Autumn Leaves (song).html |
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"Autumn Leaves" is a much-recorded popular song. Originally a 1945 French song "Les feuilles mortes" (literally "Dead Leaves") with music by Joseph Kosma and lyrics by poet Jacques Prévert, English lyrics were written in 1947 by the American songwriter Johnny Mercer, and Jo Stafford was among the first to perform this version. It has become a pop standard and a jazz standard in both languages, and as an instrumental. "Les feuilles mortes" was introduced by Yves Montand in 1946 for the film Les Portes de la Nuit.
The film Autumn Leaves (1956) starring Joan Crawford featured the song, which was sung by Nat King Cole over the title sequence. The French songwriter Serge Gainsbourg wrote "La chanson de Prévert" as a tribute to this song.citation needed
It is the corps song of the Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps.1
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Chart appearances
In 1955 "Autumn Leaves", as an instrumental number, was a number one hit for Roger Williams in the United States, the only piano instrumental to reach number one2 and remaining in that position for four weeks.
Chord progressions
Autumn Leaves offers a popular way for beginning jazz musicians to become acquainted with jazz harmony as it consists almost solely of II-V-I and II-V sequences which are typical of jazz. For example, in the key of G minor it opens with Cm7 (II) - F7 (V) - Bbmaj7 (I). The bridge contains the same sequence as well as Fm7 (II) - Bb7 (V) - Ebmaj7 (I).
Notes
- ^ Anonymous. "1987 Programs & Ticket Stubs". The Bluecoats Drum and Bugle Corps. Retrieved on 2006-11-07. "As listed in 1987 program."
- ^ Anonymous. "Roger Williams". Nebraska Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved on 2006-11-07. "In 1965, Williams added a chorus and charted it again at #10 Billboard Easy Listening as "Autumn Leaves - 1965.""
