Top 10 Spooky Tooth Songs

Photo: Stadtarchiv Kiel [CC BY-SA 3.0 de (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/de/deed.en)], via Wikimedia Commons

Our Top 10 Spooky Tooth Songs list looks at a classic rock band formed in 1967. While the group may not be a household name across mainstream culture, classic rock fans are well aware of the great music this band released in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The band’s original lineup is known for what they did after leaving Spooky Tooth. The band’s keyboardist, chief songwriter, and lead vocalist, Gary Wright, left early to pursue a solo career that resulted in two number-two records in 1976, “Dream Weaver” and “Love is Alive.”

The band’s bassist, Greg Ridley, left after the band’s second album to form the iconic group Humble Pie, which also featured Peter Frampton and Steve Marriott. Spooky Tooth’s guitarist, Luther Grosvenor, left the band and eventually worked with Stealers Wheel, Mott the Hoople, and Widowmaker. Spooky Tooth’s lead vocalist and keyboardist, Mike Harrison, is the only Spooky Tooth member whose career was primarily dedicated to the band.

Spooky Tooth’s first album, It’s All About, was released in 1967. In 1969, the band released their sophomore album called Spooky Two. The album Spooky Two became the band’s classic record and stands as one of the greatest rock albums of the late 1960s. The band released a collaboration album with French artist Pierre Henry in 1969 entitled Ceremony. In 1970, the band released the album The Last Puff. When The Last Puff was released, Gary Wright and Greg Ridley had left the band.

In 1973, Gary Wright re-joined the band for the album You Broke My Heart So … I Busted Your Jaw. The album also featured new member Mick Jones, who would eventually leave and form Foreigner three years later. Later that same year in 1973, Spooky Tooth released another album entitled Witness. One year later, in 1974, the band released the album The Mirror. The album was, in essence, the band’s final album. The group staged a comeback in 1999 with the release of the album Cross Purpose.

In the 2000s, Spooky Tooth was reformed multiple times with various lineups of past members. The reformed Spooky Tooth did not release any new music. The band reformed to perform live concerts. A DVD of some of the band’s concerts in Germany in 2004 was released.

Our Top 10 Spooky Tooth songs list looks at the band’s entire recorded output, from their first album, It’s All About (1967), to their 1974 album, The Mirror. However, the band’s second album, Spooky Two, was so strong that it dominated our list of top 10 Spooky Tooth songs.

# 10 – Hangman Hang My Shell On A Tree

We open up our top 10 Spooky Tooth songs list with the great epic psychedelic track “Hangman Hang My Shell On A Tree.” The song was a complete adventure in psychedelia and progressive rock. The song was released on Spooky Two. The song was the closing track on one of the best rock albums released in 1969

# 9 – Self Seeking Man

This great track opens with Gary Wright’s heartfelt piano, soon joined by his soulful vocals. The song was released on the album entitled You Broke My Heart…… So I Busted Your Jaw. The album was released in 1973.

# 8 – Waiting For The Wind

The great song “Waiting For The Wind” was the opening track on the band’s glorious second album Spooky Two. While most of the songs on Spooky Two were composed by Gary Wright, “Waiting For The Wind” is credited to Gary Wright, Luther Grosvenor, and Mike Harrison as songwriters.

# 7 – Feelin’ Bad

“Feelin’ Bad “is one of the most popular songs Spooky Tooth has ever recorded. The song was released on Spooky Two. “Feelin’ Bad” appeared as the second track on the album. This one is a really interesting listen. You can hear the sound of so many classic bands influenced by a song like this, and even those that influenced this music. This is the sound of the late 1960s’ shifting soundscape about to enter the 1970s.

# 6 – I am The Walrus

Spooky Tooth’s killer version of the classic Beatles song “I Am The Walrus” was released on the Last Puff album. The album was released in 1970. It was the first album to ultimately feature Mike Harrison on lead vocals since the departure of Gary Wright on the band’s previous album, Ceremony. We always try to avoid cover songs on the band’s top 10 lists, but this one was just too good.

# 5 – Tobacco Road

Another great cover, too good to exclude from this top 10 Spooky Tooth songs list, is the band’s brilliant recording of “Tobacco Road.” The classic blues song is one of the most popular blues songs ever written. It has been done by many classic rock artists such as Edgar Winter, David Lee Roth, and Jimi Hendrix, and so many more. However, Spooky Tooth’s version is the most original interpretation of the song we have heard.

# 4 – Better By You, Better Than Me

Continuing with our list of the top 10 Spooky Tooth songs, we turn to the band’s fantastic second album, Spooky Two. The song “Better by You, Better than Me” was issued as the seventh track on the album. “Better by You, Better than Me” was composed by Gary Wright.

# 3 – That Was Only Yesterday

Three of the top four Spooky Tooth songs on this list were released on the band’s second album, Spooky Two. If you intend on buying only one Spooky Tooth record, Spooky Two is the one to get. The song “That Was Only Yesterday” was issued as the sixth track on the album. Gary Wright wrote the song.

# 2 – Evil Woman

The great Spooky Tooth song “Evil Woman” is not to be confused with the Electric Light Orchestra song “Evil Woman.” They are two completely different songs. Spooky Tooth’s “Evil Woman” was issued on Spooky Two. This one is pretty heavy. We love how the Hammaon organ at the song’s introduction leads into the iconic guitar riffs.

# 1 – The Mirror

“The Mirror” may not be Spooky Tooth’s most famous song, but the track was simply stunning. The song was released on The Mirror album in 1974. “The Mirror” would become Spooky Tooth’s swan song, as it was the last album the band released for at least twenty-five years until 1999’s Cross Purpose, which did not include Gary Wright.