeeze every last adventure out of the year before winter arrives.
Siamese Dream – The Smashing Pumpkins
Not every October day is golden and glowing. Some days are gray, gloomy, and call for walking to class with your earbuds blasting Siamese Dream. This 1993 album trades the traditional tender acoustics of fall for dreamy distortion that perfectly pairs with the darker side of October. There is something about the album’s combination of heaviness and vulnerability that feels made for those days when the sun disappears a little too early.
“Mayonaise” is the ultimate hazy October song — melancholic and somehow comforting all at once. “Disarm” strips away some of that distortion for a sound that is more haunting and intimate, while “Cherub Rock” is completely explosive. If the rest of this list belongs to scenic drives and sunny afternoons, Siamese Dream is for walking home in the cold with your headphones turned up just a little too loud.
Whether October calls for gentle acoustics, Southern jams, or a little ’90s angst, there is a record for every version of fall. These are the albums that make me want to slow down, look around and appreciate this time of year while it lasts. So, grab a warm drink, drop the needle and let October play.