Alley Oop (song)

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Alley Oop is a novelty rock and roll song written by Dallas Frazier in 1957, inspired by the Alley Oop comic strip created by V. T. Hamlin. The Hollywood Argyles recorded it in 1960 as a studio project produced by Gary Paxton, with Paxton singing the lead. The song became a big hit, reaching No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 3 on the US R&B chart, and No. 24 in the UK. Its B-side was “Sho’ Know a Lot About Love.” The success came even though there wasn’t really a band called The Hollywood Argyles at the time; many session musicians and singers contributed to the track.

Other artists also released versions. Dante & the Evergreens charted at No. 15, and The Dyna-Sores reached No. 59 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1960. The Beach Boys covered Alley Oop on their 1965 album Beach Boys’ Party!. The tune’s catchy melody has inspired other songs, and the line “look at that caveman go” is echoed in David Bowie’s Life on Mars.

Over the years, Alley Oop has been recorded by several artists, including The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band and The Tremeloes, with Dallas Frazier himself releasing a version later. The song remains a memorable early-1960s novelty hit.