I'M IN THE MOOD FOR LOVE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

Composed in 1935 by Jimmy McHugh with lyrics by Dorothy Fields, "i'm in the mood for love" quickly became a signature romantic ballad. Its smooth, flowing melody and expressive lyrics exemplify the sophistication of mid-1930s popular songwriting.

The first recording was made by Frances Langford in New York in 1935, and the song later gained widespread popularity through renditions by Louis Armstrong, Julie London, and Ella Fitzgerald, among others. It has remained a mainstay of the jazz and popular standards repertoire.

The lyrics convey tender romantic yearning, captured through a 32-bar AABA form with gentle harmonic shifts. Its melodic elegance allows for both intimate vocal interpretations and lush instrumental arrangements, making it a versatile and enduring standard.