Origin:

First recorded by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Frank Sinatra in 1941.

Style:

Almost always approached as a ballad.

Form:

A-A-B-A (32 Bars) [8-8-8-8]

Verse:

4 Bars

Rarely included, the short 4 bar introductory verse takes place in the relative minor. The original recording from Tommy Dorsey with Frank  Sinatra features it.

Key:

Most commonly played in Bb Major.

Harmony/Overview:

The  harmony of this composition is very functional, and the main theme in the A sections revolves almost exclusively around variations of a II - V  - III - VI. The melody is also very repetitive, relying on a similar  contour for the entirety of the A sections. The bridge finally changes key centers and begins with a II - V of bIIIMaj7. It then continues with a II - V of IIMaj7 before a II - V of V resolves deceptively to a final  II - V which returns back to the tonic.

Recordings:

This  song has been recorded over 300 times to date. It was first recorded by Tommy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Frank Sinatra on vocals in 1941. It  soon after found its way into the repertoire of many leading jazz  artists of the day and managed to be recorded by the likes of Billie Holiday, Charlie Parker, Bud Powell, and even Thelonious Monk to name a  few. It remains as one of the most popular ballads in the repertoire and continues to be performed frequently to this day.

JGC Top Picks:

Sonny Rollins, Sonny Rollins On Impulse!, 1965

Elvin Jones, Dear John C., 1965

Art Pepper, Roadgame 1981