Spooky!

[IAN]

What is it about Spooky?

In the cold light of day, it's probably not that great a track. And yet...I get a twinge of excitement whenever I discover a new version of it! Just another unexplainable part of the record collecting madness/obsession...

Anyway, here are a few different versions for any fellow obsessives. Probably best not to listen to them all in one sitting...



1. MIKE SHARPE (LIBERTY 45) The original version...




2. CLASSICS IV (IMPERIAL 45) The hit version...




3. DUSTY SPRINGFIELD (PHILIPS 45 '70) The first version I ever heard, it's kind of become the definitive one for me




4. SOM TRES (ODEON LP '71) Fantastic uptempo version from Brazil




5. SCOT SOUNDS UNLIMITED (CENTURY LP '69) The School band version. (Oh how I wish I could tell you it's the bagpipe one...)




6. TERESA (DOT LP) Anita Kerr production, with nice use of Theremin - surprising that more versions didn't employ this.




7. THE DO-RE-MI CHILDREN'S CHORUS (KAPP LP) The kiddie version...




8. BORIS GARDINER (TROJAN LP '70) The reggae version...




9. BILLY LARKIN & THE DELEGATES (WORLD PACIFIC LP) You can usually rely on Billy Larkin to churn out a decent cover. This nice slinky Hammond version gets it just right...




10. BAOBAS (MOCAMBO 45 '68) The Brazilian garage version...




11. HOWARD ROBERTS QUARTET (CAPITOL LP) The jazz guitar version...




12. ANDY WILLIAMS (CBS LP '68) The crooner version...




13. THE FAME GANG (ATLANTIC 45) The Muscle Shoals boys have a stab, employing some nice flute...




14. YEAR 2000 (RAMA 45) Crazy slowed down blue-eyed soul version from the Rascals soundalikes...




15. THE LETTERMEN (CAPITOL LP '68) The easy version...




16. MARIO SAID (LIBERTY LP) The piano version...




17. GARY WALKER & THE RAIN (POLYDOR 45 '68)




18. AL DE LORY (CAPITOL 45) The Clavinet version...




19. SASPERELLA (DECCA 45 '70) Scant information available on this outfit, but from an old Decca flyer I know they were a five piece group with standard issue 1969 shaggy barnets - it's been suggested they were from Lincolnshire?




20. CAL TJADER (SKYE LP) The vibes version...




21. CHRIS MONTEZ (A&M LP) Nice breezy version from the chipmunk faced one...




22. STANLEY TURRENTINE (BLUE NOTE 45) The Blue Note version...




23. MICHELE LEE (COLUMBIA LP) The actress from the Love Bug has a go...




24. FIRE AND ICE UNLIMITED (JALEX 45) The kids recorded in a garage version...




25. BOB JUNG & HIS ORCHESTRA (COMMAND LP) The big band version... (Also released in the UK on a dodgy double album credited to the London Moods Orchestra)




26. PETE MOORE ORCHESTRA 'Catwalk' (FONTANA LP '70) Not a straight cover as such, but certainly owes a very large debt. The other 'original' on here (Take 8) is also somewhat dubious, being extremely similar to Lalo Schifrin's 'Mission Blues'




27. ART HEATLIE ORCHESTRA & CHORUS (PAGE ONE LP) The South African Electronic Sax version




28. KOSSIE GARDNER (DOT LP) This is but one of some cracking covers on this LP. More than just a standard Hammond run through, there's some nice strings and female chorus bringing a little something extra...




29. FLAMINGO (MELOJIDA 10" LP) The Czech version...




30. SENOR SOUL (DOUBLE SHOT LP) Nice little flute 'n' vibes version from the pre-War outfit...




31. OLIVER NELSON AND STEVE ALLEN (IMPULSE LP)




32. WEST HIGH SCHOOL (CENTURY LP) Obscure US High School version with some nice flute work




33. KING CURTIS (ATLANTIC LP 1968) Sax man Curtis has a stab, backed up nicely by the boys from American Sound Studios




34. PERCY SLEDGE (ATLANTIC LP 1968) The Sledgemeister has a crack...




35. STEVE FISHER & MARK HITTNER (MUSICOL 45 1960s) - smokey jazz/lounge organ version on the legendary Ohio private/custom label Musicol (which I believe is still pressing records today)




36. THE DORADOS (HECO LP 1960s) The Swiss version...




37. THE NIGHT MEN (MEAZZI 45 1960s) The Italian version...




38. SANTO & JOHNNY (IMPERIAL LP 1968)

[Moogaloo]

Looking forward to downloading these, Do-Re-Me is one of my favourites.

[Expiry2011]

I never knew that the Classics IV version was not the original
Have to co-sign on the Do Re Mi version - something about the kid's singing is just spooky
Will d/l and listen at leasure - many thanks

[radtradCat]

Looking very good- thanks!

[IAN]

I never knew that the Classics IV version was not the original

Yes Mike Sharpe (his real name of Mike Shapiro appears on the credits) wrote it as an instrumental with producer Harry Middlebrooks nicking a co-writing credit.

Classics IV guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie added words to it, so in a way their's is the original vocal version...

[jakartajive]

A genius chart.

And also one which unsettles me slightly!

Many thanks

[IAN]

Thanks for listening all. Another version just added...

In a quite frankly (ahem) spooky manner, no sooner had I posted up this chart when The Divine One did serendipitously stumble upon a fresh version which he not only promptly brought to my attention, but actually sent it to me through the post. What a gentleman!

A Page One rarity right up there with the Apple LP (I've seen more copies of that than I have this!), here we have a neat little version from Springbok sax man Art Heatlie. If the sleeve notes are to be believed, that tasty organ solo in the middle is in fact Art himself on his electronic saxophone!

[priima]

crazy chart! that's real hauntology.

i have Finnish version by Lea Laven, from her album "Se jokin"
i have it recorded too Hamppu-Aave

i have also Czech version by Marie Rottrova & Flamingo, i think it's available only on their Melodiya released 10" album.

[IAN]

Thanks Priima, I would never have found those otherwise...

If you think this chart is crazy, wait till I start on 'Watermelon Man'

[IAN]

Continuing the Spooky odyssey (or descent into madness, depending on how you look at it), I've now added a couple more versions...

A big thank you to Priima for trading me the Flamingo version.

More to come hopefully (if anyone out there still has the stomach for it? )

[Bladders]

I've had larkins, springields & Tjaders versions for some while its nice to hear the others many thx

[platerpus]

spooky

has anyone got/does anyone know of lesser known covers of 'Spooky'? even better any that come on a 45.
i'm struggling to think of many.
the first version i knew was actually Dusty's then i found the Yost/Classics IV on 45 some time later, then Atlanta Rhythm Section.
am i imagining it or is there a cover on one of Byron Lee's lps?
i heard the Andy Williams version recently for the first time and was surprised, got me wondering what else is out there...
actually the same goes for covers of 'fever', 'am i the same girl/soulful strut' and 'why don't you do right' too but one thing at a time.

[Tom B]

IAN posted up 30 covers here - looks like the links are still live too...

[platerpus]

sorry, i should've thought of that, all these years later and still haven't mastered the search facility.
thanks for the pointer.

IAN posted up 30 covers here - looks like the links are still live too...

[smashingcheesegromit]

just listened to the andy williams version,theres seems to be 2 versions?? one with hammond in the middle part and one with flute? wich is the later one?