Spicks and Specks (song)
{{Use Australian English|date=February 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Infobox song
| name = Spicks and Specks
| cover = Beegeesspicksandspecks.jpg
| alt =
| type = single
| artist = the Bee Gees
| album = Spicks and Specks
| B-side = I Am the World
| released = *{{Start date|1966|09|22}} (Australia)
- February 1967 (UK)
| recorded = July 1966
| studio =
| genre =
- Pop rock
- beat
- sunshine pop{{cite book|first= Chris|last= Davidson|editor1-first= Kim |editor1-last= Cooper|editor2-first= David|editor2-last= Smay|year= 2001|title= Bubblegum Music is the Naked Truth|chapter= Sunshine Pop|publisher= Feral House|location= Los Angeles|pages= 190–191}}
| length = 2:52
| label = *Spin (Australia)
- Polydor[http://www.mcdustsucker.de/disco/singles/singles.htm#1967] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131014151620/http://www.mcdustsucker.de/disco/singles/singles.htm |date=14 October 2013 }}
| writer = Barry Gibb
| producer = Nat Kipner, Ossie Byrne
| prev_title = Monday's Rain
| prev_year = 1966
| next_title = Born a Man
| next_year = 1967
}}
"Spicks and Specks" is a song by the Bee Gees, written by Barry Gibb. When the song was released in September 1966, the single reached No. 4 on the Go-Set Australian National Top 40 (No. 1 on other Australian charts),
{{cite web
|url=http://www.portrait.gov.au/portraits/2005.89/barry-gibb
|title=Barry Gibb
|publisher=National Portrait Gallery
|accessdate=30 November 2015
}}
{{cite web
|url=http://www.columbia.edu/~brennan/beegees/66.html
|title=Gibb Songs: 1966
|accessdate=30 November 2015
|author=Joseph Brennan
}} and when the song was released in other countries in February 1967, it reached No. 28 in Germany, No. 2 in the Netherlands and No. 1 in New Zealand.
Recording
"Spicks and Specks", a ballad built around a strong piano beat, is dated to early July in the memory of Geoff Grant (Geoffrey Streeter), who played the trumpet. Grant recalls working three nights in a row on four songs: "Spicks and Specks", "I Am the World", "All by Myself", and "The Storm". There were no charts, so Barry sang what he wanted live, and Grant copied it. Some other artists whose disks came out in August recall hearing "Spicks and Specks" being worked on or completed, further confirming that early July is the approximate date of the song's recording.
Release
The single entered the Sydney charts at the end of September and stayed in the top 40 for 19 weeks, peaking at number 3. It appeared on the Go-Set National Top 40 for sixteen weeks, where it reached number 4 early in November.Go-Set National Top 40 charting:
- Debut at No. 37 on 19 October 1966. {{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1966/19661019.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | authorlink1 = Ed Nimmervoll | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | publisher = Waverley Press | date = 19 October 1966 | accessdate = 12 October 2013 }}
- Peaked at No. 4 on 9 November 1966, for two weeks:
- {{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1966/19661109.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | authorlink1 = Ed Nimmervoll | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | publisher = Waverley Press | date = 9 November 1966 | accessdate = 12 October 2013 }}
- {{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1966/19661116.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | authorlink1 = Ed Nimmervoll | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | publisher = Waverley Press | date = 16 November 1966 | accessdate = 12 October 2013 }}
- Final (16th) week in chart at No. 29 on 8 February 1967. {{cite web | url = http://www.poparchives.com.au/gosetcharts/1967/19670208.html | last1 = Nimmervoll | first1 = Ed | authorlink1 = Ed Nimmervoll | work = Go-Set | title = National Top 40 | publisher = Waverley Press | date = 8 February 1967 | accessdate = 12 October 2013 }}
Personnel
- Barry Gibb – lead and backing vocals
- Maurice Gibb – piano, bass, electric guitar
- Russell Barnsley – drums
- Geoff Grant – trumpet
- Steve Kipner – backing vocal
- Robin Gibb – backing vocal
- Nat Kipner, Ossie Byrne – producers
Charts
References
{{Reflist}}
{{Bee Gees}}
{{Bee Gees singles}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Songs written by Barry Gibb
Category:Number-one singles in New Zealand
Category:Status Quo (band) songs
Category:The Searchers (band) songs