August 6, 2021 —– Chart #103
Hello Musical Friends,
Welcome to Friday and today’s Chart of the Day. Our selection for today is a song that has been a hit for a couple of groups. First it was the Classics IV in 1967 and then again by Atlanta Rhythm Section in 1979. It’s interesting to note that these two bands had some common members, hence the re-recording of the song. I dedicate this one to BYO founder Steve Crane. I’m not exactly why but I associate this song with Steve, maybe I heard him playing it in a jam once upon a time.
“Spooky” was originally an instrumental song performed by saxophonist Mike Sharpe (Shapiro), written by Shapiro and Harry Middlebrooks Jr, which first charted in 1967 hitting No. 57 on the US pop charts. 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”. The vocalist was Dennis Yost. The song is noted for its eerie whistling sound effect depicting the spooky little girl. It has become a Halloween favorite. In 1968, the vocal version reached No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 and No. 46 in the UK.
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 No. 17 in the US on Billboard and No. 15 on Cash Box. It also charted minorly internationally.
“Spooky” has also been recorded 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 Reeves, Michel Pagliaro (recorded song in French), Velvet Monkeys, The Jazz Butcher, R.E.M., Imogen Heap, Kid Montana, who issued the song as a single on Les Disques du Crepuscule in 1986, David Sanborn, The Golden Cups, Marc Antoine, Phish, The Nylons, AP Mike, and the Conti Bros. which appeared on the soundtrack to the film The Haunted Mansion in 2003. The song was recorded by Poppy in 2012.
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.
The Classics IV is an American band formed in Jacksonville, Florida, United States, in 1965. The band, founded by Dennis Yost, is known mainly for the hits “Spooky”, “Stormy”, and “Traces”, released 1967 to 1969, which have become cover standards.
Atlanta Rhythm Section (or ARS) is an American Southern rock band, formed in 1971 by Rodney Justo (singer), Barry Bailey (guitar), Paul Goddard (bass), Dean Daughtry (keyboards), Robert Nix (drums), and James B. Cobb, Jr. (guitar). The band’s current lineup consists of Daughtry and Justo, along with guitarists David Anderson and Steve Stone, bassist Justin Senker, and drummer Rodger Stephan.
The Classics IV video:
Atlanta Rhythm Section video: https://youtu.be/lPkEpfwJX_Q
Original by saxophonist Mike Sharpe: https://youtu.be/LRmypa9ioCk
Keep rockin’ my friends,
Stan