Bits and Pieces
Encyclopedia
"Bits and Pieces" is a song by 1960s quintet The Dave Clark Five
. The single hit number two in the UK and number four in the US. The song was a success in other countries too. It was number two in Australia and number one in Canada and Ireland. It reached number four in the Netherlands. In Germany it only reached the 20th place though.
Lead vocals are sung by Mike Smith
. He and Dave Clark
had written the song together. The song is in antiphonal
style, Mike Smith singing a solo line and the rest of the group responding. Dave Clark’s drums play a very prominent part in the accompaniment.
, released a cover version as a single in 1980.
The Supremes
recorded two Dave Clark Five songs, "Bits and Pieces" and "Because
", on their 1964 album A Bit of Liverpool
(ignoring the fact The Dave Clark Five came from Tottenham
instead of Liverpool).
The song was covered on the 1979 live album The Suicide Commandos Commit Suicide Dance Concert by The Suicide Commandos
.
There is a cover by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on their 1981 album I Love Rock 'n' Roll.
The Toasters
covered the song on their 2007 album One More Bullet
.
The song was parodied as "Boots and Blisters" in "Call Up the Groups" by The Barron Knights. With Dave Clark’s consent drummer Dave Ballinger played Clark’s drum kit
at the recording session.
Dusty Springfield
’s "Bits and Pieces" (1980) is a different song.
The Dave Clark Five
The Dave Clark Five were an English pop rock group. Their single "Glad All Over" knocked The Beatles' "I Want to Hold Your Hand" off the top of the UK singles charts in January 1964: it eventually peaked at No.6 in the United States in April 1964.They were the second group of the British Invasion,...
. The single hit number two in the UK and number four in the US. The song was a success in other countries too. It was number two in Australia and number one in Canada and Ireland. It reached number four in the Netherlands. In Germany it only reached the 20th place though.
Lead vocals are sung by Mike Smith
Mike Smith (Dave Clark Five)
Michael George Smith ,was an English singer, songwriter, and music producer.In the 1960s, Smith was the lead vocalist and keyboard player for The Dave Clark Five...
. He and Dave Clark
Dave Clark (musician)
David 'Dave' Clark is an English musician, songwriter and record producer. He was the leader and drummer of the 1960s beat group The Dave Clark Five, the first big British Invasion band to follow The Beatles to America in 1964....
had written the song together. The song is in antiphonal
Antiphon
An antiphon in Christian music and ritual, is a "responsory" by a choir or congregation, usually in Gregorian chant, to a psalm or other text in a religious service or musical work....
style, Mike Smith singing a solo line and the rest of the group responding. Dave Clark’s drums play a very prominent part in the accompaniment.
Cover versions
The Jax, better known as BusterBuster (band)
Buster were an English rock band, formed in Liverpool in 1974.-Formation and early years :Buster was formed in March 1974 in Liverpool, England. Its members included Pete Leay , Rob Fennah , Kevin Roberts and Les Brians . They were originally called 'The New Attraction', and began playing the...
, released a cover version as a single in 1980.
The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
recorded two Dave Clark Five songs, "Bits and Pieces" and "Because
Because (The Dave Clark Five song)
- Weekly charts :- Year-end charts :...
", on their 1964 album A Bit of Liverpool
A Bit of Liverpool
A Bit of Liverpool is an album by singing group The Supremes, released in the fall of 1964 on the Motown label.-Track listing:#"How Do You Do It?" #"A World Without Love"...
(ignoring the fact The Dave Clark Five came from Tottenham
Tottenham
Tottenham is an area of the London Borough of Haringey, England, situated north north east of Charing Cross.-Toponymy:Tottenham is believed to have been named after Tota, a farmer, whose hamlet was mentioned in the Domesday Book; hence Tota's hamlet became Tottenham...
instead of Liverpool).
The song was covered on the 1979 live album The Suicide Commandos Commit Suicide Dance Concert by The Suicide Commandos
The Suicide Commandos
The Suicide Commandos were an American punk rock trio from Minneapolis, Minnesota. They formed in 1975 and released two 7" EPs on an indie label in 1976 and 1977 before signing with Blank Records in 1977. Their first album, Make A Record was recorded and released in 1977, and then re-released on...
.
There is a cover by Joan Jett and the Blackhearts on their 1981 album I Love Rock 'n' Roll.
The Toasters
The Toasters
The Toasters was one of the first American bands in the third wave of ska, and is one of the longest active third wave ska bands.They have released nine studio albums, most of them on Moon Ska Records. The Toasters experienced a small degree of commercial success in the late 1990s due to the...
covered the song on their 2007 album One More Bullet
One More Bullet
One More Bullet is the ninth studio album from the ska band The Toasters. Released in 2007, the album was the first Toasters release on Stomp Records after the demise of ska label Moon Ska five years earlier.-Track listing:#"What a Gwan" – 3:50...
.
The song was parodied as "Boots and Blisters" in "Call Up the Groups" by The Barron Knights. With Dave Clark’s consent drummer Dave Ballinger played Clark’s drum kit
Drum kit
A drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
at the recording session.
Dusty Springfield
Dusty Springfield
Mary Isobel Catherine Bernadette O'BrienSources use both Isabel and Isobel as the spelling of her second name. OBE , known professionally as Dusty Springfield and dubbed The White Queen of Soul, was a British pop singer whose career extended from the late 1950s to the 1990s...
’s "Bits and Pieces" (1980) is a different song.