Spooky (Classics IV song)

"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.[1] 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.[2] The song is noted for its eerie whistling sound effect depicting the spooky little girl. It has become a Halloween favorite.[3] In 1968, the vocal version reached No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100[4] and No. 46 in the UK.[5]

"Spooky"
Single by Classics IV
from the album Spooky
B-side"Poor People"
ReleasedOctober 1967
Recordedlate summer/early fall 1967
Genre
Length2:50
LabelImperial
Songwriter(s)Mike Shapiro, Harry Middlebrooks Jr., James Cobb, Buddy Buie
Producer(s)Buddy Buie
Classics IV singles chronology
"Spooky"
(1967)		 "Soul Train"
(1968)

Chart history

Atlanta Rhythm Section cover
"Spooky"
Single by Atlanta Rhythm Section
from the album Underdog
B-side"It's Only Music"
ReleasedAugust 1979
GenreSoft rock
LabelPolydor
Atlanta Rhythm Section singles chronology
"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 No. 17 in the US on Billboard and No. 15 on Cash Box.[11] It also charted minorly internationally.[12]

Chart history
Chart (1979) Peak
position
Australia 96
Canada RPM Top Singles[13] 37
UK Singles Chart[12] 48
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 17
US Billboard Adult Contemporary 23
US Cash Box Top 100[11] 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 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,[14][15] The Golden Cups, Marc Antoine,[16][17] 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 covered 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.

In 2018, the song was covered by Ashleigh Murray in an episode of the second season of Riverdale.[18]

Additional versions

References
  1. "Sony/ATV". Sony/ATV. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  2. Martin, Douglas (December 10, 2008). "Dennis Yost, 65, Singer for the Classics IV, Is Dead". NYTimes.com.
  3. "The Classics IV". Classicbands.com. May 16, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  4. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
  5. "Classics IV". Official Charts. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
  6. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  7. http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=1637#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, May 10, 1968
  8. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 24, 1968". Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  9. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
  10. "Billboard Top 100 – 1968". Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
  11. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 13, 1979". Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  12. "Underdog". The Atlanta Rhythm Section. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
  13. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. October 20, 1979. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
  14. "Songs from the Night Before overview". Allmusic.com.
  15. "Songs from the Night Before – David Sanborn". JazzTimes.com.
  16. "Hi-Lo Split overview". Allmusic.com.
  17. "Marc Antoine – Hi-Lo Split". SmoothViews.com.
  18. "Spooky (feat. Ashleigh Murray)". YouTube.
  19. "Spotify Singles". Spotify. Retrieved April 16, 2019.
  20. https://music.apple.com/us/album/no-rules-ep/1493771769
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