The Gypsy (song)
Encyclopedia
"The Gypsy" is a popular
song
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 Gypsy" is a popular
song
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 Gypsy" is a popular
song
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 Gypsy was also recorded by Charlie Parker
on July 29, 1946, during the famous "Lover" session after which he was committed to the Camarillo State Mental Hospital
in California
. In addition to Charlie Parker's version, there were two recordings done by Quincy Jones: "The Birth of The Band" year 1959 and in the early '60s "Quincy Jones and His Band: Vol. 1", both albums featuring Phil Woods.
The song appears on Sonny Stitt Sits in with the Oscar Peterson Trio
.
A more recent version, by Memphis
record producer
and performer Jim Dickinson
was included in his 1997 release A Thousand Footsteps in the Sand, actually recorded in 1992.
This song has recently been featured in the 2008 movie Revolutionary Road starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
The song tells the story of a person who regularly visits a Gypsy, who comforts them by telling them that their lover has been faithful, though as the song says, the person knows that Gypsy is wrong and that their lover has been unfaithful.
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written by Billy Reid, and published in 1945.
"The Gypsy" was originally introduced in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Reid's orchestra and vocalist
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires was a Welsh vocalist. Among her recordings were versions of "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening", "I'm in the Mood for Love", "Anytime", "If You Love Me " and "And So to Sleep Again".-Biography:...
. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the song was recorded by The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
, by Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
, and by Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
's orchestra, becoming a hit for all three.
- The recording by The Ink SpotsThe Ink SpotsThe Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
was released by Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
as catalog numberCatalog numbering systems for single recordsThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
18817. It first reached the BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart on May 2, 1946 and lasted 18 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. and was also number one on the R&B charts for three non consecutive weeks
"The Gypsy" is a popular
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written by Billy Reid, and published in 1945.
"The Gypsy" was originally introduced in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Reid's orchestra and vocalist
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires was a Welsh vocalist. Among her recordings were versions of "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening", "I'm in the Mood for Love", "Anytime", "If You Love Me " and "And So to Sleep Again".-Biography:...
. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the song was recorded by The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
, by Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
, and by Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
's orchestra, becoming a hit for all three.
- The recording by The Ink SpotsThe Ink SpotsThe Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
was released by Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
as catalog numberCatalog numbering systems for single recordsThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
18817. It first reached the BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart on May 2, 1946 and lasted 18 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. and was also number one on the R&B charts for three non consecutive weeks
"The Gypsy" is a popular
Popular music
Popular music belongs to any of a number of musical genres "having wide appeal" and is typically distributed to large audiences through the music industry. It stands in contrast to both art music and traditional music, which are typically disseminated academically or orally to smaller, local...
song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
written by Billy Reid, and published in 1945.
"The Gypsy" was originally introduced in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Reid's orchestra and vocalist
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires
Dorothy Squires was a Welsh vocalist. Among her recordings were versions of "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening", "I'm in the Mood for Love", "Anytime", "If You Love Me " and "And So to Sleep Again".-Biography:...
. In the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, the song was recorded by The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots
The Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
, by Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore
Dinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
, and by Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye
Sammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
's orchestra, becoming a hit for all three.
- The recording by The Ink SpotsThe Ink SpotsThe Ink Spots were a popular vocal group in the 1930s and 1940s that helped define the musical genre that led to rhythm and blues and rock and roll, and the subgenre doo-wop...
was released by Decca RecordsDecca RecordsDecca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
as catalog numberCatalog numbering systems for single recordsThis article presents the numbering systems used by various record companies for single records.- Capitol :...
18817. It first reached the BillboardBillboard (magazine)Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
chart on May 2, 1946 and lasted 18 weeks on the chart, peaking at #1. and was also number one on the R&B charts for three non consecutive weeks . - The recording by Dinah ShoreDinah ShoreDinah Shore was an American singer, actress, and television personality...
was released by Columbia RecordsColumbia RecordsColumbia Records is an American record label, owned by Japan's Sony Music Entertainment, operating under the Columbia Music Group with Aware Records. It was founded in 1888, evolving from an earlier enterprise, the American Graphophone Company — successor to the Volta Graphophone Company...
as catalog number 36964. It first reached the Billboard 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)Laughing on the Outside (Crying on the Inside)"Laughing on the Outside " is a popular song.The music was written by Bernie Wayne, the lyrics by Ben Raleigh. The song was published in 1946....
," reaching #3 the same year.
- The recording by Sammy KayeSammy KayeSammy Kaye , born Samuel Zarnocay, Jr., was an American bandleader and songwriter, whose tag line, "Swing and sway with Sammy Kaye", became one of the most famous of the Big Band Era.-Biography:...
was released by RCA Victor Records as catalog number 20-1844. It first reached the Billboard chart on May 9, 1946 and lasted 10 weeks on the chart, peaking at #4.
The Gypsy was also recorded by Charlie Parker
Charlie Parker
Charles Parker, Jr. , famously called Bird or Yardbird, was an American jazz saxophonist and composer....
on July 29, 1946, during the famous "Lover" session after which he was committed to the Camarillo State Mental Hospital
Camarillo State Mental Hospital
Camarillo State Mental Hospital, also known as Camarillo State Hospital, was a psychiatric hospital for both developmentally disabled and mentally ill patients in Camarillo, California. The hospital closed in 1997. The site has been redeveloped as the California State University, Channel Islands...
in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. In addition to Charlie Parker's version, there were two recordings done by Quincy Jones: "The Birth of The Band" year 1959 and in the early '60s "Quincy Jones and His Band: Vol. 1", both albums featuring Phil Woods.
The song appears on Sonny Stitt Sits in with the Oscar Peterson Trio
Sonny Stitt Sits In with the Oscar Peterson Trio
Sonny Stitt Sits In with the Oscar Peterson Trio is a 1957 album by Sonny Stitt, accompanied by the Oscar Peterson trio. -Track listing:# "I Can't Give You Anything But Love" – 4:05# "Au Privave" – 3:59...
.
A more recent version, by Memphis
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
record producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
and performer Jim Dickinson
Jim Dickinson
James Luther "Jim" Dickinson was an American record producer, pianist, and singer who fronted, among others, the Memphis based band, Mudboy & The Neutrons.- Biography :...
was included in his 1997 release A Thousand Footsteps in the Sand, actually recorded in 1992.
This song has recently been featured in the 2008 movie Revolutionary Road starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.
The song tells the story of a person who regularly visits a Gypsy, who comforts them by telling them that their lover has been faithful, though as the song says, the person knows that Gypsy is wrong and that their lover has been unfaithful.