The Gypsy

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For other uses, see Gypsy (disambiguation)

"The Gypsy" is a popular song. It was written by Billy Reid, and published in 1945.

"The Gypsy" was originally introduced in the United Kingdom by Reid's orchestra and vocalist Dorothy Squires. In the United States, the song was recorded by The Ink Spots, by Dinah Shore, and by Sammy Kaye's orchestra, becoming a hit for all three.

The recording by The Ink Spots was released by Decca Records as catalog number 18817. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 2, 1946 and lasted 18 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. ^[1]

The recording by Dinah Shore was released by Columbia Records as catalog number 36964. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 2, 1946 and lasted 15 weeks on the chart, peaking at #2. This recording was a two-sided hit, with the flip side, "Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)," reaching #3 the same year. ^[1]

The recording by Sammy Kaye was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1844. It first reached the Billboard magazine charts on May 9, 1946 and lasted 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4. ^[1]

The Gypsy was also recorded by Charlie Parker on July 29, 1946, during the famous "Lover" session after which he was committed to the California state mental hospital at Camarillo.

A more recent version, by legendary Memphis record producer and performer Jim Dickinson was included in his 1997 live recording "1000 Footsteps in the Sand", recorded in 1992.