Spooky, Stormy, Traces, they're all the same. How is it I still like them...
― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Tuesday, 24 May 2005 18:30 (twenty-one years ago)
A little while ago, I heard 'Traces' by Bettye Swann for the first time. It completely did me in - lump in the back of the throat, prickles down the spine etc. Then I found out it was a cover of a song by an MOR act called Classics IV. I downloaded it and it was horrible tat. If there was ever a case of the singer, not the song, this was it.
― Alba (Alba), Tuesday, 24 May 2005 18:35 (twenty-one years ago)
Well, Dennis Yost/Classics IV come from the same land as Limp Bizkit, Lynard Skynard, and Molly Hatchet...but I still like them.
― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Tuesday, 24 May 2005 18:38 (twenty-one years ago)
Which of these soundalike hits came first? Without checking, I'd guess "Spooky", which is such pure magical AM gold that it's no wonder they continued mining the same vein.
Some of these slicksters later morphed into Atlanta Rhythmn Section, who also managed to catch lightning in a bottle at least once.
― brianiac (briania), Tuesday, 24 May 2005 19:21 (twenty-one years ago)
Spooky, it seems:
http://www.marstalent.com/bio_classicsiv.htm
During a five-year period beginning in 1966, Dennis Yost, the voice of THE CLASSICS IV, had 13 consecutive chart singles to his credit. His gold records include "Spooky," "Stormy," "Traces," and "Everyday With You Girl." The remaining were regional hits such as "Rosanna," "What Am I Crying For," "The Funniest Thing," and "Pollyanna."
In 1993, Dennis Yost & The Classics IV were honored for their musical achievements by the state of Georgia and were inducted into the Georgia Music Hall of Fame.
He began his musical career in Jacksonville, Florida playing drums with high school friends, calling themselves "The Echoes." In the early 1960s, he joined a group that would become known as "The Classics." Members included the founder, Wally Eaton, plus James Cobb and Joe Wilson. The group achieved certain notoriety with a small hit titled "Pollyanna" written by Joe South, not to mention Dennis was one of few drummers standing up and drumming while also singing lead. When the band learned of another group from New York City that had a small amount of success with a song titled "Till Then," using the same name, they quickly changed their name to "The Four Classics," and eventually "The Classics IV."
Signed with The Lowery Music Group out of Atlanta, Georgia and Capitol records, The Classics IV re-recorded "Spooky." The song was originally an instrumental regional hit by Mike Sharpe, a talented saxophone player. J.R. Cobb and producer Buddy Buie added lyrics to it and the rest is history. "Stormy" followed shortly before "Traces of Love" hit #2 on the Billboard charts, earning the group a permanent stay on oldies and soft rock stations to this day...
― PappaWheelie (PappaWheelie), Tuesday, 24 May 2005 19:35 (twenty-one years ago)
three years pass...