"Topsy" was a 1938 instrumental release for bandleader Benny Goodman, written by Edgar Battle and Eddie Durham, which became a #14 pop hit.[1] The tune had previously been recorded by Count Basie and His Orchestra on August 9, 1937.[2]

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.[1] 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.[3]

Notable versions

• Count Basie Orchestra
• Charlie Christian (credited as "Swing to Bop")
• Jimmy Giuffre, on his album Western Suite
• The Chico Hamilton Quintet, on their album Chico Hamilton Quintet in Hi Fi

References