In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

When October Goes

Music by Johnny Mercer and Barry Manilow

Originally Performed by Barry Manilow

"When October Goes" is a ballad based on a lyric Johnny Mercer had written but did not complete. It was matched up to a melody by Barry Manilow and published in 1984, becoming one of the top Adult Contemporary hits of that year in the United States.

In his last year, as he was dying from brain cancer, Mercer became extremely fond of Manilow, in part because Manilow's first hit record was of a song titled "Mandy", which was also the name of Mercer's daughter. After Mercer's death, his widow, Ginger Mehan Mercer, arranged to give some unfinished lyrics he had written to Manilow to possibly develop into complete songs. Among these was "When October Goes." Manilow applied his own melody to the lyric and issued it as a single in 1984. The song has since been recorded by Kevin Mahogany, Rosemary Clooney, Nancy Wilson and Megon McDonough. Thomas Anders (of Modern Talking fame) recorded his version in 1997 on the album Live Concert. Recently, Lea Salonga performed the song on her album Inspired.

Release Date: 1984

When October Goes

This modern day jazz classic written by Barry Manilow using the lyrics of Johnny Mercer is paired with the timeless Autumn Leaves, also a Mercer lyric with music by Joseph Kosma. This arrangement is respectful of both songs, weaving them together to sing a message of loving someone who's gone as well as growing older and remembering days past. Breathtaking!

Voicing: SATB

When October Goes

Voicing: SAB

When October Goes

Voicing: SSA

When October Goes

Voicing: TTB

Songbooks, Arrangements and/or Media

Displaying 1-2 of 2 items.

Barry Manilow : Anthology

An absolute must for all Manilow fans, this great collection features 53 of his best songs, divided chronologically by album, with Barry's personal insights on each release. Includes candid photos, and the hits: Can't Smile Without You - Copacabana (At the Copa) - Could It Be Magic - Even Now - I Made It Through the Rain - I Write the Songs - Looks Like We Made It - Mandy - Ships - This One's for You - Weekend in New England - many more!

Songlist: Soon, All The Time, Memory, The Best Of Me, Where Does The Time Go?, Sweet Heaven (I'm In Love Again), Beautiful Music, No Other Love, Read'em And Weep, I Was A Fool To Let You Go, Just Remember, Singin' With The Big Bands, Let Me Be Your Wings, Sweet Life, Somewhere Down The Road, When I Wanted You, Lay Me Down, Daybreak, Even Now, Man Wanted, One Voice, Bandstand Boogie, Because It's Christmas (For All The Children), Brooklyn Blues, Can't Smile Without You, Copacabana (At The Copa), Could It Be Magic, Let Freedom Ring, I Write The Songs, I Am Your Child, and more

Nancy Lamott : Original Keys For Singers

When Nancy LaMott died, at the age of 43, in 1995, she left behind five magnificent CDs filled with classic songs, beautifully arranged and played by her music director, Christopher Marlowe. She also left behind numerous other recordings of her signature songs, which through the years have been, and will continue to be, released as posthumous CDs. Over the years, I, as her producer, have received many requests for those arrangements from singers and fans all over the world. Now at last, thanks to Hal Leonard, many of Nancy's most famous arrangements are available in one book, exactly as Christopher Marlowe played them.

Songlist: Autumn Leaves, Downtown, Help Is On The Way, I Got The Sun In The Morning, I Have Dreamed, I'll Be Here With You, It Might As Well Be Spring, Just In Time For Christmas, Listen To My Heart, Moon River, No Moon At All, Old Devil Moon, Out Of This World, Skylark, So In Love, Some Children See Him, The Surrey With The Fringe On Top, That Old Black Magic, We Can Be Kind, We Live On Borrowed Time, When October Goes

Individual Folios

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Kirby Shaw : When October Goes

"It doesn't matter much how old I grow, I hate to see October go." Unfinished Johnny Mercer lyrics (saved by Mercer's widow) combined with a melody from Barry Manilow resulted in one of 1985's most popular songs. With warm choral harmonies and impeccable voice leading, this is Kirby Shaw at his best!

Arranger: Kirby Shaw | Composers: Barry Manilow and Barry Manilow | Lyricist: Johnny Mercer Performed By: Barry Manilow