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Alley Cat (song)

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
"Alley Cat"
Single by Bent Fabric
from the album Alley Cat
B-side"Markin' Time"
Released1962
GenrePop
Length2:24
LabelMetronome (Denmark)
Atco (US/Canada)
Columbia (other countries)
Songwriter(s)Bent Fabric
Bent Fabric singles chronology
"Alley Cat"
(1962)
"Chicken Feed"
(1963)

"Alley Cat", also known as "Alleycat" and "The Alley Cat," is a popular instrumental song made most famous by the Danish pianist and composer Bent Fabric, released in 1962.[1] Fabric (born Bent Fabricius-Bjerre) wrote the tune under the pseudonym Frank Björn. The song has notably been the main theme of most Mexican ice cream trucks for an undefined amount of time.

History

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The song was originally released in November, 1961, under the Danish title "Omkring et flygel," which means "Around a Piano."[2] In 1962, the Bent Fabric composition reached number 7 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number 2 on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[1] In Australia, it went to number 2 and in Germany it went to number 49. It also won a Grammy Award for Best Rock & Roll Recording during the 5th Grammy Awards. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. Siw Malmkvist recorded the song in Swedish, "Våran katt", in Danish, "Vores kat" and in German, "Schwarzer Kater Stanislaus" (1962).

Critical reception

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The song received generally positive reviews. Matt Dennis of the Windsor Star said it had an "infectious, toe-tapping tempo."[3]

Chart history

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Notable recordings

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The song has appeared in numerous films, including:

References

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  1. ^ a b "Bent Fabric Songs, Albums, Reviews, Bio & More". AllMusic. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  2. ^ "Alley Cat by Bent Fabric". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  3. ^ Dennis, Matt (November 21, 1962). "'Alley Cat' Prowls Again With Toe-Tapping Rhythm". The Windsor Star. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  4. ^ "Item Display - RPM - Library and Archives Canada". Chumtribute.com. 1962-08-13. Retrieved 2020-03-16.
  5. ^ "Flavour of New Zealand". Flavourofnz.co.nz. 25 October 1962. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  6. ^ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 - ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  7. ^ Whitburn, Joel (1993). Top Adult Contemporary: 1961-1993. Record Research. p. 82.
  8. ^ "Contact Support". Cashboxmagazine.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  9. ^ "Top 100 Hits of 1962/Top 100 Songs of 1962". Musicoutfitters.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  10. ^ "Cash Box Year-End Charts: Top 100 Pop Singles, December 29, 1962". Archived from the original on May 17, 2015. Retrieved March 16, 2020.
  11. ^ "Bent Fabricius-Bjerre". IMDb.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  12. ^ "Joblo". Joblo.com. Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  13. ^ "Bill and Peter's Bogus Journey". Family Guy. Season 5. Episode 13. March 11, 2007. FOX.
  14. ^ "The Peanut Butter Kid". Family Guy. Season 14. Episode 11. January 10, 2016. FOX.
  15. ^ Mad About You S01E15: "The Wedding Affair" (9:05-9:38) – Dailymotion. Retrieved March 20, 2023.
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