Bits and Pieces (song)
| "Bits and Pieces" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single by The Dave Clark Five | ||||
| from the album Glad All Over | ||||
| B-side | "All of the Time" | |||
| Released | 14 February 1964 (UK) 20 March 1964 (US) | |||
| Recorded | 1963 | |||
| Genre | Pop rock, beat | |||
| Length | 1:59 | |||
| 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 | ||||
| ||||
"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. "Bits and Pieces" is one of several Dave Clark Five songs written by Ron Ryan, rather than by Clark.[7]
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 an exercise board, which two of the band members (reportedly quite intoxicated) 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."[8] Cash Box described it as "a hard-hitting rocker that the boys pound out in a steady, heavy beat style."[9]
The song's distinct stomp-like pattern has been sampled by numerous musicians.
The Dave Clark Five performed "Bits and Pieces" in an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show.[9][10]
References
- ^ "UK Official Charts: Dave Clark Five". Official Charts Company. 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
- ^ "Australia : DC5 Hits". Thedc5.com. Archived from the original on 2013-12-09. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ Kent, David (2009). Australian Chart Book:Australian Chart Chronicles (1940–2008). Turramurra: Australian Chart Book. p. 203. ISBN 9780646512037.
- ^ "CHUM Hit Parade - April 27, 1964".
- ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-07-29. Retrieved 2014-04-05.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Jahreshitparade Deutschland 1964". Killersoft.at. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ Richie Unterberger, "The Dave Clark Five PBS Special... and Beyond", Folkrocks, April 16, 2014. Retrieved 22 August 2020
- ^ "In Memory of the Dave Clark Five". Robert Christgau. Retrieved 2016-09-27.
- ^ a b "CashBox Record Reviews" (PDF). Cash Box. March 28, 1964. p. 8. Retrieved 2022-01-12.
- ^ "The Ed Sullivan Show: Artists - Dave Clark Five". SOFA Entertainment. Retrieved 2022-01-27.
