Follow Me – Cecil Payne

The original version of Follow Me is an uptempo swinger with a 36-measure AABC form. The A section melody is simple with a warm sound, focused on the third and sixth (E and A). The bridge has a more bebop-ish melody; the C section starts like the A section but adds a four-measure tag with a rising phrase in dotted quarter notes. The changes are quite simple and diatonic in the A section, while the bridge has descending II-V7s from Gm7.

This recording begins with an eight-measure solo piano intro. There is a coda shown on the lead sheet, which tags for one more I-VI-II-V-I as the last note of the melody is held out; this is not very tight in the recording but certainly works as an ending.

This later version is titled The Opening on the album. It has a calypso groove on the A and C sections, but goes to swing in the bridge. The form is different from the original recording: the C section is shortened to eight measures by removing measures 5 through 8. The A section is only slightly different, with the rhythm of the first measure changed to the same as the fifth measure.

The bridge, however, is different both melodically and harmonically: the first four measures have a simpler melody with chromatically descending dominant chords from C7, and the second melodic phrase is extended slightly but otherwise more similar to the original. The end of the melody is a short note on the tonic instead of a long note on the fifth, making a clean break for the first soloist; the out head, however, ends with the fifth held out as in the original version but without the extra tag. Solos swing; this recording begins with four measures of drums, one A section of walking bass with drums, and then a chorus of piano solo, all swinging.