Customer Reviews

I Put a Spell on You

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Screaming Jay Hawkins "I Put A Spell On You" is one of the definitive albums of the bizarre 1960's. This music is as unique as Frank Zappa, in it's own right. The strange delivery of Screaming Jay works wonders with the orchestral sound of the band on songs like Orange Color Sky, and his jibberish yip yapping on Hong Kong are not only hysterical, but funky as well. The way he could include Swing Low Sweet Chariot on this album is beyond anyone's belief. This is one of the great albums of all time- either you will love it or hate it, but you will by no means ever forget it.

I don't know where to begin with this album. You could say so much about this guy. For starters, Screamin' Jay was more like three men packed into one. He was a prize fighter, a singer/songwriter and aspiring opera singer. He was also campy, wonderfully eccentric and irresistably soulful.

Most people know him for one of his greatest hits, "I Put a Spell On You." This tune about obsessive love is really like no other song I have ever heard. Screamin' Jay does it best, of course (though, it was remade by the wonderful Nina Simone, as well as other artists). His nickname was, no doubt, a true indication of his style. This man alternates wailing, crooning, and screaming with true singing talent. He alternates feelings of torture with feelings of satisfaction (and, sometimes, it is hard to decide which emotion he is truly trying to convey--maybe both?).

This album is a combination of Jay's original works ("I Put a Spell on You," "Hong Kong," and "Yellow Coat"), and old standards ("I Love Paris," "Swing Low, Sweet Chariot," "Ol' Man River," "If You are But a Dream," and "You Made Me Love You (I Didn't Want to Do It)"). The combination of scatting, unusual interpretaion and hilarious ad-libbing is truly delivered in a way I have never heard before. Jay definitely has the mojo and the juice to carry this wonderful album. You just have to hear it to believe it.

First of all, I would like to notice that it's the reissue of his first album "at home with S.J.H." (originally issued on Epic in 1958) with a different order in the titles and a different cover. Secondly, I think it's the album of reference of his long and heratic carreer. Personally, I was so blowed when I first heard his powerful voice able to sing blues, easy listening or rock. A true artist of music hall in a sense that he is a true character.

This is THE song, not the whitebread edition, but powerful, raw, bluesy
singing at it's best.

When Screamin' Jay sings ballads, he's got a powerfully good voice, not a
tiny one, but robust and rounded.

This is the archetypical bluesy record!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I bought this because I heard the title track on radio and was astounded by it. I still am. I love it. The rest of the album is hideous. but I got what I bought it for. No complaints