This Year’s Kisses is a song written by Irving Berlin in 1936 for the film On the Avenue (1937) and was introduced by Alice Faye. It was first recorded in December 1936 by Shep Fields and His Rippling Rhythm Orchestra, with the film release in early 1937. The tune quickly became a popular jazz and big band standard in 1937 with notable recordings by Benny Goodman and His Orchestra, Hal Kemp, Shep Fields, and Teddy Wilson with Billie Holiday. Billie Holiday’s January 25, 1937 recording with Teddy Wilson and His Orchestra, featuring Benny Goodman and members of the Count Basie Orchestra, marked her first important collaboration with tenor saxophonist Lester Young. Since then the song has been covered many times by artists such as Lester Young, Ella Fitzgerald, Nina Simone and June Christy, and it has appeared on numerous albums and compilations. The lyrics speak of this year’s kisses being less sweet than last year’s romance.
