Spooky (Classics IV song)

"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	Blue-eyed soul[1] pop[2]
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)

Charts

Weekly charts Chart (1967–68) Peak position Canada RPM Top Singles [10] 1 New Zealand[11] 19 UK (OCC)[9] 46 US Billboard Hot 100[7] 3 US Cash Box Top 100[12] 2

Year-end charts Chart (1968) Rank Canada[13] 84 US Billboard Hot 100[14] 26

Atlanta Rhythm Section version

"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
"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.^[15] It also charted minorly internationally.^[16]

Charts

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

• 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

1. Mason, Stewart. Classics IV - The Very Best of Classics IV (1988) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
2. Eder, Bruce. Classics IV - The Very Best of Dennis Yost & the Classics IV (2002) Review at AllMusic. Retrieved March 15, 2024.
3. "Sony/ATV". Sony/ATV. Archived from the original on July 17, 2011. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
4. "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 25, 1967" (PDF).
5. Martin, Douglas (December 10, 2008). "Dennis Yost, 65, Singer for the Classics IV, Is Dead". The New York Times.
6. "The Classics IV". Classicbands.com. May 16, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
7. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 – ISBN 0-89820-089-X
8. "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 24, 1968" (PDF).
9. "Classics IV". Official Charts. Retrieved April 3, 2020.
10. "RPM Top 100 Singles - February 24, 1968" (PDF).
11. http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=1637#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, May 10, 1968
12. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 24, 1968". Archived from the original on August 12, 2014. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
13. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". collectionscanada.gc.ca.
14. "Billboard Top 100 – 1968". Archived from the original on November 25, 2010. Retrieved July 20, 2017.
15. "Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 13, 1979". Archived from the original on February 14, 2015. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
16. "Underdog". The Atlanta Rhythm Section. Retrieved October 1, 2016.
17. "Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada". Collectionscanada.gc.ca. October 20, 1979. Retrieved April 4, 2017.
18. Flavour of New Zealand, 9 December 1979
19. "British certifications – Dusty Springfield – Spooky". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved October 29, 2024.

External links

• Classics IV - Spooky on YouTube
• Atlanta Rhythm Section - Spooky on YouTube