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)
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)
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