This week, Jim gave us the prompt(s) “Haunted/Magic/Mystery/Supernatural/Trick.” The song that came to mind for me was “Spooky,” by the band that’s credited with establishing “soft Southern rock,” Classics IV, led by their lead singer, the late Dennis Yost. Wikipedia tells us
“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 #57 on the US pop charts. 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”.
“Spooky” went to #3 on the Hot 100 and #46 in the UK. From 1968, Classics IV featuring Dennis Yost, “Spooky.”
The lyrics, from AZLyrics:
In the cool of the evenin’
When everything is gettin’ kind of groovy
I call you up and ask you if you’d like to
Go with me and see a movie
First you say no
You’ve got some plans for the night
And then you stop, and say, all right
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you
You always keep me guessin’
I never seem to know what you are thinkin’
And if a fella looks at you
It’s for sure your little eye will be a-winkin’
I get confused
‘Cause I don’t know where I stand
And then you smile and hold my hand
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you
Spooky, heh, yeah
If you decide someday to stop
This little game that you are playin’
I’m gonna tell you all the things
My heart’s been a-dyin’ to be sayin’
Just like a ghost
You’ve been a-hauntin’ my dreams
So I’ll propose on Halloween
Love is kinda crazy with a spooky little girl like you
Spooky, spooky
Oh, whoa, all right, I said spooky
Oh, yeah, yeah, I said spooky
Yeah, yeah
Oh spooky, spooky
I said spooky
And that’s Song Lyric Sunday for July 14, 2019.
Great John! This was a new one to me but I loved it’s gentle 60s sound, particularly the sax ๐
LikeLike
Classics IV were like that. Very easy listening, but they could still rock.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very good song! Interesting background, and it’s easy to sing along to. ๐
LikeLike
All their songs were easy to sing along to. They weren’t a lot of word salad assaulting your ears.
LikeLike
I could picture this as an instrumental but glad they added some lyrics. Very cool tune. Always enjoyed it.
LikeLike
Mike Sharpe, who did the insrumental, played the saxophone solo in the Classics IV version….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thatโs awesome ๐
LikeLike
It sounded really good as an instrumental, and the lyrics they added just made it that much better. Great idea, wasn’t it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
yep!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Very smooth tune for a Sunday afternoon. Nice choice, John.
LikeLike
Thanks!
LikeLiked by 1 person
You’re welcome ๐
LikeLike
Love this song. Happy Sunday, John!
LikeLike
So do I. They did some great songs: “Stormy,” “Traces,” “Mary, Mary, Row Your Boat,” and a whole bunch of covers.
LikeLiked by 1 person
John, another favorite of mine. I played โThe Very Best of The Classics IVโ album over and over again. Dennis Yost was another talent from Detroit originally I believe.
LikeLike
Right: his obituary said he moved to Jacsonville, Florida when he was 7.
LikeLike
Thanks for playing along again John and adding this classic song. It was nice to learn something about this song and the group.
LikeLike
Theirs was some of the nicest music to listen to in the late ’60’s. Some of them went on to form the Atlanta Rhythm Section.
LikeLike
I love this song which is a real classic. I had no idea that he died and too young in my book. I always think of Night on Bald Mountain made famous in Fantasia.
LikeLike
A classic by Classics IV. They had a few hits and there were all kinds of treasures on their albums. Great band.
LikeLike
That’s another brilliant song, it was big over here the year I met my husband ๐๐คฃ
LikeLike
There’s a memory for you!
LikeLike