"Alley Oop" is a song written by Dallas Frazier. The song, heavily inspired by the V. T. Hamlin-created comic strip of the same name, was first recorded by The Hollywood Argyles in 1960 and hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100. It was produced by Gary S. Paxton. The lead vocalist on the track was Norm Davis. He was paid a one-time fee of $25 for his work on the single. He is currently a poet and poetry teacher in Rochester, New York. In the same year, The Dyno Sores and Dante & The Evergreens took their versions of the song to number 59 and 15, respectively. Both Dante & The Evergreens' and the Argyles' versions were credited with Number One in Cashbox magazine's singles chart.

The lyrics begin like this:

(Oop-oop, oop, oop-oop)

(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)

There's a man in the funny papers we all know

(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)

He lives 'way back a long time ago

(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)

He don't eat nothin' but a bear cat stew

(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)

Well, this cat's name is-a Alley Oop

(Alley Oop, oop, oop, oop-oop)

The British satirical art rock/pop group The Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band also recorded a version of Alley Oop released as their second single in October 1966, and was featured by Dave Van Ronk and the Hudson Dusters on their self-titled album, also released in 1960 or 1968. It was also recorded by the American pop band The Beach Boys and was released on their 1965 album Beach Boys' Party!.