Woody Herman (1941) FIRST RECORDING [I'LL REMEMBER APRIL]

The first recording of the Gene De Paul composition “I’ll Remember April”. Featuring Woody Herman and his Orchestra. Recorded August 28, 1941.

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Some notes about the composition as found on

Composer: Gene de Paul

Lyricist: Don Raye, Patricia Johnston

Year: 1941

Origin: Debuted in the 1942  film Ride ‘Em Cowboy.

Style: Typically played either straight or swing, or a a combination of the two. 

Form: A-B-A (48 Bars) [16-16-16]
The first 8 bars of the A sections are often played in a Latin feel with the remainder of the tune swung. 

Key: Most commonly played in G Major.

Harmony/Overview: The A sections begin with modal interchange, moving from 4 bars of the tonic Major to 4 bars of the tonic minor. The bridge takes place up a minor 3rd from the original key center and finishes with a quick II-V of VIMaj7 before returning back to the tonic.

Recordings: This song has been recorded over 400 times to date. Woody Herman was the first to record it in 1941, and Dick Foran would record it the following year for the theatrical release in the film Ride 'Em Cowboy. It has become a very popular standard in the jazz cannon with recordings and performances spanning across many generations.

JGC Top Picks:
Cannonball Adderley, Sophisticated Swing, 1957
Sonny Stitt & Oscar Peterson, Sonny Stitt Sits In With The Oscar Peterson Trio, 1959
Cedar Walton, A Night At Boomers Vol. 2, 1973

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