Spooky (Classics IV song) explained

Spooky
Cover:	ClassicsIv LP.jpeg
Type:	single
Artist:	Classics IV
Album:	Spooky
B-Side:	Poor People
Released:	October 1967
Recorded:	late summer/early fall 1967
Genre:	Blue-eyed soul pop
Length:	2:50
Label:	Imperial
Producer:	Buddy Buie
Next Title:	Soul Train
Next Year:	1968

"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.^{[1] [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". The vocalist was Dennis Yost.^[3] The song is noted for its eerie whistling sound effect depicting the spooky woman. It has become a Halloween favorite.^[4] In 1968, the vocal version reached No. 3 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100,^[5] No. 1 in Canada,^[6] and No. 46 in the UK.^[7]

Charts

Weekly charts

Chart (1967–68)	Peak position
Canada RPM Top Singles ^[8]	1
New Zealand^[9]	19
UK (OCC)	46
US Billboard Hot 100	3
US Cash Box Top 100^[10]	2

Year-end charts

Chart (1968)	Rank
Canada^[11]	84
US Billboard Hot 100^[12]	26

Atlanta Rhythm Section version

Spooky
Cover:	Spooky_-_Atlanta_Rhythm_Section.jpg
Type:	single
Artist:	Atlanta Rhythm Section
Album:	Underdog
B-Side:	It's Only Music
Released:	August 1979
Genre:	Soft rock
Label:	Polydor
Prev Title:	Do It or Die
Prev Year:	1979
Next Title:	Alien
Next Year:	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.^[13] It also charted minorly internationally.^[14]

Charts

Chart (1979)	Peak position
Australia	96
Canada RPM Top Singles^[15]	37
New Zealand (RIANZ)^[16]	47
UK Singles Chart	48
US Billboard Hot 100	17
US Billboard Adult Contemporary	23
US Cash Box Top 100	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 silver by BPI in 2022.^[17]
• 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".

Notes and References

1. Web site: Sony/ATV . Sony/ATV . 2016-10-01. https://web.archive.org/web/20110717052232/http://www.sonyatv.com/en-au/index.php/news/191. July 17, 2011.
2. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - February 25, 1967.
3. Web site: Dennis Yost, 65, Singer for the Classics IV, Is Dead. Douglas. Martin. December 10, 2008. The New York Times.
4. Web site: The Classics IV . Classicbands.com . May 16, 2008 . 2016-10-01.
5. Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–1990 –
6. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - February 24, 1968.
7. Web site: Classics IV . Official Charts . 3 April 2020.
8. Web site: RPM Top 100 Singles - February 24, 1968.
9. http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20listener&qsongid=1637#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, May 10, 1968
10. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles, February 24, 1968 . August 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140812083504/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/60s_files/19680224.html . August 12, 2014 . dead .
11. Web site: Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada. collectionscanada.gc.ca.
12. Web site: Billboard Top 100 – 1968 . 2017-07-20 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20101125102556/http://longboredsurfer.com/charts/1968.php . November 25, 2010 .
13. Web site: Cash Box Top 100 Singles, October 13, 1979 . August 2, 2017 . https://web.archive.org/web/20150214181126/http://tropicalglen.com/Archives/70s_files/19791013.html . February 14, 2015 . dead .
14. Web site: Underdog . The Atlanta Rhythm Section . 2016-10-01.
15. Web site: Item Display – RPM – Library and Archives Canada . Collectionscanada.gc.ca . October 20, 1979 . 2017-04-04.
16. http://www.flavourofnz.co.nz/index.php?qpageID=search%20rianz&qsongid=1637#n_view_location Flavour of New Zealand, 9 December 1979
17. United Kingdom. Dusty Springfield. Spooky. 17949-894-1. March 19, 2022.