Bits and Pieces (song)

Last updated
"Bits and Pieces"
Bits and Pieces Dave Clark.jpg
Single by The Dave Clark Five
from the album Glad All Over
B-side "All of the Time"
Released14 February 1964 (UK)
20 March 1964 (US)
Recorded1963
Genre Pop rock, beat
Length1:59
Label Columbia DB 7210
Epic 5-9671
Capitol 72148 (Canada)
Songwriter(s) Credited: Dave Clark, Mike Smith
Claimed: Ron Ryan
Producer(s) Adrian Clark
The Dave Clark Five singles chronology
"Glad All Over"
(1964)
"Bits and Pieces"
(1964)
"Can't You See That She's Mine"
(1964)

"Bits and Pieces" is a song by British beat group The Dave Clark Five. The single hit number 2 in the UK [1] and number 4 in the US, as well as being a success in other countries. It was number 2 [2] or 4 [3] in Australia, number 1 in Canada [4] and Ireland, and number 4 in the Netherlands. [5] In Germany, it reached number 20. [6]

Lead vocals are sung by Mike Smith, who also co-wrote the song.

The song is in antiphonal style, with Mike Smith singing a solo line and the whole group responding. The drums have a very prominent part in the accompaniment. Additionally, some of the song's unique percussion was supplied by builder’s scaffold boards date=January 2024}}, which two of the band members (reportedly quite intoxicated)[ according to whom? ] stamped on, not always perfectly in time to the music.

Robert Christgau, writing in 1969, called the song "a wonderfully serviceable rock throwaway, raucous and meaningless, perfect for shouting into the night." [7] Cash Box described it as "a hard-hitting rocker that the boys pound out in a steady, heavy beat style." [8]

The song's distinct stomp-like pattern has been sampled by numerous musicians.[ specify ]

The Dave Clark Five performed "Bits and Pieces" in an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show . [8] [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dave Clark Five</span> English rock band

The Dave Clark Five, also known as the DC5, were an English rock and roll band formed in 1958 in Tottenham, London. Drummer Dave Clark served as the group's leader, producer and co-songwriter. In January 1964, they had their first UK top-ten single, "Glad All Over", which knocked the Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" off the top of the UK Singles Chart. It peaked at No. 6 in the United States in April 1964. Although this was their only UK No. 1, they topped the US chart in December 1965, with their cover of Bobby Day's "Over and Over". Their other UK top-ten hits include "Bits and Pieces", "Can't You See That She's Mine", "Catch Us If You Can", "Everybody Knows", "The Red Balloon", "Good Old Rock 'n' Roll", and a version of Chet Powers' "Get Together".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Baby Love</span> 1964 single by the Supremes

"Baby Love" is a song by American music group the Supremes from their second studio album, Where Did Our Love Go. It was written and produced by Motown's main production team Holland–Dozier–Holland and was released on September 17, 1964.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Come See About Me</span> 1964 single by The Supremes

"Come See About Me" is a 1964 song recorded by the Supremes for the Motown label. The track opens with a fade-in, marking one of the first times the technique had been used on a studio recording.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Not Fade Away (song)</span> 1957 single by The Crickets

"Not Fade Away" is a song credited to Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and first recorded by Holly and his band, the Crickets.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Eye of the Tiger</span> 1982 single by Survivor

"Eye of the Tiger" is a song by the American rock band Survivor. It was written as the theme song for the 1982 film Rocky III and released that year as a single from Survivor's third album, Eye of the Tiger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">It's Too Late (Carole King song)</span> 1971 song by Carole King

"It's Too Late" is a song from American singer-songwriter Carole King's second studio album, Tapestry (1971). Toni Stern wrote the lyrics and King wrote the music. It was released as a single in April 1971 and reached number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 and Adult Contemporary charts. Sales were later gold-certified by the RIAA. Billboard ranked "It's Too Late" and its fellow A-side, "I Feel the Earth Move", as the No. 3 record for 1971.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A World Without Love</span> 1964 single by Peter and Gordon

"A World Without Love" is a song recorded by the British duo Peter and Gordon and released as their first single in February 1964. It was included on the duo's debut album in the UK, and in the US on an album of the same name. The song was written by Paul McCartney and attributed to Lennon–McCartney. The B-side was "If I Were You", written by Peter and Gordon.

<i>A Bit of Liverpool</i> 1964 studio album by The Supremes

A Bit of Liverpool, released as With Love (From Us to You) in the UK, is the third studio album by the Supremes, released in the fall of 1964 on the Motown label. It was produced by Berry Gordy with Hal Davis and Marc Gordon doing the mixing.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Do You Love Me</span> 1962 single by the Contours

"Do You Love Me" is a rhythm and blues song recorded by the Contours in 1962. Written and produced by Motown Records owner Berry Gordy Jr., it appeared twice on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, reaching numbers three in 1962 and eleven in 1988.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">My World Is Empty Without You</span> 1965 single by the Supremes

"My World Is Empty Without You" is a 1965 song recorded and released as a single by the Supremes for the Motown label.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mike Smith (Dave Clark Five)</span> English singer

Michael George Smith was an English singer, songwriter and music producer.

"Over and Over" is a song written by Robert James Byrd and recorded by him using the stage name Bobby Day. Day's version entered the Billboard Hot 100 in 1958, the same week a version of the same song by Thurston Harris entered the chart. Day's version reached #41, and was the B-side to "Rockin' Robin". Thurston Harris' version peaked at #96. In the song, the singer describes going to a party with misgivings of having a good time, until he sees a pretty girl. The singer attempts to ask her out, but she is waiting for her date to arrive. He vows to try "over and over".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Glad All Over</span> 1963 single by The Dave Clark Five

"Glad All Over" is a song written by Dave Clark and Mike Smith and recorded by The Dave Clark Five.

"Can't You See That She's Mine" is the fourth single released in the United States by the Dave Clark Five. The song was written by Dave Clark and Mike Smith, and was the Dave Clark Five's fourth Gold Record. The B-side "No Time To Lose" was taken from the previous Dave Clark Five album "Glad All Over".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lenny Davidson</span> English Guitarist (member of the Dave Clark Five)

Leonard Arthur Davidson is an English musician and songwriter, best known as the guitarist for the Dave Clark Five.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Dave Clark Five discography</span>

The Dave Clark Five were an English pop rock band which formed part of the British Invasion of beat music groups in the early-mid 1960s.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Because (Dave Clark Five song)</span> 1964 single by The Dave Clark Five

"Because" is a song recorded by English rock band The Dave Clark Five from their third studio album American Tour (1964). The song was produced by Adrian Clark, the song was originally the B-side to "Can't You See That She's Mine" in the UK.

"I Knew It All the Time" is a song written by Mitch Murray and recorded by The Dave Clark Five; it was originally released in 1962 in the UK as the B-side of Piccadilly 7N 35500 and in the US on Kapp’s Congress label in 1964 The song was recorded in 1962 and is essentially a rewrite of “Wimoweh” Billboard said of the song that "this is a hit different sound from Clark entries on Epic but its got the hard rock sound growling vocal against stomping beat." Cash Box described it as "an intriguing, gospel-flavored jumper with exciting percussive bits."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)</span> 1964 song performed by Marvin Gaye

"How Sweet It Is (To Be Loved by You)" is a song recorded by American soul singer Marvin Gaye from his fifth studio album of the same name (1965). It was written in 1964 by the Motown songwriting team of Holland–Dozier–Holland, and produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier. The song title was inspired by one of the actor and comedian Jackie Gleason's signature phrases, "How Sweet It Is!"

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Someone, Someone</span> 1959 song by the Crickets

"Someone, Someone" is a song by American rock and roll band the Crickets, released in March 1959 as the B-side to "Love's Made a Fool of You". However, the song is better known for the version by British beat group Brian Poole and the Tremeloes, which became a top-ten hit in the UK in 1964.

References

  1. "UK Official Charts: Dave Clark Five". Official Charts Company. 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  2. "Australia : DC5 Hits". Thedc5.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-09. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  3. Kent, David (2009). Australian Chart Book:Australian Chart Chronicles (1940–2008). Turramurra: Australian Chart Book. p. 203. ISBN   9780646512037.
  4. "CHUM Hit Parade - April 27, 1964".
  5. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2014-04-05.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  6. "Jahreshitparade Deutschland 1964". Killersoft.at. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  7. "In Memory of the Dave Clark Five". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
  8. 1 2 "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 28, 1964. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
  9. "The Ed Sullivan Show: Artists - Dave Clark Five". SOFA Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-01-27.