THANKS FOR THE MEMORY - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Thanks for the Memory" was written by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Leo Robin and debuted in the 1938 film "The Big Broadcast of 1938." The first recording was made that same year by Bob Hope and Shirley Ross in Hollywood, where the song quickly became one of Hope’s lifetime signature pieces.

Over the decades it has been revived by numerous singers, including Ella Fitzgerald and Rosemary Clooney, who emphasized its bittersweet reflection on shared past moments. The lyrics combine nostalgia, humor, and wistfulness, while the melody follows a graceful 32-bar form notable for its subtle harmonic changes. Its understated elegance and conversational phrasing continue to make it a popular choice for jazz ballad interpreters.