Sounds of Fall, Sounds of Nostalgia: Exploring Favorite Autumnal Soundtracks

Graphic by Sienna Leonne

By Stephanie Weber

When the air gets chilly, leaves turn from verdant green to sunset hues, and Starbucks’ pumpkin spiced latte finally returns, light-hearted Top 40 hits about staying out late and soaking up those long summer days take the back seat and are replaced with moody shoegaze, indie sleaze, and folk. Playlists are carefully curated with artists and songs that elicit seasonal depression, yearning and heartbreak, and settling into a new school year, but are also full of some favorite film and television soundtracks. Fall is nostalgic, inducing childhood memories of watching Halloween specials, looking forward to the annual showing of the Rocky Horror Picture Show at your local theater and finding showtimes for classic ‘80s horror. With the advent of streaming services and theaters safely opening up during the COVID-19 pandemic, there are so many autumnal soundtracks with such rich histories that we return to time and time again. 

It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown (1966)

We have to start with the classic It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown. The album was remastered in August 2022, becoming readily accessible for the upcoming fall season. Filled with original recordings of favorite songs like “Graveyard Theme,” “The Great Pumpkin Waltz,” and the “Charlie Brown Theme,” the accompaniment to the Peanuts cartoon is fully instrumental, including flutes, drum brushes, and relaxing piano. The album is ideal for putting on in the background, serving as the perfect soundtrack for all fall related activities. Released in 1966, It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown follows protagonist Charlie Brown, a solemn and introspective young boy who wants to celebrate Halloween with his friends, but hits a few roadblocks along the way. Vince Guaraldi (1928-1976), the main composer for the series, has always been in my repertoire, whether I’m studying or trying to get in the fall and winter moods. Guaraldi’s music has a deep connection to his San Francisco home, where his family inspired him to play jazz. He would release his first album in 1962, Jazz Impressions of Black Orpheus, inspired by the French/Brazilian film Black Orpheus (1959). It’s a combination of American jazz and bossa nova, with elements of Brazilian piano jazz. In 1964, he would team up with bassist Monty Budwig and drummer Colin Bailey to compose and record A Boy Named Charlie Brown and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Thus, the Vince Guaraldi Trio was born. Guaraldi went on to compose scores for twelve additional Peanuts animated television specials, but the most popular holiday episodes became cult-favorites. Vince Guaraldi Trio’s music can be found on most music streaming platforms. 

Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975)

Watching the Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) as a film is one thing, but seeing it live at a theater is a whole other ballgame. Going to Rocky Horror last year for the first time was an incredible experience, entirely different than watching it on a laptop. Of course, dressing up as Janet Weiss was one of the highlights, but its soundtrack was the main attraction. Since Rocky Horror has been a cult classic for decades, I was inducted into a world where weirdos are celebrated and honored. The story follows Janet Weiss and Brad Majors breaking down in the woods during a torrential thunderstorm following a friend’s wedding. They stumble upon a party of freaks headed by Dr. Frank-n-Furter and his supernatural love monster, Rocky. Its mystifying characters track this narrative arc with equally unusual song and dance. Often shortened to Rocky, this musical has been a personal and community favorite for years.

Following the overwhelming reception to the original film, the Rocky Horror soundtrack was released as an album in 1975 by Ode Records, produced by Richard Hartley. The album peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200, but it reached number 12 and number 11 on the Australian and New Zealand albums charts respectively. It features the amazing voices of Tim Curry, Susan Sarandon, Barry Bostwick, and legendary rock singer Meat Loaf. Although the album showcases the whole soundtrack, the film and many theater performances omit songs like Rocky’s solo “The Sword of Damocles” and the Frank-N-Furter-led “Planet, Schmanet, Janet” (often referred to as “Wise Up, Janet Weiss”). Not only is Rocky Horror performed at theaters around the world, particularly around fall, but it’s been reproduced in many other ways, like season 2, episode 5 of Glee — “The Rocky Horror Glee Show” —  with cameos from Barry Botswick and Meat Loaf. The most recent full length production was the TV show event The Rocky Horror Picture Show: Let’s Do the Time Warp Again in 2016. The cast was studded with big names in Hollywood like Laverne Cox (Frank-n-Furter), Victoria Justice (Janet Weiss), and Adam Lambert (Eddie), with Tim Curry (The Criminologist). The program was nominated for the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding TV Movie or Limited Series, highlighting the way that Rocky Horror has been a cornerstone outlet for queers, weirdos, and outcasts alike. 

The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Another film for weirdos is the 1993 stop-motion animation film The Nightmare Before Christmas, conceived by Tim Burton and directed by Henry Selick. This film follows the beloved yet jaded Pumpkin King, Jack Skellington — voiced by Chris Sarandon — who discovers the magical world of Christmas Town and schemes to create his own version of the holiday back home in Halloween Town. The soundtrack was composed by Danny Elfman, then frontman of new wave band Oingo-Boingo. Elfman lends his own voice for Jack Skellington’s musical numbers, alongside actors Catherine O’Hara, Paul Reubens, Ken Page, and Patrick Stewart to bring these singing, cryptic characters to life. The film was nominated for the 1993 Golden Globe for Best Original Score and would peak at number 64 on the US Billboard 200. Many Millennials and Gen Z kids know all the words to “This is Halloween,” “What’s This?” and “Oogie Boogie’s Song,” making the film well known throughout the younger generations. To honor this Halloween animation, 2006 saw a reissue bonus disc with covers from the original soundtrack from more well-known artists like Marilyn Manson, Fiona Apple, Fall Out Boy, Panic! At The Disco, and She Wants Revenge. Although there hasn’t been an attempt to revive or serialize The Nightmare Before Christmas, the movie remains a classic and is often aired on TV during October.

Hocus Pocus (1993) and Hocus Pocus 2 (2022)

Last but not least, the Hocus Pocus (1993) soundtrack is a staple for autumnal themed playlists. The film follows the Sanderson Sisters — three resurrected 17th-century witches  wreaking havoc and emitting historical Halloween vibes in Salem, Massachusetts. Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy play the three witches, in addition to singing the soundtrack composed by James Horner. The starring women are accompanied by a 92-piece orchestra, filling the 43 minute album with haunting and ethereal songs about kidnapping children and casting spells on the innocent people of Salem. A promotional CD was released in 1993 with 19 tracks featuring all the sounds of the film. Since Hocus Pocus was such a foundational film in Halloween cinema, Disney+ released Hocus Pocus 2 in September 2022. It’s a retelling of the original, where three young women accidentally summon the Sanderson Sisters and must stop them from engaging in their old Halloween tricks. They put a new spin on classic songs with modern artists like Silk Sonic and The B-52s, as well as other, less popular artists like Big Bob Kornegay and LVCRFT. Yet, it still has classic songs like “Garden of Magic,” sung by Sarah Jessica Parker, and a new song, “The Witches are Back.” 

Fall music holds a special place in many hearts. It reminds us of being a kid, trick-or-treating in a favorite Halloween costume, or curling up on the couch with a warm drink ready to watch a festive movie. It puts us in the fall and winter spirits, providing a background to the beginning of the hectic holiday season. Every year, new Halloween and autumnal movies are released, but the classics listed here will always be nostalgic. Regardless of when they were released, some media can be shared across generations, creating communal excitement and sentimentality. These pieces can transport viewers to a place of perfect autumnal scenes, setting the mood for the season to come. Whether they are watched once or countless times, seasonal features have remained favorites for so many, with no intention of ever being replaced.