Alley Cat Strut Oscar Holden ❲100% Trusted❳

The original 78 RPM recording of is considered one of the rarest "private press" jazz records in existence. Only three confirmed copies are known to survive in private collections. The fidelity is terrible—surface noise crackles like bacon frying—but the energy is undeniable.

The rumored chorus goes something like this: "Walking down the alley, don't you lose your stride, If that tomcat hisses, you just step aside. Oscar's on the eighty-eights, playing something blue, That alley cat strut is the only thing to do." Holden never officially published lyrics, likely because the "alley cat" in question was a coded reference to the late-night "sporting life"—gamblers, hustlers, and ladies of the night who utilized the back alleys of Seattle’s Pioneer Square. The "strut" was your attitude. If you walked with confidence, you survived. You may not realize it, but you have likely heard the DNA of "Alley Cat Strut" in other places. Dave Brubeck , who spent time in the Army during WWII near the West Coast, once cited Holden as a "forgotten influence" on his use of odd meters. When you hear the piano in "Take Five," you can faintly hear the ghost of the "Alley Cat Strut" in the left-hand ostinato. alley cat strut oscar holden

His magnum opus? Deconstructing the "Alley Cat Strut" So, what exactly is a "strutsong, and specifically, what makes the "Alley Cat Strut" unique? The original 78 RPM recording of is considered

When discussing the roots of American jazz, most conversations gravitate toward the bustling clubs of New Orleans’ Storyville, the syncopated rhythms of Jelly Roll Morton, or the virtuosic trumpets of Louis Armstrong. However, nestled deep within the Pacific Northwest’s musical history lies a hidden gem: Oscar Holden and his iconic composition, "Alley Cat Strut." The rumored chorus goes something like this: "Walking

In musical terms, a "strut" is a dance rhythm popularized during the ragtime and early jazz eras. It is characterized by a proud, chest-out, swinging 4/4 tempo. Imagine a stray cat walking confidently down a moonlit alleyway, completely unbothered by the dangers around it. That is the sonic image Holden paints.