Spooky Tooth – “Son of Your Father”

Spooky Tooth – “Son of Your Father”: The 1969 Single Connected to Elton John’s Early Career

In June 1969, the British rock band Spooky Tooth released the single “Son of Your Father,” a composition written by the emerging songwriting duo Elton John and Bernie Taupin. Issued by Island Records under the catalogue number WIP-6060, the 7-inch single featured “I’ve Got Enough Heartache” as its B-side and was performed by the band’s lead vocalist at the time, Mike Harrison. The record was pressed at 45 RPM and reflected the group’s characteristic blend of rock, soul, and blues.

The release of “Son of Your Father” is historically significant not only because it predates Elton John’s own recorded version — which would appear more than a year later on his album Tumbleweed Connection — but also because it coincided with the launch of Elton John’s debut album Empty Sky. Both the Spooky Tooth single and Empty Sky reached the market in June 1969, making them parallel milestones in the beginnings of Elton John’s recorded output. While Elton and Bernie were working to establish themselves as songwriters, Spooky Tooth became one of the first notable bands to introduce their compositions to a wider audience.

The Spooky Tooth recording of “Son of Your Father” differs markedly from Elton John’s later interpretation. Where Elton’s 1970 studio version would adopt a style aligned with the Americana-influenced atmosphere of Tumbleweed Connection, Spooky Tooth delivered a more forceful rock-oriented performance driven by Harrison’s gritty vocals and the band’s heavier instrumental backdrop. This contrast highlights how versatile the John–Taupin material already was, even in its earliest years.

Although Elton John’s own recording would not appear until late 1970 in the United Kingdom (and early 1971 in the United States), Spooky Tooth’s single offered the first published interpretation of the song. For listeners in 1969, “Son of Your Father” represented an emerging creative presence from John and Taupin—one that, at that moment, was still more recognized through other performers than through Elton’s own voice.

Brief Career Summary of Spooky Tooth and Its Members

Spooky Tooth was formed in 1967 and quickly became known for its distinctive combination of rock, blues, psychedelia, and soul. The band’s sound was built primarily around the contrasting vocal styles of Mike Harrison and Gary Wright, who also contributed keyboards and songwriting. Other core members during the classic years included guitarist Luther Grosvenor, bassist Greg Ridley, and drummer Mike Kellie.

The group released several influential albums between the late 1960s and early 1970s, including It’s All About, Spooky Two, and The Last Puff. Despite numerous lineup changes, Spooky Tooth earned a reputation for adventurous arrangements and powerful vocal performances. Although they never achieved massive commercial success, their work became an important part of the late-1960s British rock landscape and influenced several musicians who followed. The band’s members went on to notable careers: Gary Wright found solo success in the mid-1970s, Ridley joined Humble Pie, and Grosvenor later became known as Ariel Bender with Mott the Hoople.

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