"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.

"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)

History

edit

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

edit

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

Chart history

edit

Notable recordings

edit
edit

The song has appeared in numerous films, including:

References

edit
  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.
edit