THAT OLD BLACK MAGIC - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"That Old Black Magic" was composed by Harold Arlen with lyrics by Johnny Mercer and published in 1942. The first recording was made that same year by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra in Hollywood, issued shortly after the tune appeared in the film "Star Spangled Rhythm."

The song has enjoyed numerous notable revivals, including interpretations by Frank Sinatra, Louis Prima and Keely Smith, and later jazz and cabaret singers. Its lyrics explore the irresistible pull of romantic attraction, matching the tune’s swirling melodic motion. Built around a 32-bar structure with characteristic Arlen harmonic shifts, the song lends itself to both swing treatments and more dramatic vocal readings.