There's a Ghost in My House
Encyclopedia
"There's a Ghost in My House" is a song written by Brian Holland
, Lamont Dozier
, and Eddie Holland
of Motown Records
, together with R. Dean Taylor
. It was originally recorded by Taylor in 1966.
Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, it was released as a single on the Motown subsidiary V.I.P. label in April 1967, but was not a hit. However, after it had become a popular dance song in Northern soul
clubs in Britain, such as the Blackpool Mecca
, R. Dean Taylor's record was reissued on EMI
's Tamla Motown label with a B-side of "Let's Go Somewhere", and reached no. 3 on the UK singles chart
in 1974.
Versions of the song were later recorded by British bands Yachts
(1980) and B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation)
featuring Paul Jones
(1982). A version recorded by The Fall in 1987 became their first single to reach the top 50 in the UK, peaking at no. 30, and was included on their album The Frenz Experiment
.
Brian Holland
Brian Holland is an American songwriter and record producer, best known as a member of Holland–Dozier–Holland. That songwriting and production team that was responsible for much of the Motown sound and numerous hit records by artists such as Martha and the Vandellas, The Supremes, The Four Tops,...
, Lamont Dozier
Lamont Dozier
Lamont Herbert Dozier is an American songwriter and record producer, born in Detroit, Michigan. Dozier has either co-written or produced several US Billboard #1 hits.-Career:...
, and Eddie Holland
Edward Holland, Jr.
Edward Holland, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter and record producer....
of Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
, together with R. Dean Taylor
R. Dean Taylor
R. Dean Taylor is a Canadian singer, most famous as a recording artist, songwriter and record producer for Motown Records company during the 1960s and 1970s...
. It was originally recorded by Taylor in 1966.
Produced by Brian Holland and Lamont Dozier, it was released as a single on the Motown subsidiary V.I.P. label in April 1967, but was not a hit. However, after it had become a popular dance song in Northern soul
Northern soul
Northern soul is a music and dance movement that emerged from the British mod scene, initially in northern England in the late 1960s. Northern soul mainly consists of a particular style of black American soul music based on the heavy beat and fast tempo of the mid-1960s Tamla Motown sound...
clubs in Britain, such as the Blackpool Mecca
Blackpool Mecca
The Blackpool Mecca was a large entertainment venue on Central Drive in the seaside town of Blackpool, Lancashire in the North West of England, first opened in 1965. In the 1970s, it was particularly known for The Highland Room, which was a major Northern Soul music venue...
, R. Dean Taylor's record was reissued on EMI
EMI
The EMI Group, also known as EMI Music or simply EMI, is a multinational music company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the fourth-largest business group and family of record labels in the recording industry and one of the "big four" record companies. EMI Group also has a major...
's Tamla Motown label with a B-side of "Let's Go Somewhere", and reached no. 3 on the UK singles chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
in 1974.
Versions of the song were later recorded by British bands Yachts
Yachts (band)
Yachts were a British pop/rock band, best remembered for their 1977 single, "Suffice To Say", and “minor new wave classic”, "Love You, Love You".-Career:...
(1980) and B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation)
B.E.F. (British Electric Foundation)
B.E.F. are a band/production company formed by former Human League members Martyn Ware and Ian Craig Marsh who later became Heaven 17 .-History:Ware and Marsh's first release as B.E.F...
featuring Paul Jones
Paul Jones (singer)
Paul Jones is an English singer, actor, harmonica player, and radio personality and television presenter.-Career:As P. P...
(1982). A version recorded by The Fall in 1987 became their first single to reach the top 50 in the UK, peaking at no. 30, and was included on their album The Frenz Experiment
The Frenz Experiment
The Frenz Experiment is a 1988 album by The Fall. It was released on Beggars Banquet Records, and like the group's other albums with the label, it has a different track listing across the various formats on which it was released: LP, CD and cassette. A number of the tracks are credited exclusively...
.