"Them There Eyes" is a jazz standard composed by Maceo Pinkard in 1930, with lyrics by William Tracey and Doris Tauber. Pinkard was also the composer of "Sweet Georgia Brown." Louis Armstrong recorded an early version in 1931, but it was Billie Holiday's 1939 recording that cemented the song's place in the jazz canon.
The tune is a 32-bar composition with a roughly ABAC structure, typically played in the key of F at an upbeat swing tempo. The harmony centers on tonic, subdominant, and dominant chords enriched with sevenths and sixths characteristic of the swing era. The cheerful, infectious melody and brisk pacing make it a perennial favorite at jam sessions. It has also become a staple of the gypsy jazz repertoire, with Django Reinhardt and Stéphane Grappelli among the notable interpreters from that tradition.
Billie Holiday's 1939 Vocalion recording, featuring Lester Young on tenor saxophone, remains the definitive version. Ella Fitzgerald delivered a swinging rendition with the Count Basie Orchestra on her 1963 album Ella and Basie!, while Frank Sinatra's 1956 version showcased his own rhythmic flair.
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