“I Remember You” was composed by Victor Schertzinger with lyrics by Johnny Mercer for the 1942 film The Fleet’s In. Jimmy Dorsey’s band had a hit with it, and jazz musicians including Charlie Parker and Cannonball Adderley recorded swinging versions. Frank Ifield’s yodeling 1962 version was a pop hit too.
The form is a 32-bar AABA, usually in F major. The harmony uses ii-V progressions and secondary dominants, with a bridge that moves to new key areas. It’s comfortable at medium swing.
For improvisation, outline the ii-Vs with guide tones and use bebop lines. Highlight the key changes in the bridge by targeting the new third.
Practice at medium tempo, then faster. Learn the melody from a vocal recording.
Section by section: the A sections move through ii-V progressions in F, so practice two-bar ii-V licks and connect them with guide tones. The bridge moves to new key areas; mark them on your lead sheet and target the third of each new chord. The final A brings the tune home with a turnaround, a good spot for a strong bebop phrase. Charlie Parker’s version is fast and brilliant, while vocal versions are more relaxed.
Practice tip: practice the melody at both a ballad tempo and a fast swing. Playing a tune at different speeds helps you understand its harmony more deeply and prepares you for whatever tempo a bandleader calls.
Memorizing the I Remember You Lead Sheet PDF: learn the form in sections, not all at once. Play the first eight bars until you can do them with your eyes closed, then add the next section. Within a week or two you won’t need the page at all, which is the real goal of any lead sheet.
Is it hard to play? It’s intermediate. Recordings to study: Charlie Parker’s 1953 version and Cannonball Adderley’s recordings. Learn more about the lyricist on Johnny Mercer’s Wikipedia page, and find more standards on Minedit.