TOP HAT WHITE TIE AND TAILS - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“top hat white tie and tails” was written by Irving Berlin in 1935 for the Fred Astaire film *Top Hat*. The song was first introduced by Astaire in the film, and he also recorded it.

Since its debut, the tune has been widely recorded by jazz and pop artists, including Ella Fitzgerald, Louis Armstrong, and Mel Tormé. The lyrics describe a glamorous, elegant lifestyle—dressing in a top hat, white tie, and tails—to woo a romantic interest and celebrate a refined, sophisticated world. Musically, the song is structured in a jaunty, Broadway style, with a memorable melody over a danceable swing rhythm and harmonic turns that reflect Berlin’s skill in writing both for theater and for jazz interpretation.