alley oop

Major errors in reporting that song. Dallas Frazier (composer) released the FIRST version in the Country field in 1957, It did not chart.

THE HOLLYWOOD ARGYLES released the first POP/R&B version BEFORE the other hit version by DANTE AND THE EVERGREENS. ( MAY OF 1960.) The song was top ten in LA when Dante & the Evergreens covered it. Their version was produced by Herb Alpert. These are facts as I was a member of Dante And The Evergreens. Thanks, Tony Moon

Thanks for the feedback, Tony ! Some answers regarding your remarks.

Quote from songfaxman

Dallas Frazier (composer) released the FIRST version in the Country field in 1957, It did not chart.

According to the Dallas Frazier discography published by PragueFrank he first recorded the song in May 3, 1966, which was released on the Elvira album, released in June 1966.

However; as Frazier is the songwriter he may have recorded a promo version to promote his song, which may have led to a first release by him. Unfortunately we do not have any information regarding such a recording / release.

Please be so kind to provide us with any additional information regarding this so we can update our data; SecondHandSongs is a project in progress. Thanks !

The issue regarding the first release of Alley Oop was discussed before in our forum;

https://secondhandsongs.com/case/42291

https://secondhandsongs.com/case/48331

Last edit: 2017-08-04 16:29:46 UTC by Limbabwe

Tony accidently replied to the mailing list:

MY mistake. Dallas evidently did record it, (Google:Alley Oop song), but was possibly never released in 1957. It would have made sense for him to have recorded it, as he was writing a lot then and had a recording contract.

Tony Moon

Dick's comment: Alley Oop - The version by the Prehistorics (as "Alley Oop Cha-Cha-Cha," Edsel 779) was not, as I had been led to believe, done before the Hollywood Argyles' hit. And contrary to some online posts, writer Dallas Frazier did not cut "Alley Oop" in the '50s—his first recording of it was in 1966 (for his album Elvira).

http://www.originalsproject.us/

If nobody objects, I will make the Argyles the original...

Billboard 16 May 1960 "It's a giant.....the original!" (well, it's an advert, not always known for 100% truth, but...). Anyway, it's the earliest (and best) reference in Billboard I could find.

This ref and this one might also help, but I can't read them in the UK.

Thanks Jon, I read a similar story in the Billboard Book of One Hit Wonders.

Changed the original and updated some comments.