List of 1940s jazz standards

Duke Ellington was one of the most influential jazz composers. His numerous standards include "Sophisticated Lady" (1933), "In a Sentimental Mood" (1935), "Cotton Tail" (1940), and "Satin Doll" (1953).

Jazz standards are musical compositions that are widely known, performed, and recorded by jazz artists as part of the genre's musical repertoire. This list includes tunes written in the 1940s that are considered standards by at least one major fake book publication or reference work.

The swing era lasted until the mid-1940s, and produced popular tunes such as Duke Ellington's "Cotton Tail" (1940) and Billy Strayhorn's "Take the 'A' Train" (1941). When the big bands struggled to keep going during World War II, a shift was happening in jazz in favor of smaller groups. Some swing era musicians, like Louis Jordan, later found popularity in a new kind of music, called "rhythm and blues", that would evolve into rock and roll in the 1950s.^[1]

Bebop emerged in the early 1940s, led by Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, Thelonious Monk, and others. It appealed to a more specialized audiences than earlier forms of jazz, with sophisticated harmonies, fast tempos, and often virtuoso musicianship. Bebop musicians often used 1930s standards, especially those from Broadway musicals, as part of their repertoire.^[2] Among standards written by bebop musicians are Gillespie's "Salt Peanuts" (1941) and "A Night in Tunisia" (1942), Parker's "Anthropology" (1946), "Yardbird Suite" (1946) and "Scrapple from the Apple" (1947), and Monk's "'Round Midnight" (1944), which is currently the most recorded jazz standard composed by a jazz musician.^[3] jazz standards are song first than the birth of president

1940

Trumpeter Dizzy Gillespie was one of the leading figures of bebop. Standards composed by him include "A Night in Tunisia" (1942), "Woody N' You" (1944), and "Groovin' High" (1944).

• "All Too Soon"^[4] is a jazz ballad composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Carl Sigman. Tenor saxophonist Ben Webster's performance on the tune was so highly regarded by audiences that his successors in the band were asked how they dare sit on Webster's seat.^[5] Webster later recorded the tune with young Sarah Vaughan in 1946.^[6]
• "Cotton Tail"^[7][8] is a swing jazz composition by Duke Ellington, with lyrics later added by Jon Hendricks. It was based on the Rhythm changes, a chord progression later used as a basis for many bebop tunes.^[9] Ben Webster was often asked by audiences to play his famous tenor saxophone solo note for note.^[9] The name of the tune is sometimes spelled as "Cottontail".
• "Do Nothing till You Hear from Me" (aka "Concerto for Cootie")^{[8][10][11][12]} is a song composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Bob Russell.
• "Don't Get Around Much Anymore"^{[8][12][13][14][15]} is a song composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Bob Russell.
• "How High the Moon"^{[8][15][16][17]} is a song composed by Morgan Lewis with lyrics by Nancy Hamilton. Among the many takes by jazz instrumentalists there are two vocal renditions which made their way, the classic Ella Fitzgerald live performance, and Sarah Vaughan's rendition.
• "In a Mellow Tone" (aka "In a Mellotone")^{[8][15][18][19][20]} is a song composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Milt Gabler.
• "Polka Dots and Moonbeams"^{[12][15][21][22]} is a song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke.
• "You Stepped Out of a Dream"^[23][24] is a song composed by Nacio Herb Brown with lyrics by Gus Kahn.

1941

• "Aquarela do Brasil" (a.k.a. "Brazil")^[25][26] is a song composed by Ary Barroso with lyrics by S. K. Russell. This is originally a 'samba' from Brazil which made its way in America and was sung by Carmen Miranda as well as by Frank Sinatra in his album 'Come Fly With Me' with arrangemnents by Billy May for Capitol Records.
• "Chelsea Bridge"^[12][27][28] is a song written by Billy Strayhorn.
• "Flamingo"^[29][30] is a song composed by Ted Grouya with lyrics by Edmund Anderson.
• "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)"^{[15][31][32][33]} is a song composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Paul Francis Webster.
• "I'll Remember April"^[15][34][35] is a song composed by Gene de Paul with lyrics by Patricia Johnston and Don Raye.
• "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'"^[36] is a song composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by Lee Gaines.
• "Just Squeeze Me (But Please Don't Tease Me)"^[37][38][39] is a song composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Lee Gaines.
• "Salt Peanuts"^[40][41] is a jazz composition by Kenny Clarke and Dizzy Gillespie.
• "Take the 'A' Train"^{[12][15][42][43]} is a song written by Billy Strayhorn.
• "Why Don't You Do Right?"^[44] is a blues song by Kansas Joe McCoy. Originally titled "The Weed Smoker's Dream", McCoy rewrote the lyrics for Lil Green, who recorded it with Big Bill Broonzy in 1941. Peggy Lee recorded a hit version with Benny Goodman in 1945; this version was performed in Who Framed Roger Rabbit by Jessica Rabbit at the Ink and Paint Club.^[45]
• "You Don't Know What Love Is"^[15][46][47] is a song written by Gene De Paul and Don Raye.

1942

• "C Jam Blues" (aka "Duke's Place")^{[8][15][48][49]} is a song written by Duke Ellington.
• "Epistrophy"^[15][50] is a song composed by Thelonious Monk and Kenny Clarke.
• "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)"^[15][51][52] is a song written by Jimmy Davis, Ram Ramirez and Jimmy Sherman. It is associated with the definitive Billie Holiday's rendition.
• "A Night in Tunisia"^[8][53][54] is a song composed by Dizzy Gillespie and Frank Paparelli with lyrics by Jon Hendricks.
• "Perdido"^{[15][55][56][57]} is a song composed by Juan Tizol with lyrics by Ervin Drake and Hans Jan Lengsfelder.
• "Skylark"^[12][58][59] is a song composed by Hoagy Carmichael with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.
• "There Will Never Be Another You"^{[8][12][15][60][61]} is a song composed by Harry Warren with lyrics by Mack Gordon.
• "Things Ain't What They Used to Be"^[62][63] is a song composed by Mercer Ellington with lyrics by Ted Persons.

1943

• "Harlem Nocturne"^[64][65][66] is a song composed by Earle Hagen with lyrics by Dick Rogers.
• "Star Eyes"^[67] is a song from the film I Dood It, written by Gene de Paul and Don Raye. It was introduced by Helen O'Connell and Bob Eberly in the film and became popular among jazz artists after Charlie Parker's 1951 recording.^[68]
• "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top"^[15][69][70] is a song composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.

1944

Thelonious Monk composed the most popular standard written by a jazz musician, "'Round Midnight" (1944). His other standards include "Well, You Needn't" (1944), "Straight, No Chaser" (1951) and "Blue Monk" (1954).

• "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye"^[71][72] is a song written by Cole Porter.
• "Groovin' High"^[8][73][74] is a jazz composition by Dizzy Gillespie.
• "I Fall in Love Too Easily" is a song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Sammy Cahn.^[75]
• "I Should Care"^{[12][15][76][77]} is a song written by Sammy Cahn, Axel Stordahl and Paul Weston.
• "It Could Happen to You"^[15][78][79] is a song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke. This song's harmony was base to another composition titled 'Fried Bananas' written by saxophonist Dexter Gordon.
• "Long Ago (and Far Away)"^{[12][15][80][81]} is a song composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Ira Gershwin.
• "'Round Midnight" (aka "'Round About Midnight")^[3][8][82] is a song composed by Thelonious Monk and Cootie Williams with lyrics by Bernie Hanighen.
• "Well, You Needn't (It's Over Now)"^[83][84] is a song composed by Thelonious Monk with lyrics by Mike Ferro.
• "Woody 'n' You"^{[8][85][86][87]} (aka "Algo Bueno") is a jazz composition by Dizzy Gillespie.

1945

• "Billie's Bounce" (aka "Bill's Bounce")^[15][88][89] is a jazz composition by Charlie Parker.
• "Everything but You"^[90] is a song composed by Duke Ellington and Harry James with lyrics by Don George.
• "Hot House"^[91] is a jazz composition by Tadd Dameron.
• "I'm Just a Lucky So-and-So"^[92] is a song composed by Duke Ellington with lyrics by Mack David.
• "It Might as Well Be Spring"^[15][93][94] is a song composed by Richard Rodgers with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.
• "Laura"^[95][96] is a song composed by David Raksin for the film of the same title. Lyrics were penned later by Johnny Mercer and the vocal renditions by Frank Sinatra and by Johnny Mathis with arrangement by Don Costa became classic along several jazz instrumental renditions.
• "Now's the Time"^{[8][15][97][98]} is a jazz composition by Charlie Parker.
• "Since I Fell for You"^[99] is a song written by Buddy Johnson.

1946

• "After Hours"^[100] is a song composed by Avery Parrish with lyrics by Robert Bruce and Buddy Feyne.
• "Angel Eyes"^{[12][15][101][102]} is a song composed by Matt Dennis with lyrics by Earl K. Brent, it is associated with Frank Sinatra 'saloon' rendition.
• "Anthropology"^{[12][103][104]} is a jazz composition by Dizzy Gillespie and Charlie Parker.
• "Come Rain or Come Shine"^{[8][15][105][106]} is a song composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer.
• "Confirmation"^[107][108] is a jazz composition by Charlie Parker.
• "Day Dream"^{[109][110][111]} is a song composed by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn with lyrics by John La Touche.
• "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans"^{[8][15][112][113]} is a song composed by Louis Alter with lyrics by Eddie DeLange.
• "If You Could See Me Now" is a song composed by Tadd Dameron with lyrics by Carl Sigman.^[114]
• "Nobody Else But Me" is a song composed by Jerome Kern with lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II.^[115]
• "Ornithology"^{[8][116][117]} is a jazz composition by Charlie Parker and Bennie Harris.
• "Stella by Starlight"^{[8][15][118][119]} is a song composed by Victor Young with lyrics by Ned Washington.
• "Tenderly"^{[12][15][120][121]} is a song composed by pianist Walter Gross with lyrics by Jack Lawrence.
• "The Things We Did Last Summer"^{[15][122][123]} is a song composed by Jule Styne with lyrics by Sammy Cahn.
• "Yardbird Suite"^{[8][124][125]} is a jazz composition by Charlie Parker.

1947

• "Autumn Leaves" (originally "Les feuilles mortes")^{[8][12][15][126][127]} is a song composed by Joseph Kosma with original French lyrics by Jacques Prévert and English version by Johnny Mercer.
• "But Beautiful"^{[12][15][128][129]} is a song composed by Jimmy Van Heusen with lyrics by Johnny Burke.
• "Donna Lee"^[130][131] is a jazz composition by Miles Davis.
• "In Walked Bud"^{[12][15][132][133]} is a song composed by Thelonious Monk. The song had lyrics written by Jon Hendricks who has recorded it with the composer in Monk's album titled 'Underground' (Columbia Records).
• "Lady Bird"^{[12][134][135]} is a jazz composition by Tadd Dameron.
• "Nature Boy"^{[12][15][136][137]} is a song written by eden ahbez.
• "On Green Dolphin Street"^{[8][138][139]} is a song composed by Bronislaw Kaper with lyrics by Ned Washington. Main theme (instrumental) for the film 'Green Dolphin' which was retrieved by Miles Davis with great success.
• "Our Delight"^{[140][141][142]} is a jazz composition by Tadd Dameron.
• "Scrapple from the Apple"^[143][144] is a jazz composition by Charlie Parker. It was based on the chord progression of Fats Waller's "Honeysuckle Rose".^[145]

1948

• "Four Brothers"^{[8][12][146][147]} is a jazz composition by Jimmy Giuffre.
• "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes"^{[8][15][148][149]} is a song composed by Jerry Brainin with lyrics by Buddy Bernier.

1949

• "Lush Life"^{[8][12][15][150][151]} is a song written by Billy Strayhorn.
• "My Foolish Heart"^{[15][152][153]} is a song composed by Victor Young with lyrics by Ned Washington.

Notes

1. "Jazz History (1940s)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
2. "Jazz History: The Standards (1940s)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved May 18, 2009.
3. "'Round Midnight". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
4. "All Too Soon". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
5. Crouch 2007, p. 122
6. Büchmann-Møller 2006, p. 123
7. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 90
8. Listed in The Real Jazz Book
9. "Cottontail". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
10. "Do Nothin' till You Hear from Me". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
11. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 107
12. Listed in New Real Book, Volume I
13. "Don't Get Around Much Anymore". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
14. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 122
15. Listed in The Real Vocal Book
16. "How High the Moon". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
17. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 180
18. "In a Mellotone". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
19. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 206
20. The New Real Book, Volume III, p. 170
21. "Polka Dots and Moonbeams". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
22. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 318
23. "You Stepped Out of a Dream". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
24. The New Real Book, Volume III, p. 423
25. "Brazil". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
26. The Real Book, Volume III, p. 60
27. "Chelsea Bridge". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
28. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 76
29. "Flamingo". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
30. The New Real Book, Volume II, p. 105
31. "I Got It Bad (and That Ain't Good)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
32. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 187
33. The New Real Book, Volume III, p. 153
34. "I'll Remember April". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
35. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 197
36. "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
37. "Just Squeeze Me (But Don't Tease Me)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
38. The Real Book, Volume III, p. 225
39. The New Real Book, Volume III, p. 194
40. "Salt Peanuts". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
41. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 340
42. "Take the "A" Train". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
43. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 398
44. The Real Book, Volume III, p. 447
45. Herzhaft et al. 1997, p. 281
46. "You Don't Know What Love Is". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
47. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 459
48. "C Jam Blues". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
49. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 74
50. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 132
51. "Lover Man (Oh, Where Can You Be?)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
52. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 255
53. "Night in Tunisia". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
54. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 302
55. "Perdido". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
56. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 311
57. The New Real Book, Volume II, p. 287
58. "Skylark". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
59. The Real Book, Volume III, p. 356
60. "There Will Never Be Another You". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
61. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 407
62. "Things Ain't What They Used to Be". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
63. The Real Book, Volume III, p. 401
64. "Harlem Nocturne". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
65. The Real Book, Volume III, p. 140
66. The New Real Book, Volume II, p. 127
67. The New Real Book, Volume III, p. 351
68. Wilson, Jeremy; Tyle, Chris; McElrath, K.J. "Star Eyes". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved 16 October 2013.
69. "The Surrey with the Fringe on Top". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
70. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 393
71. "Ev'ry Time We Say Goodbye". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
72. The Real Book, Volume III, p. 113
73. "Groovin' High". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
74. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 166
75. Burlingame, Sandra. "I Fall in Love Too Easily". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved September 27, 2011.
76. "I Should Care". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
77. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 194
78. "It Could Happen to You". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
79. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 204
80. "Long Ago (And Far Away)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
81. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 251
82. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 345
83. "Well You Needn't". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
84. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 435
85. "Woody'n You". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved June 1, 2009.
86. The Real Book, p. ?
87. The New Real Book, Volume II, p. 436
88. "Billie's Bounce". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
89. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 44
90. "Everything But You". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
91. "Hot House". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
92. "I'm Just a Lucky So and So". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
93. "It Might as Well Be Spring". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
94. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 205
95. "Laura". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
96. The New Real Book, Volume III, p. 212
97. "Now's the Time". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
98. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 293
99. "Since I Fell for You". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
100. "After Hours". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
101. "Angel Eyes". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
102. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 28
103. "Anthropology". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
104. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 29
105. "Come Rain or Come Shine". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
106. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 88
107. "Confirmation". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
108. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 87
109. "Day Dream". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
110. The Real Book, Volume III, p. 91
111. The New Real Book, Volume III, p. 101
112. "Do You Know What It Means to Miss New Orleans". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
113. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 108
114. "If You Could See Me Now". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved December 7, 2011.
115. "Nobody Else But Me". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 11, 2012.
116. "Ornithology". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
117. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 317
118. "Stella by Starlight". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
119. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 382
120. "Tenderly". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
121. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 389
122. "The Things We Did Last Summer". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
123. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 394
124. "Yardbird Suite". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
125. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 433
126. "Autumn Leaves (Les Feuilles Mortes)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
127. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 39
128. "But Beautiful". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
129. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 62
130. "Donna Lee". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
131. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 123
132. "In Walked Bud". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
133. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 200
134. "Lady Bird". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
135. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 235
136. "Nature Boy". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
137. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 284
138. "On Green Dolphin Street". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
139. The New Real Book, Volume III, p. 273
140. Randel, Don Michael (1996). The Harvard biographical dictionary of music. Harvard University Press. p. 194. ISBN 978-0-674-37299-3. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
141. Gioia, Ted (May 9, 2011). The History of Jazz. Oxford University Press. p. 214. ISBN 978-0-19-539970-7. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
142. Yanow, Scott (2005). Jazz: a regional exploration. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 133. ISBN 978-0-313-32871-8. Retrieved February 2, 2012.
143. "Scrapple from the Apple". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
144. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 351
145. Leppanen, Rick. "Jazz Standards Songs and Instrumentals (Honeysuckle Rose)". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved January 8, 2010.
146. "Four Brothers". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
147. The Real Book, Volume II, p. 138
148. "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
149. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 301
150. "Lush Life". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved February 20, 2009.
151. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 258
152. "My Foolish Heart". JazzStandards.com. Retrieved April 29, 2009.
153. The Real Book, Volume I, p. 286

Bibliography

Reference works

• Büchmann-Møller, Frank (2006). Someone to Watch over Me: The Life and Music of Ben Webster. University of Michigan Press. ISBN 0-472-11470-0.
• Crouch, Stanley (2007). Considering Genius: Writings on Jazz. Basic Books. ISBN 0-465-01512-3.
• Herzhaft, Gérard; Harris, Paul; Debord, Brigitte; Haussler, Jerry; Mikofsky, Anton J. (1997). Encyclopedia of the Blues. University of Arkansas Press. ISBN 978-1-55728-452-5.

Fake books

• The New Real Book, Volume I. Sher Music. 1988. ISBN 0-9614701-4-3.
• The New Real Book, Volume II. Sher Music. 1991. ISBN 0-9614701-7-8.
• The New Real Book, Volume III. Sher Music. 1995. ISBN 1-883217-30-X.
• The Real Book, Volume I (6th ed.). Hal Leonard. 2004. ISBN 0-634-06038-4.
• The Real Book, Volume II (2nd ed.). Hal Leonard. 2007. ISBN 1-4234-2452-2.
• The Real Book, Volume III (2nd ed.). Hal Leonard. 2006. ISBN 0-634-06136-4.
• The Real Jazz Book. Warner Bros. ISBN 978-91-85041-36-7.
• The Real Vocal Book, Volume I. Hal Leonard. 2006. ISBN 0-634-06080-5.