TEMPTATION - Free Jazz Leadsheet

"Temptation" was written by Nacio Herb Brown with lyrics by Arthur Freed and introduced in 1933. The first widely recognized recording was made by Bing Crosby on May 23, 1933, in Los Angeles, becoming one of Crosby’s early dramatic torch-song performances.

Numerous later renditions by artists such as Perry Como and Jo Stafford reinterpreted the song’s sultry mood. The lyrics explore the pull of irresistible desire, matching the dramatic melodic line and lush harmonic setting. Typically arranged in a 32-bar form with sweeping phrases, the tune lends itself to expressive, slow-to-medium-tempo interpretations across both popular and jazz styles.