Topsy

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Count Basie

About Topsy

"Topsy" was a 1938 instrumental release for bandleader Benny Goodman, written by Edgar Battle and Eddie Durham, which became a #14 pop hit. The tune had previously been recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra on August 9th, 1937. In 1958, drummer Cozy Cole recorded the song and issued it in two parts as a single. The A-side ("Topsy I") made it to #27 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, while the B-side ("Topsy II") reached #3 on the Hot 100 chart and #1 on the Billboard Rhythm & Blues chart, staying atop the latter for six weeks. The two songs were simultaneous hits; they were closest together on the Hot 100 chart for the week ending November 2, 1958, when Topsy I was at #27 and Topsy II was at #4. 


Year:
2002
3:08
87 
#1

Lyrics currently unavailable…


Count Basie

William "Count" Basie (August 21, 1904 – April 26, 1984) was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. His mother first taught him piano and he started performing in his teens. Dropping out of school, he learned to operate lights for vaudeville and improvised to accompany silent films at a local theatre in his town of Red Bank, New Jersey. By 16, he increasingly played jazz piano at parties, resorts and other venues. In 1924, he went to Harlem, where his performing career expanded; he toured with groups to the major jazz cities of Chicago, St. Louis and Kansas City. In 1929 he joined Bennie Moten's band in Kansas City, and played with them until Moten's death in 1935. more »

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10 facts about this song

Jazz Background
"Topsy" is an iconic jazz song performed by the Count Basie Orchestra. Count Basie, an American jazz pianist and bandleader, is one of the all-time influential figures in jazz history.
Release Period
The track "Topsy" was released in 1937 during the era of 'Swing,' when jazz was at its peak popularity.
Composition Credit
Even though it's largely associated with Count Basie, the song was actually composed by Edgar Battle and Eddie Durham.
Pioneering Record
The version of "Topsy" recorded by the Count Basie Orchestra was ground-breaking at its release as it extended jazz music from its traditional three-minute length to a longer format.
Hit Charts
Following its release, "Topsy" scaled up to number 27 on the pop charts, substantiating Count Basie's success and popularity.
Replayable Nature
"Topsy" is considered timeless in the jazz genre due to its exhaustive and improvisative nature, making it a favorite for replay among jazz aficionados even today.
Inspiration Source
The song was an inspiration for many future compositions and arrangements in the jazz world. It's said to have set a template for how Swing music can be structured and played.
Pop Culture Appearance
"Topsy" has found a place in modern pop culture; it is part of the soundtrack in the game "Mafia 2," transporting players to the jazz age era.
Signature Style
"Topsy" is representative of Count Basie's signature style known as 'jumping beat,' marked by a strong rhythm section that supports more complex melodic lines.
Grammy Hall of Fame
"Topsy" by Count Basie Orchestra was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1985 - a special Grammy award established in 1973 to honor recordings that are at least twenty-five years old and that have "qualitative or historical significance."

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