Origin:

Introduced in the 1942 film The Fleet’s In.

Style:

Taken anywhere from ballad to up tempo swing.

Form:

A1-A2-B-C (36 Bars) [8-8-8-12]

Arrangements:

A commonly used ending is to repeat the final tag up a minor 3rd before finishing with the original III - VI - II - V in the home key.

Verse:

A short introductory verse is sometimes included. The first recording by Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra with Bob Eberly on vocal in 1941 features  it.

Key:

Most commonly played in F Major.

Harmony/Overview:

The harmony of this composition is functional. While the main theme is  initially stated in the A sections the harmony modulates with a II-V of III that deceptively resolves back to the tonic. It then continues with a  II - V of IVMaj7 that is followed by bVII7. A1 uses a III - VI - II - V  turnaround to return back to the tonic, while A2 returns to IMaj7 momentarily before a II - V of IV sets up the bridge. The B section  begins on IVMaj7 and continues with a II - V of VIMaj7. It then continues with a II - V of VMaj7 before returning back to the tonic. The  C section begins similarly to A, although it proceeds to add an additional 4 bars to the form before the final tag.

Recordings:

This  song has been recorded over 370 times to date. It was first recorded by Jimmy Dorsey and his Orchestra in 1941, and was first introduced in the 1942 Paramount Pictures film The Fleet's In. Many jazz artists have recorded the tune since and it continues to be performed frequently.

JGC Top Picks:

Lee Konitz, Motion, 1961

Jerry Bergonzi, Live Gonz! II, 2005

Elmo Hope, Introducing the Elmo Hope Trio, 1953