THIS YEAR'S KISSES - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"This Year’s Kisses" was composed by Irving Berlin and published in 1936. The initial recording was made on December 30, 1936, by Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra in New York, though Billie Holiday’s 1937 version with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra soon became the most widely recognized early interpretation.

The song has since been recorded by artists ranging from Benny Goodman to more modern vocal stylists. Its lyrics reflect a bittersweet view of changing romance, focusing on the passing nature of affection from one year to the next. Musically, the piece follows a classic 32-bar AABA design, with a memorable, wistful melody that lends itself well to both swing-era phrasing and later jazz-ballad treatments.