Spooky (Classics IV song)

"Spooky"
Single by Classics IV
from the album Spooky
B-side "Poor People"
Released October 1967
Format 7" 45 RPM
Genre Blue-eyed soul, pops
Length 2:50
Label Imperial
Songwriter(s) Mike Shapiro, Harry Middlebrooks Jr., James Cobb, Buddy Buie
Producer(s) Buddy Buie
Classics IV singles chronology
"Spooky"
(1967)		 "Soul Train"
(1968)

"Spooky"
(1967)		 "Soul Train"
(1968)

"Spooky" was originally an instrumental song performed by saxophonist Mike Sharpe (Shapiro), written by Shapiro and Harry Middlebrooks, Jr.,[1] which first charted in 1967 hitting #57 on the US pop charts.[2] Its best-known version was created by James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie for the group Classics IV when they added lyrics about a "spooky little girl". Vocalist was Denis Yost[3]. The song is noted for its eerie whistling sound effect depicting the spooky little girl. It has become a Halloween favorite.[4] In 1968, the vocal version of the song reached #3 in the U.S. (Billboard Hot 100)[5] and #46 in the UK.[6]

Chart history

Atlanta Rhythm Section cover

"Spooky"
Single by Atlanta Rhythm Section
from the album Underdog
B-side "It's Only Music"
Released August 1979
Format 7" single
Genre Pop
Label Polydor
Atlanta Rhythm Section singles chronology
"Do It or Die"
(1979)		 "Spooky"
(1979)		 "Alien"
(1981)

"Do It or Die"
(1979)		 "Spooky"
(1979)		 "Alien"
(1981)

J.R. Cobb and bandmate Dean Daughtry later became part of the Atlanta Rhythm Section and re-recorded "Spooky" in 1979, also produced by Buie. It was the second of two singles released from their Underdog LP.

ARS's version hit #17 in the US on Billboard and #15 on Cash Box.[14] It also charted minorly internationally.[15]

Chart history

Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australia 96
Canada RPM Top Singles[16] 37
UK Singles Chart[17] 48
US Billboard Hot 100[18] 17
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 23
US Cash Box Top 100[19] 15

Other cover versions

"Spooky" has also been covered by a number of artists including Dusty Springfield (whose gender-flipped version was featured prominently in the Guy Ritchie film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels), Percy Sledge, Martha and the Vandellas, Michel Pagliaro (recorded song in French), Velvet Monkeys, R.E.M., Imogen Heap, Kid Montana, who issued the song as a single on Les Disques du Crepuscule in 1986, David Sanborn,[20][21] The Golden Cups, Marc Antoine,[22][23] Phish, The Nylons, AP Mike, and the Conti Bros. which appeared on the soundtrack to the film The Haunted Mansion in 2003.

The song's main riff is sampled in the song "Why's Everybody Always Pickin' on Me?" by Bloodhound Gang, released in 1996, as well as "Something Wicked This Way Comes" by Barry Adamson from the Lost Highway soundtrack released in 1997.

Additional versions

References

  1. ↑ "Unjustly Forgotten Instrumentals". Groups.google.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  2. ↑ "Sony/ATV". Sony/ATV. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  3. ↑ http://www.nytimes.com/2008/12/10/arts/music/10yost.html
  4. ↑ "The Classics IV". Classicbands.com. May 16, 2008. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  5. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  6. ↑ "Spooky by Classics IV Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  7. ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. Missing or empty |url= (help); |access-date= requires |url= (help)
  8. ↑ http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=1637#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, May 10, 1968
  9. ↑ "Spooky by Classics IV Songfacts". Songfacts.com. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  10. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  11. ↑ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 24, 1968
  12. ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  13. ↑ "Billboard Top 100 – 1968". Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved 2017-07-20.
  14. ↑ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 13, 1979
  15. ↑ ""Underdog"". The Atlanta Rhythm Section. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  16. ↑ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. October 20, 1979. Retrieved 2017-04-04.
  17. ↑ ""Underdog"". The Atlanta Rhythm Section. Retrieved 2016-10-01.
  18. ↑ Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  19. ↑ Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 13, 1979
  20. ↑ "Songs from the Night Before overview". Allmusic.com.
  21. ↑ "Songs from the Night Before – David Sanborn". JazzTimes.com.
  22. ↑ "Hi-Lo Split overview". Allmusic.com.
  23. ↑ "Marc Antoine – Hi-Lo Split". SmoothViews.com.
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