"Just One Of Those Things" was written by Cole Porter for his 1935 Broadway musical Jubilee. Porter, celebrated for penning both words and music, was among the most sophisticated songwriters of the Great American Songbook era.
The tune is cast in a 64-bar AABA form — double the standard 32-bar length, with each section spanning 16 bars. Commonly performed in the key of C or F, it is typically taken at a brisk, driving swing tempo. The melody is deceptively simple and direct, yet the extended form gives soloists ample room to develop ideas across longer harmonic stretches. The relatively straightforward chord changes, combined with the song's rhythmic momentum, make it a favorite at jam sessions and concert stages alike.
Ella Fitzgerald's 1956 recording on Ella Fitzgerald Sings the Cole Porter Song Book remains the definitive vocal interpretation, blending scat passages with an upbeat orchestral arrangement. Art Tatum's 1953 trio recording is a marvel of harmonic invention and pianistic brilliance, while Nat King Cole's swinging version on the album Just One of Those Things (1957) perfectly balances warmth and rhythmic sophistication.
The Real Book (6th Edition)
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