The List

4 Magical Soft Rock Songs That Are Perfect for Fall

Soft rock is the kind of gentle rock โ€˜nโ€™ roll subgenre that nestles its way into any season with ease. However, there is something to be said for the inherent coziness and moody vibes that come along with spinning these records in the fall. The leaves are changing, the air is cooling off, and things also feel a bit mystical and otherworldly as we transition into a new seasonโ€”and these four soft rock tracks are the perfect accompaniment.

โ€œDreamsโ€ by Fleetwood Mac

Fleetwood Mac is arguably one of the best fall-oriented soft rock bands to spin in the autumn months, and thatโ€™s all thanks to Stevie Nicks, or the White Witch. Nicksโ€™ contributions to the band are always particularly moody and mystical, and โ€œDreamsโ€ is no exception. This is the perfect track to listen to on a rainy October day, the gray skies accentuating the rusty oranges and browns of the trees.

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โ€œDo It Againโ€ by Steely Dan

Steely Dan has no small shortage of great soft rock tracks, and โ€œDo It Againโ€ is certainly among their best. This is definitely the kind of soft rock song that can blend just as easily into the summer months as it can the cold-weather ones. But in the fall, the minor groove of this Canโ€™t Buy A Thrill cut seems more spooky and shadowy.

โ€œEverybodyโ€™s Talkinโ€™โ€ by Harry Nilsson

Harry Nilssonโ€™s version of โ€œEverybodyโ€™s Talkinโ€™โ€ is like the sonic equivalent of driving in the car on a beautifully crisp and bright fall day. The sky seems impossibly blue, the wind carries the smell of wood smoke and cold, and the anticipation for holiday celebrations ahead feels palpable. The shimmering instrumentation of the Aerial Ballet and Midnight Cowboy theme song is like the gentle heat coming off the sun on a cloudless, late October afternoon.

โ€œDust In The Windโ€ by Kansas

Finally, Kansas released โ€œDust In The Windโ€ in 1978 as a single off their album from the previous year, Point Of Know Return. The songโ€™s pensive reflection on lifeโ€™s fleeting nature feels especially poignant as we watch the world transition into the winter months. Indeed, there are few better examples of the cyclical nature of life than the changing of the seasons, and autumnโ€™s transition feels especially connected to the message of โ€œDust In The Windโ€.

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