Bits And Pieces

Album: Glad All Over (1964)
Charted: 2 4
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Songfacts®:

  • This rousing number was officially credited as being written by Dave Clark and lead singer/keyboard player Mike Smith. Some theater owners wouldn't let them play this at concerts because they were worried that fans would jump up and down in time to the beat and damage the venue.
  • Like the rest of the Dave Clark Five catalog, this song wasn't issued on CD in America until 1993 with The History Of The Dave Clark Five collection, which was distributed by Hollywood Records, a division of Disney. Clark had held back the rights to the group's catalog, which made their music difficult to find - even for radio stations, many of which didn't play DC5 tracks because they didn't have them.

    In signing with Hollywood, Clark was hoping to get songs like this one used in Disney movies, but that didn't happen. With the catalog held back for nearly two decades, interest in the group's music waned, and many of their songs - including this one - never had a popular resurgence through use in a movie or commercial.
  • Dave Clark recalled to Uncut: "At a lot of gigs, we used to do some instrumentals because it was a long stint, three and a half hours. We often started with The Routers' 'Half Time,' and we'd stop, carry on with just the drums going, with everybody in the band stomping - all the audience would start to stamp, and you can imagine what it was like when it got 106,000 people."

    "The guy on the lights at the Tottenham Royal had no lighting board, but I got him to switch the lights on and off from the mains, in time with the music. It got amazing reactions, and that's how Mike and I got the idea for Bits and Pieces and Glad All Over."

Comments: 27

  • Kodaddy from CincinnatiBarry Gordy wrote it the Contours first recorded it
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaRob you are right. the song Do You Love Me was written and performed in Motown first. still like Mikes voice on it better. the group that did it was the Condors (think that is spelled right).
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaPlease can any one tell me for sure if Dave played on their recordings. Hear it might have been Bobby Graham.
  • Jennifur Sun from RamonaWhat a voice Mike had and what a cutie. Am wondering if the rumor I have heard a few times, that Dave never played drums on the recordings is true. Who ever it was always loved the drum line, and putting the drummer up front. Wish I could have seen them in person. song always now, reminds me of what happens when there is a NASCAR wreck.
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyOn March 29th 1964, "Bits and Pieces" by the Dave Clark Five entered Billboard's Hot Top 100 chart at position #48; four weeks later on April 26th, 1964 it would peaked at #4 {for 3 weeks} and spent 11 weeks on the Top 100...
    Between 1964 and 1968 the quintet had twenty-four Top 100 records; with eight of them making the Top 10 with one reaching #1, "Over and Over" for one week in 1965...
    They just missed having a ninth Top 10 record when "Do You Love Me" peaked at #11 in 1964...
    Sadly, three members of the DC5 have passed away; Denis Payton {1943 - 2006}, Mike Smith {1943 - 2008}, and Rick Huxley {1940 - 2013}...
    May all three R.I.P.
  • Richard from Louisville, Ky1. Dave Clark was not the singer or the drummer of the bands recorded songs... the lead singer was Mike Smith who also played keyboards. Clark played drums when they played live but always used a session drummer when they recorded. This was common practice in the music business in the sixties... especially when the band members were not very good musicians. George Martin even used a session drummer (Andy White) on the Beatles first recording Love Me Do because he wasn't convinced Ringo was up to par.
    2. Dave Clark never wrote one line of any Dave Clark Five song. He used songwriter Ron Ryan (brother of guitarist Mick Ryan) in the early days of their popularity. Ron Ryan wrote some of their best early songs such as Any Way You Want It, Bits & Pieces, No Time To Lose (which is pretty much a fine tuning of the Isley Brothers' Twist and Shout) and the ballad Because... probably the best Dave Clark Five song and one of the best ballads in pop music history. Again, it was common practice in early rock 'n roll to hire a songwriter to write a song for a band and credit songwriting to someone else... in this case most songwriting was credited to Dave Clark himself.
    3. Clark had nothing to do with the song Bits & Pieces. Ron Ryan wrote the song with a country music feel and Mike Smith helped Ryan rearrange it for a more pop music sound.
  • Joseph from New York City, NyThe Dave Clark Five were the same age as the Beatles and would have never been listening to a band called The Beatles BECAUSE the Dave Clark Five were listening to the American Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues songs - as were The Beatles. But the silly press - newspaper people - of the time in the 1960s said that The Dave Clark Five were trying to be like The Beatles - HOW could they! The Dave Clark Five and the Beatles were all the same age - all grew up with rock and roll back in the 1950s - and NEVER heard of the Beatles until around 1962 when the Beatles came to London from Liverpool.

    I want it to be said that The Dave Clark Five were a threat to the Beatles in many ways - the song writing - the good looks - the chops on their instruments - the Popularity - the consistent songs that charted. The Dave Clark Five were the first British Invasion band to tour the United States - it was in the SPRING of 1964. The Beatles did not tour the USA until the summer of 1964 - some 3 months later. So in fact the Dave Clark Five weere THE actual first British Invasion band to American audiences.
  • Joseph from New York City, NyI can recall the Dave Clark Five being a very unique and different band from the Beatles even though the press thought that The Dave Clark Five were imitators. The Dave Clark Five grew up with Elvis Presley, Little Richard, Jerry Lee Lewis, Chuck Berry in their early years - as did the Beatles. The Dave Clark Five NEVER HAD EVER BEEN INFLUENCED BY THE BEATLES - How could they have been! The Dave Clark Five grew up on American Rhythm and Blues and Rock and Roll PLUS were also influenced by the New Orleans jazz from America MORE SO than the Beatles ever were.
  • David from Nottingham, United KingdomIn answer to a couple of questions on this site, Dave Clark himself sang lead vocal on Red Balloon. (Possibly more but I don't know any others.) His voice was dreadful, one of the worst you would ever hear, even worse that Terry Wogan singing Floral Dance. I would guess that with all his money and power, he thought to himself, I'm going to sing lead on a song even though I can't sing, and no-one is going to stop me!
  • Barry from Sauquoit, NyDC5's only No. 1 record, "Over and Over", was originally done by Bobby Day, it was the flip-side of his #2 record "Rockin' Robin" in 1956. Thurson Harris also covered this song in 1958...
  • Fred from Laurel, MdOne of the things that made their sound immediately distinguishable from all the other British invasion, and other, bands of the time, was the echo-effect. Others used it, but DC5 often leaned heavily on it, and to very good effect. Besides this song, "Glad All Over" and especially, "Any Way You Want It" come to mind -- the echo-effect in these songs make them echo in my brain even today.
  • Carlos Averhoff from Miami, FlThe Dave Clark Five were a very unique band, and even though they were passed off as an imitation of the Beatles, they really were not. Their make up, Sax, Key Boards, guitar bass and drums and thier sound was unique and unmistakeable. The fact that they were out at the same as the Beatles, helped them at first, but eventually hurt their imagage and popularity. Any band that would be compared to the Beatles would come not fear well.
    The DC 5 were very talented with a terrific sound that were finally inducted in the Rock Hall of Fame.....
  • Carlos Averhoff from Miami, FlThere have been many rumors about Dave Clark's sexual preferences. We do know he is a very private man. He was once linked to Ready Steady Gos Kathy Mcgowen. Dave Clark became a very wealthy man by owning all the rights to everything Dave Clark Five. The other four members of the group were hired by DC who controlled, when and where they played. How they dressed and performed. Say what you say, in 1985 his networth was about 35 million pounds (60 million dollars) and he does live in a multi million dollar mansion in London.
  • Chuck from Ft Worth, TxClark wrote nothing but paychecks weekly to the members of his company - oops - band. He had a ghostwriter on board up through Any Way You Want It named Ron Ryan., Ron also wrote Because. In fact Clark didn't play the drums on the hit records although he covered them well live, Bobby Graham played on the records through mid '67. Bits and Pieces was coceived as a country tune by Ryan and Mike reworked it into the pop hit it became. Ryan also replaced the lyrics to the DC5 version of Twist and Shout (it exists - I've heard it) with No Time To Lose when Clark was upset the Tremeloes beat him to the punch with the release of the single. Graham played on both BTW.
  • Mike from New York City, NySomeone told me that Dave Clark never married and lives alone in a multimillion home in London. As one of his biggest fans, I cannot recall him dating anyone, while he was famous. Is he gay, hetero, or a real loner?
  • Don Ludden from Lincoln, NeSadly, Mike Smith passed away on Feb. 28th 2008. The DC5 were inducted into the Rock & Roll hall Of Fame in March.

    Don, Lincoln, NE.
  • Edward Pearce from Ashford, KentBobPape, in answer to your query The Dave Clark 5 originally consisted of former film stuntman Dave Clark (drums), Mike Smith (lead vocals and keyboards), Lenny Davidson (lead guitar), Rick Huxley (bass guitar), and Denis Payton (tenor and baritone saxophones, harmonica, guitar). In 1961 they had a long term residency on the Mecca ballroom circuit and two years later they had their first big hit and their only UK #1 "Glad All Over". "Bits And Pieces" was the follow up and they went on to achieve 8 UK Top Ten hits and 6 US Top Ten hits (including a #1 in 1965 with "Over And Over".) They broke up in 1970 and Dave Clark went on to achieve West End success with his musical "Time".
    I agree that my songfact regarding Dave Clark writing their own songs is an oversimplification. I should have made it clear that Dave Clark wrote their original material on top of being the drummer, manager and (sometimes) lead singer of the band.
  • Bobpape from Austin, TxI rocked-out to this band in my youth, but I never really knew who all the members of this excellent band were. Cam anybody tell me?
  • Bill from Downers Grove, IlI was fortunate to see Mike Smith in April 2003 (with Mark Lindsay and Gary Lewis). Mike's band was great and his voice was still strong. Shortly after that he suffered a fall and is still in therapy today. My brother had passed away in March and I ALMOST made it through the show, however, once he played "Glad All Over" I lost it. That was the first song we saw the DC5 play on Ed Sullivan. I hope he recovers fully from his injuries.
  • Dave from Deforest, WiSo sad to think that Mike is now in a wheel-chair!- Dave
  • Mark from London, EnglandDave Clark's business skills don't seem to extend to marketing the DC5's catalogue to the many fans who would like to own the band's great hits on CD today. Reportedly his reluctance to authorize CD re-releases is due to some weird personality quirk. The result is that the DC5 are probably the biggest 60s artists not to be readily available on CD today (except possibly for the occasional obscure import on a non-US/UK label). I haven't seen even a single DC5 song on any compilation CD, and I've searched a lot.
  • George from Houston, TxMy band opened for DC5 in 60's tour thru SE states. I remember all the guys being very friendly and outgoing except for Dave he was somewhat a loner. We were all in the same dressing room waiting to get dressed and go on. Dave stayed by himself while Rick Huxley(lead guitar) and I swapped riffs and licks. Mike talked with our lead vocal/bass (also named Mike Smith). The rest of the guys were very friendly, too.
  • Doug from Lake Mary, FlDave Clark sang lead on some songs ??
    Please tell me which ones.....
  • Alan from Grande Prairie, Alberta, CanadaOne of the great British Invasion bands. Underated with a superb mix of guitar, sax and organ and the best voice of 60's rock Mike Smith. Glad all Over, Bits and Pieces etc. plus the movie "Having a Wild Weekend" directed by John Boorman of "Deliverence" fame. Simply put a great band. Sold in around 70 million records during their career and followed the Beatles on Ed Sullivan.
  • Richard from Louisville, KyThe lead singer of the Dave Clark Five was Mike Smith, not Dave Clark. Clark was the leader and drummer of the band. Clark did sing lead on some songs, but Smith was the main lead voice. Tom Petty has called Smith "one of the best rock 'n roll voices of the sixties". The success of the DC5 was really their great harmonizing, to which John Lennon once commented "I wish we (Beatles) could harmonize like that". Smith is presently undergoing therapy from a spinal cord injury sustained from a fall.
  • Randy from Henderson, NvYou are correct that the statement "He also wrote all of their songs" is an oversimplification. The DC5 did cover versions of many songs, including but not limited to "Do You Love Me", "Over and Over", "You Must have been a Beautiful Baby", "You Got What it Takes", and "little bitty Pretty One". Dave Clark's business or musical skills cannot be denied. However he and Mike Smith did rely a lot on previously released songs, especially during the last years of the DC5's existance.
  • Rob from Phoenix, AzI don't think he wrote "Do You Love Me". If memory serves, The Contours did it long before the DC5 did.
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