Standards · 1936
These Foolish Things chords & key
“These Foolish Things” is a jazz standard by Strachey-Link from 1936. It is usually played in E♭ major as a ballad, and the 32-bar AABA form has 4 sections. Harmonically it contains 8 major ii–V–I cadences and 2 minor ii–V–i, uses 18 different chords and moves between the key centres E♭ major, A♭ major and G minor. In this atlas it appears on 17 album tracks.
Chord changes
Showing in: Concert (C) — E♭ major
Changes as commonly played (concert pitch). Your band's version may differ.
Harmonic analysis
Most used chords
- B♭7×12
- Fm7×9
- Cm7×7
- E♭maj7×6
- F7×5
- C7×4
Key centres reached by ii–V
E♭ major, A♭ major and G minor
Characteristics
- AABA song form
History
"These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" is a standard with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz, writing under the pseudonym Holt Marvell, and music by Jack Strachey, both Englishmen. Harry Link, an American, sometimes appears as a co-writer; his input was probably limited to an alternative bridge which many performers prefer. It is one of a group of "Mayfair songs", like "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square". Maschwitz wrote the song under his pen name, Holt Marvell, at the behest of Joan Carr for a late-evening revue broadcast by the BBC. The copyright was lodged in 1936. British cabaret singer Jean Ross, with whom Maschwitz had a youthful liaison, is often credited as the muse for the song.
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Recorded on these albums
Historic 78 rpm recordings
- "THESE FOOLISH THINGS" Herb Jeffries · Buddy Baker and his Orchestra · Hoyt Bohannon · Holt… archive.org ↗
- These Foolish Things Kenny Mann · John Young · Red Lionberg · Leroy Jackson · Strackey ·… archive.org ↗
- THESE FOOLISH THINGS THE FOUR STAR RHYTHM SECTION · Stan Wrightsman · Nick Fatool · Artie… archive.org ↗
- THESE FOOLISH THINGS OSCAR PETERSON PLAYS PRETTY · Oscar Peterson · Ray Brown · Irving… archive.org ↗
- THESE FOOLISH THINGS Herbie Fields and His Orchestra · Taft Jordan · Herbie Fields ·… · 1944 archive.org ↗
- These Foolish Things (Remind Me Of You) Thelma Carpenter · Bud Freeman and His Orchestra · Strachey · Link ·… · 1945 archive.org ↗
- These Foolish Things Cliff Lang's Jazz Ensemble · Strachey · Link · Marvel · T. Todd · G… · 1946 archive.org ↗
- THESE FOOLISH THINGS Cliff Lang's Jazz Ensemble · T. TODD · G. McReynolds · R. LINN · C… · 1946 archive.org ↗
Standards with similar changes
Similarity of the chord progression, independent of key.
Frequently asked questions
What key is These Foolish Things in?
These Foolish Things is usually played in E♭ major. For B♭ instruments that is F major, for E♭ instruments C major.
Who wrote These Foolish Things?
These Foolish Things was written by Strachey-Link (1936).
What is the form of These Foolish Things?
These Foolish Things has 4 sections (AABA) with 32 bars in total.
How fast is These Foolish Things played?
The usual groove is Ballad.
What are the chord changes to These Foolish Things?
The opening bars are Ebmaj7 Cm7 | Fm7 Bb7 | Ebmaj7 Cm7 | Fm7 Bb7. The full chart above can be transposed to any key.