You Go To My Head: Lead Sheet

This lead sheet appears in one of the most carefully vetted standards collections available. The Just Real Books series consulted original composer sources to preserve harmonic intent, and chord substitutions are clearly marked so musicians can choose between the composer's original voicings and evolved jazz interpretations. It's the kind of resource that makes learning and teaching standards feel authoritative rather than guesswork.

The song carries the sophisticated harmonic language of 1930s popular music, with unexpected chord movements and a melody that sits naturally over the changes. It's a composed standard that feels both refined and accessible, the kind of piece that reveals new details with repeated playing.

This lead sheet works for jazz musicians at the intermediate level and beyond who need reliable, accurate versions of standards. Instrumentalists building their repertoire, combo players preparing for jam sessions, and students studying jazz arranging all benefit from the clarity and annotation in this collection.

• Study both the original chords and the suggested substitutions before deciding which version serves your arrangement. The substitutions often reveal how jazz musicians expanded the harmonic landscape of classic songs.
• Use the discography references in the front matter to listen to multiple recorded versions. Each interpretation offers clues about phrasing, rhythmic approach, and how the melody sits over the changes.
• Check the fakebook guidelines section early on. Understanding how to read lead sheets with these particular notations will speed up your preparation.

Include this in a jazz combo performance or as part of a standards set in a concert featuring classic songbook material. It pairs well with other songs from the same era and works equally effectively as a solo feature or as a vehicle for trading between instrumentalists.

• reading lead sheet notation and chord symbols
• understanding harmonic substitutions in jazz context
• analyzing melody placement over complex chord progressions
• interpreting composer's original harmonic intent versus modern jazz adaptations