Identified as Take 2, this alternate version of Matt Dennis and Tom Adair's "Everything Happens to Me" was recorded in 1958 during the sessions for Chet Baker Sings: It Could Happen To You. Like the master take, it is performed as a slow ballad at approximately 62 BPM in the key of G, with Baker delivering a half-chorus trumpet solo following his vocal performance of the rueful, self-deprecating lyric. The slight tempo difference from the master take's 60 BPM is negligible, suggesting that Baker and the rhythm section found this deliberate pace essential to the song's emotional impact. Comparing the two takes reveals the nuances of Baker's improvisational approach to ballad playing, with subtle differences in note choices, phrase shapes, and the emotional arc of his trumpet solo. Pianist Kenny Drew again contributes a quarter-chorus solo, his approach similarly restrained but with small variations in voicing and melodic content that distinguish this performance from the issued version. The 32-bar AABA form unfolds with the same patient gravity, each note given room to decay naturally in the intimate studio acoustic. Alternate takes from this era are particularly valuable for understanding Baker's artistry, as they demonstrate that his seemingly spontaneous, effortless style was the product of genuine improvisational thought rather than pre-planned routines. Both versions of this track stand as deeply felt readings of one of the finest torch songs in the American popular songbook.
