| "Alley Cat" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single by Bent Fabric | ||||
| from the album Alley Cat | ||||
| Released | 1962 | |||
| Genre | Pop | |||
| Length | 2:24 | |||
| Label | Atco Records | |||
| Writer(s) | Bent Fabric | |||
| Bent Fabric singles chronology | ||||
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"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]
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The song was originally released under the Danish title "Omkring et Flygel," which means "Around the Piano."[2] It was made popular in 1938 by Glen Gray, but in 1962, the Bent Fabric composition reached number seven on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and number two on the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.[3] In Australia, it went to number 1 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.
The song has appeared in numerous films, including the 1989 film Shag, starring Phoebe Cates and Bridget Fonda, the 1994 film Cabin Boy, starring Chris Elliott and Andy Richter, the 1999 film Just Looking, starring Ryan Merriman, the 2000 film Duets, starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Huey Lewis and the 2004 film Imaginary Heroes, starring Sigourney Weaver and Emile Hirsch.[4] It was also used in the 1990 Get a Life episode "Zoo Animals on Wheels."[5]
The song received generally positive reviews. Matt Dennis of the Windsor Star said the song had an "infectious, toe-tapping tempo."[6]
The song has been covered by multiple artists, including Al Hirt, Ray Conniff and The Champs.[7]