"Spooky" is 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 and No. 55 on the Canadian charts.[3][4] 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.[5] The song is noted for its eerie whistling sound effect depicting the spooky woman. It has become a Halloween favorite.[6] In 1968, the vocal version reached No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100,[7] No. 1 in Canada,[8] and No. 46 in the UK.[9]
| "Spooky" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Classics IV | ||||
| from the album Spooky | ||||
| B-side | "Poor People" | |||
| Released | October 1967 | |||
| Recorded | late summer/early fall 1967 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:50 | |||
| Label | Imperial | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Mike Shapiro, Harry Middlebrooks Jr., James Cobb, Buddy Buie | |||
| Producer(s) | Buddy Buie | |||
| Classics IV singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Charts
editAtlanta Rhythm Section version
edit| "Spooky" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by Atlanta Rhythm Section | ||||
| from the album Underdog | ||||
| B-side | "It's Only Music" | |||
| Released | August 1979 | |||
| Genre | Soft rock | |||
| Length | 4:57 | |||
| Label | Polydor | |||
| Composer(s) | Mike Shapiro, Harry Middlebrooks Jr., James Cobb, Buddy Buie | |||
| Producer(s) | Buddy Buie | |||
| Atlanta Rhythm Section singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
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.[15] It also charted minorly internationally.[16]
Charts
edit| Chart (1979) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia | 96 |
| Canada RPM Top Singles[17] | 37 |
| New Zealand (RIANZ)[18] | 47 |
| UK Singles Chart[16] | 48 |
| US Billboard Hot 100[7] | 17 |
| US Billboard Adult Contemporary | 23 |
| US Cash Box Top 100[15] | 15 |
Other versions
edit- A version of "Spooky" was recorded by Dusty Springfield in 1968, released as a single worldwide except in the US. This gender-flipped version was featured prominently in the Guy Ritchie film Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels. Springfield's version was certified gold by BPI in 2024.[19]
- Lydia Lunch released her version of the song on her 1980 album Queen of Siam. The lyrics are addressed to "a spooky little boy".
- Another gender-flipped version was recorded by Martha Reeves and released on the album In the Midnight Hour in 1986. In this version, the line "spooky little girl like you" is changed to "spooky old lady like me".[citation needed]
References
edit- ^ Mason, Stewart. Classics IV - The Very Best of Classics IV (1988) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ Eder, Bruce. Classics IV - The Very Best of Dennis Yost & the Classics IV (2002) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
- ^ "Sony/ATV". Sony/ATV. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 25, 1967" (PDF).
- ^ Martin, Douglas (December 10, 2008). "Dennis Yost, 65, Singer for the Classics IV, Is Dead". The New York Times.
- ^ "The Classics IV". Classicbands.com. May 16, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
- ^ a b c Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 24, 1968" (PDF).
- ^ a b "Classics IV". Official Charts. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
- ^ "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 24, 1968" (PDF).
- ^ http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=1637#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, May 10, 1968
- ^ "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 24, 1968". Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
- ^ "Billboard Top 100 – 1968". Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
- ^ a b "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 13, 1979". Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
- ^ a b "Underdog". The Atlanta Rhythm Section. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
- ^ "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. October 20, 1979. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
- ^ Flavour of New Zealand, 9 December 1979
- ^ "British certifications – Dusty Springfield – Spooky". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 29, 2024.
