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“...this
piece takes unusual twists and
turns that seem to deliberately
avoid settling on any one key
for any length of time.” |
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- K. J. McElrath
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The spectacular
Ziegfeld Girl
was one of the biggest film hits
of 1941. In it
Tony Martin introduced the audience
to “You Stepped out of a Dream.”
As a recording, the song was a modest
hit for three big bands:
Glenn Miller and His Orchestra
with vocals by
Ray Eberle and the Modernaires;
Guy Lombardo and His Orchestra with
Guy’s brother Carmen Lombardo singing;,
and Kay Kyser and His Orchestra
with vocalist Harry Babbitt. Kyser’s
rendition enjoyed a brief time on
the pop charts, rising to number
22. The Four Freshmen would record
another popular version in 1955,
available on the CD The Four
Freshmen and 5 Trombones/4 Freshmen
and 5 Trumpets.
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Although filled with opulence
and glamour,
Ziegfeld Girl
was filmed in black and white. The
soap opera plot, characteristic
of many of the musicals of the era,
was little more than an excuse for
song and dance numbers, which were,
in this case, directed by Busby
Berkeley with an eye towards the
Ziegfeld style. The film focuses
on the personal lives of three chorus
girls, played by
Judy Garland, Hedy Lamarr,
and Lana Turner, as Florenz Ziegfeld
grooms them for stardom. The all-star
cast also included James Stewart,
Tony Martin, Jackie Cooper,
Eve Arden, and Edward Everett Horton.
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Musical analysis of
“You Stepped Out of a Dream”
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| Original
Key |
Written in
key signature of C |
| Form |
A – B – A
– C |
| Tonality |
Primarily
major but seems to shift key centers at
least three times |
| Movement |
This is characterized
by long, sustained tones and slow, harmonic
rhythm. The melodic line gradually rises
a third by step and then leaps up a sixth.
The descent is by leaps. |
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Comments
(assumed
background)
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This is one of the most exotic and wandering
harmonic progressions in the repertoire.
Although starting and ending on C major,
this piece takes unusual twists and turns
that seem to deliberately avoid settling
on any one key for any length of time. The
initial harmonic movement from C –Db is
in itself not unusual (as the N6 chord is
often a substitute for V7), but the fact
that it continues up to Eb is. Had it gone
back to the tonic, it might have had a Lydian
sound, but, instead, Eb7 resolves to Abmaj7,
putting the song in an entirely new key
by measure 6. After two measures, going
into the “B”section, this drops a half step
to start a ii7 – V7 modulation in yet another
key--this time F major. Meanwhile, the melody
is confined to a single pitch class–octave
C’s–for five and a half measures. Under
this, the I in F major goes to iii – II7
(Am – D7(b9)) which would normally resolve
to V7 – I, bringing us back to F major.
Instead, D7 is followed by Ebm7 – Ab7; but
instead of resolving to Db, as the ear might
expect, it drops back a half-step, this
time to Dm for the ii7 – V7 back into C
major.
The first five measures of the second
“A” section are the same as the first “A,”
but then Eb7 is followed by a Gb9(#11) going
to F7. At first, this sounds like a VI7
– ii7 – V7 going to a I of Ab major, but,
instead, the F7 moves to a Dm7(b5) (accomplished
fairly simply by moving two inner voices,
the 3rd and the 7th, down a half
step). Again, this seems to be the beginning
of a chord sequence pointing to a final
resolution of Ab major via a #ivø7 – V7/iii
– iiiø7 – V7/ii – ii7 – V7 –I progression.
Instead, the melody over the following G7
chord goes up via A natural instead of Ab
and then lands on an Em7. This begins a
iii – VI7(V7/ii) – ii7 – V7 back to C major
that seems to “step out of a dream.”
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K. J. McElrath - Musicologist for JazzStandards.com
Check out K. J. McElrath's book of Jazz Standards Guide Tone Lines at his web site (www.bardicle.com). |
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“You Stepped Out of a Dream”
was included in these films:
- Ziegfeld Girl (1941,
Tony Martin)
- Lost in Translation
(2003, Catherine Lambert)
And on Broadway:
- Singin’ in the Rain
(1985, Mary D’Arcy)
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Click on a CD for more details
at Amazon.com
Stefon Harris
Black Action Figure
1999, Blue Note
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| The vibraphonist gives the standard
such fresh vitality that it sounds like
a brand new composition. |
Sonny Rollins
Volume 2
1999, Blue Note 97809
Original recording, 1957
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| Rollins has been described as at
his very best on this particular track.
His saxophone is in good company here with
Art Blakey at the drum kit and Thelonious
Monk on the piano. |
George Cables
Quiet Fire
1995, Steeplechase
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| It feels as if you’re headed St.
Thomas way as pianist Cables sets the rhythmic
pace. It’s quite an excursion, with Ron
McClure on bass and Billy Hart on drums. |
Ron Escheté
A Closer Look
1994, Concord Jazz 4607
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| “Playing fingerstyle solo guitar
is a cross between living on the edge and
sheer terror,” says the seven-string guitarist
in the liner notes. Here he gives “You Stepped
Out of a Dream” a bossa nova turn. |
Chris Connor
He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not
1999, Collectables Jazz Classics
Original recording, 1956
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| In contrast to the Four Freshmen’s
upbeat 1955 rendition, Connor reads “You
Stepped Out of a Dream” as a purely romantic
song, backed here by full orchestra. |
Dexter Gordon
A Swingin’ Affair
1990, Blue Note 84133
Original recording, 1962
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| The saxophonist smolders on this
track. Gordon’s phrasing is impeccable and
highly evocative of the sentiment of the
song. |
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English pianist George Shearing recorded a version
of this tune on one of his earliest sessions before
he settled in the US where his career took off.
Nat “King” Cole’s version from 1949 with Pete Rugolo’s
Orchestra brought the tune back to public attention
following
Glenn Miller’s 1940 recording. Tenor saxophonist
Stan Getz was the next performer to take up the
song on one of his earlier sessions, in 1950, along
with pianists Dave Brubeck that same year and Al
Haig in 1951.
In the mid-1950s two talented guitarists recorded
their versions: Barney Kessel in 1955 and Tal Farlow
in 1956.
Chris Tyle - Jazz Musician and Historian
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| This section shows the jazz standards
written by the same writing team. Click on a name
to see all of a writer's jazz standards.
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Additional information on “You Stepped Out of a Dream” may be found in:
1 paragraph including the following types of information: summary and performers.
Includes the following types of information: song lyrics.
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