Most people don't know that the song Spooky, made famous by the Classics IV, was actually originally recorded as an instrumental by saxophonist Mike Shapiro in the mid 60s.
It was later rerecorded by the Classics IV in 1967 after guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie added the lyrics. Apparently, Mike Shapiro had the same publishing company as Cobb and Buie, who heard the tune, liked it, and put lyrics to it.
The classic element of this story is that Shapiro ended up playing the great sax solo on the Classics IV version. I've always loved the tone and style of that solo, kind of jazzy and slightly edgy.
Here's a version of the original recording of Spooky featuring Mike Shapiro (they called him Mike Sharp on the album) on the tenor saxophone:
It was later rerecorded by the Classics IV in 1967 after guitarist James Cobb and producer Buddy Buie added the lyrics. Apparently, Mike Shapiro had the same publishing company as Cobb and Buie, who heard the tune, liked it, and put lyrics to it.
The classic element of this story is that Shapiro ended up playing the great sax solo on the Classics IV version. I've always loved the tone and style of that solo, kind of jazzy and slightly edgy.
Here's a version of the original recording of Spooky featuring Mike Shapiro (they called him Mike Sharp on the album) on the tenor saxophone: