WHAT A DIFFERENCE A DAY MADE - Free Jazz Leadsheet

“what a difference a day made” (also known as “what a diff’rence a day makes”) was originally written in Spanish by María Grever under the title “Cuando vuelva a tu lado” in 1934. The English lyrics were later penned by Stanley Adams, transforming it into a timeless standard.

The first recording of the Spanish version was made in 1934 by Orquesta Pedro Vía, and shortly thereafter in English by Jimmie Ague. It gained enduring fame through Dinah Washington’s 1959 interpretation, which won a Grammy and helped cement the song in the jazz and pop canon.

Lyrically, the song celebrates the transformative power of love — how a single day can change everything. Musically, it has a gentle, lyrical melody set over a rich harmonic progression, giving room for expressive phrasing and emotional depth in its many jazz and pop renditions.