"Long Ago (And Far Away)" was composed by Jerome Kern for the 1944 Technicolor film Cover Girl. Kern was one of America's greatest theater and film composers, responsible for timeless standards such as "Smoke Gets in Your Eyes" and "The Way You Look Tonight."
The song is a 32-bar AABA form, typically performed in F or E♭ major. Kern's gracefully ascending melody captures a profound sense of nostalgia and longing, supported by sophisticated harmonic writing that moves with effortless elegance. The tune was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Original Song and sold over 600,000 copies of sheet music in its first year, quickly becoming a fixture in both the popular and jazz repertoires.
Frank Sinatra's recordings — including a 1944 version and his rendition on Songs for Young Lovers (1954) — are definitive vocal treatments. Chet Baker's tender vocal-and-trumpet version on Chet Baker Sings and Plays (1955) is a beloved jazz reading, and Oscar Peterson's piano trio performance on his Jerome Kern Songbook (1959) demonstrates the tune's rich improvisational potential.
The Real Book (6th Edition)
The ultimate jazz fake book. A must-have for all gigging musicians.
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