The Spencer Davis Group
The Spencer Davis Group were a mid-1960s British beat group from Birmingham… Read Full Bio ↴The Spencer Davis Group were a mid-1960s British beat group from Birmingham, Warwickshire. In their heyday, the group consisted of Steve Winwood on vocals and keyboards, Steve's brother Muff Winwood played bass, Pete York handled the drums, plus founder and lead-guitarist (and co-singer) Spencer Davis (1939–2020). With main producer the late Jimmy Miller, their best known songs include the UK number ones "Somebody Help Me" and "Keep on Running" (both written by reggae musician Jackie Edwards), "I'm a Man", and "Gimme Some Lovin'" (the latter reached #2 in the UK and #7 in the US). The band ceased to be active in 1968. Davis re-founded the group on two more occasions (without the involvement of the Winwood brothers), first in 1973–1974 for two more albums, and again from 2006, since when they have primarily been a touring act
Formed in 1963 in Birmingham, Warwickshire after the Welsh guitarist Spencer Davis encountered vocalist and organist Steve Winwood (then aged 14 and still at school), and his bass playing brother Muff Winwood performing at a pub, the Golden Eagle, as the Muff Woody Jazz Band. He recruited them and Pete York on drums to form the Rhythm and Blues Quartette, which performed regularly in the city. In 1964, they signed their first recording contract after Chris Blackwell of Island Records saw them at an appearance in a local club; Blackwell also became their producer.
The group's first professional recording was a cover version of Dimples, but they came to success at the end of 1965 with Keep on Running, the group's first number one single. In 1966 they followed this with Somebody Help Me and When I Come Home. For the German market the group released "Det war in Schöneberg, im Monat Mai" and "Mädel ruck ruck ruck an meine grüne Seite" (the first is from a 1913 Berlin operetta, the second is a Swabian traditional) as a tribute single for that audience, Spencer Davis having studied in West Berlin in the early 1960s.
By the end of 1966 and the beginning of 1967, the group released two more hits, Gimme Some Lovin' (which was re-released in a live, nine-minute version by Steve Winwood's Traffic in 1971) and I'm A Man. These tracks proved to be their two best-known successes, especially in the U.S.
In 1967, Winwood left to form Traffic; his brother Muff moved into the music industry as A&R man at Island Records. In a so-called joint venture, the soundtrack to the film Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush featured both the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic.
Despite the Winwoods' departure, the Spencer Davis Group continued performing and released more singles, though not repeating earlier successes. These included Time Seller in July 1967; the b-side, Don't Want You No More, also received radio airplay.
This was followed by "Mr. Second-Class" in late 1967, which was heavily played on Radio Caroline (at that time one of the two remaining pirate radio ships off the British coast) and the group's last minor hit, "After Tea", in 1968. The latter song was released at the same time by the German band The Rattles, providing competition that led finally to a temporary stop to all activities of the band. Davis continued working, however, producing some jazz-oriented albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Although short-lived, The Spencer Davis Group - particularly its incarnation with Steve Winwood - was influential, with many of the band's songs covered by other artists over the years. Notable among these are Chicago's 1969 version of "I'm a Man," The Allman Brothers Band's 1969 take of "Don't Want You No More," Three Dog Night's 1970 recording of "Can't Get Enough of It," and The Blues Brothers' 1980 recording of "Gimme Some Lovin'."
Formed in 1963 in Birmingham, Warwickshire after the Welsh guitarist Spencer Davis encountered vocalist and organist Steve Winwood (then aged 14 and still at school), and his bass playing brother Muff Winwood performing at a pub, the Golden Eagle, as the Muff Woody Jazz Band. He recruited them and Pete York on drums to form the Rhythm and Blues Quartette, which performed regularly in the city. In 1964, they signed their first recording contract after Chris Blackwell of Island Records saw them at an appearance in a local club; Blackwell also became their producer.
The group's first professional recording was a cover version of Dimples, but they came to success at the end of 1965 with Keep on Running, the group's first number one single. In 1966 they followed this with Somebody Help Me and When I Come Home. For the German market the group released "Det war in Schöneberg, im Monat Mai" and "Mädel ruck ruck ruck an meine grüne Seite" (the first is from a 1913 Berlin operetta, the second is a Swabian traditional) as a tribute single for that audience, Spencer Davis having studied in West Berlin in the early 1960s.
By the end of 1966 and the beginning of 1967, the group released two more hits, Gimme Some Lovin' (which was re-released in a live, nine-minute version by Steve Winwood's Traffic in 1971) and I'm A Man. These tracks proved to be their two best-known successes, especially in the U.S.
In 1967, Winwood left to form Traffic; his brother Muff moved into the music industry as A&R man at Island Records. In a so-called joint venture, the soundtrack to the film Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush featured both the Spencer Davis Group and Traffic.
Despite the Winwoods' departure, the Spencer Davis Group continued performing and released more singles, though not repeating earlier successes. These included Time Seller in July 1967; the b-side, Don't Want You No More, also received radio airplay.
This was followed by "Mr. Second-Class" in late 1967, which was heavily played on Radio Caroline (at that time one of the two remaining pirate radio ships off the British coast) and the group's last minor hit, "After Tea", in 1968. The latter song was released at the same time by the German band The Rattles, providing competition that led finally to a temporary stop to all activities of the band. Davis continued working, however, producing some jazz-oriented albums in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Although short-lived, The Spencer Davis Group - particularly its incarnation with Steve Winwood - was influential, with many of the band's songs covered by other artists over the years. Notable among these are Chicago's 1969 version of "I'm a Man," The Allman Brothers Band's 1969 take of "Don't Want You No More," Three Dog Night's 1970 recording of "Can't Get Enough of It," and The Blues Brothers' 1980 recording of "Gimme Some Lovin'."
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The Spencer Davis Group Lyrics
03 Every Little Bit Hurts Every little bit hurts Every little bit hurts Every night I …
Aquarius / Let the Sunshine In When the moon is in the Seventh House And Jupiter aligns…
Back Into My Life Again [Chorus] Now you're back into my life again Yeah, you're bac…
Det War In Schöneberg Det war in Schöneberg, im Monat Mai Ein kleines Mädelchen w…
Dimples Walk that walk Yeah, talk that talk Won't you walk that walk…
Dimples (Mono Version) Bracken-er Walk that walk Yeah, talk that talk Won't you wa…
Dimples (Radio Session, 1965) Bracken-Hooker Walk that walk Yeah, talk that talk Won't yo…
Don I'm through with you And your pretty golden hair Don't wan…
Don't Want You No More I'm through with you And your pretty golden hair Don't want …
Don´t Want You No More I'm through with you And your pretty golden hair Don't wan…
Dust My Blues When I got up this morning, I believe I dust…
Every Little Bit Hurst Every little bit hurts Every little bit hurts Every night …
Every Little Bit Hurts Every little bit hurts Every little bit hurts Every night I …
Feelin' Alright Seems I've got to have a change of scene Cause every…
Georgia On My Mind Georgia, oh georgia, no peace I find It's just an old…
Gime Some Lovin' Well, my temperature is rising, got my feet on the…
Gimme Some Lovin' (2010 Remaster) Hey! Well, my temperature's rising, and my feet on the floo…
Gimme Some Loving Well, my temperature is rising, got my feet on the…
Goodbye Stevie Well, I'm leaving, baby I'm gonna go away from here You know…
Here Right Now You know I'm here right now Got nothing on my worried,…
Here We Go Round The Mulberry Bush Turn around every way, looking back another day The race is…
Hey Darling Hey darling, you know The lights are getting low Hey, hey, h…
High Time Baby I'm gonna put it this a-way, all I hoped has…
I Well, my pad is very messy And there's whiskers on my…
I Can't Get Enough Of It Well my doctor told me beware I'm taking more than my…
I Can't Get Enough of It (Radio Session, 1966) Well my doctor told me beware I'm taking more than my…
I Can't Stand It I can't stand the pain of love When you get all…
I Can’t Stand It I can't stand the pain of love When you get all…
I Washed My Hands In Muddy Water I was born in macon, georgia, met my dad in…
I'll Drown In My Own Tears It brings a tear into my eyes When I begin to…
I'm a Man Well, my pad is very messy And there's whiskers on my…
I'm a Man (2010 Remaster) Well, my pad is very messy and there's whiskers on…
I'm a Man (67 Radio Session) Well, my pad is very messy And there's whiskers on my…
I'm Blue (I'm blue ue ue ue ue ue ue blue be…
I'm Getting Better I never cried today I even smile today When I heard someon…
Im a Man Well, my pad is very messy And there's whiskers on my…
It Hurts Me So Sometimes I feel so worried Sometimes I feel so sad Thinki…
It's Gonna Work Out Fine Oh oh darling, you're starting to get next to me Oh…
I\'M A Man Well, my pad is very messy And there's whiskers on my…
I´m A Man Well, my pad is very messy and there's whiskers on…
I’ll Drown in My Own Tears It brings a tear into my eyes When I begin to…
I’M A Man Well, my pad is very messy And there's whiskers on my…
I’m Blue (I'm blue ue ue ue ue ue ue blue be…
Jump Back Last night, the night before (jump back, baby, jump back) T…
Kansas City Spoken: "stevie, do an up-tempo one for me." Sw: "yeah, do…
Keep On Runnin' Keep on runnin' Keep on hidin' One fine day I'm…
Keep On Running Keep on running, keep on hiding One fine day I'm gonna…
Keep On Running (2010 Remaster) Keep on running, keep on hiding One fine day, I'm gonna…
Keep on Runnings Keep on running, keep on hiding One fine day I'm gonna…
Let Me Down Easy Let me down easy though your love for me is…
Let The Sun Shine In When the moon is in the Seventh House And Jupiter aligns…
Look Away All alone Standing here by myself And my girl is walking r…
Magpie Magpie (x2) 1 for sorrow 2 for joy 3 for a girl 4 for…
Mean Woman Blues I got a woman mean as she can be Yeah I…
Midnight Special Traditional Get your ticket at the station, get your dinn…
Midnight Train Well midnight train hurry on down that track Well midnight …
My Babe We're talking about my baby, not you baby, say my…
Neighbour Neighbour Neighbour neighbour, don't wonder what goes on in my home Y…
No Face No Name No Number I'm looking for a girl who has no face She has…
Nobody Knows You When You're Down And Out Once I lived the life of a millionaire Spent all my…
Oh! Pretty Woman Oh pretty woman of the rising sun Says all your cheap…
Paper Sun ) Well you think you had a good time With the boy…
Please Do Something Girl, you got me where you want me now Now what…
Searchin' Well, I've been search' Oh lord, I've been searchin' I've be…
She Put the Hurt on Me I met a girl a year ago She understood that…
She Put the Hurt on Me (Radio Session, 1966) Oh she put the hurt on me, y'all Yes she did She…
Since I Met You Baby Since I met you baby, my whole life has changed Since…
Sittin' & Thinkin' I'm sittin' and thinkin' Got nothing on my mind I'm sittin…
Somebody Help Somebody help me, yeah Somebody help me now Won't somebody…
Somebody Help Me Somebody help me, yeah Somebody help me now Won't somebody t…
Stevie's Blues Tommy was a preacher's son Now he's running through the…
Stevies Blues Well, so sad and lonely since my baby went away…
Strong Love Strong love is what you've got And I can't get no…
Take This Hurt Off Me Chorus: Come back and take this hurt off me Baby, come bac…
This Hammer S davis, m winwood, s winwood, p york Workin' on the…
Time Seller I know there's a man who can sell time I can…
Together 'Til the End of Time In a world filled with so much sorrow Every one is…
Trampoline [Instrumental]…
Watch Your Step You'd better take it easy, baby, before you go away You've…
When A Man Loves A Woman Everybody loves somebody sometime Everybody falls in love so…
When I Come Home I gave you my heart Right from the start, yeah, yeah I…
You Must Believe Me You must believe me No matter what the people might…