I Put A Spell On You

"Jalacy Hawkins"  better known by the stage name "Screamin' Jay Hawkins"  born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, in July 18, 1929, was a Rhythm & Blues musician, singer, songwriter and actor.
In the early 1950s, "Hawkins" worked such artists as "Tiny Grimes" and "Fats Domino" before striking out on his own.
In 1956, "Jalacy Hawkins" entered the studio, planning to record a blues ballad he had been performing live with some success. Producer Arnold Maxon had other ideas, and to fulfill them, he brought plenty of alcohol and food and alcohol (not to mention alcohol) into the studio.
Hours later, Hawkins staggered up to the microphone and unleashed one of the rawest, bloodiest, most gut-churning vocal performances ever delivered, one that he couldn’t even remember giving the following day.
The ballad-turned-reverse-exorcism was banned in radio stations nationwide (they claimed the blast of demented gibberish at the end simulated cannibalism), and the song never charted. Didn’t matter. "Jalacy Hawkins" would forever after be "Screamin’ Jay Hawkins", and “I Put a Spell On You” would be his raucous calling card.
"Hawkins" wrote this as a ballad lamenting the loss of a girlfriend he wanted back. The original version was a lot slower and much more tame.
"Hawkins" was recording for Grand Records at the time, and had a hard time convincing them to release this. A year later, Hawkins recorded the version that became famous for another label, and transformed the song into a spooky tale about putting a curse on the girl so he can have her.
"I Put A Spell On You" has been used in American TV commercials for McDonalds, Burger King, Pringle's Potato Chips and Levi's jeans.
The song ranked #313 on Rolling Stone magazine's list of The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time, and selected as one of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll.

Screamin' Jay Hawkins: "I came into this world black, naked and ugly. And no matter how much I accumulate here, it's a short journey. I will go out of this world black, naked and ugly. So I enjoy life".

We would like to present to you 5 cover versions of the song.

The La De Da's ‎– La De Da's

The La De Da's ‎– La De Da's

Release date:November 1966

Genre: Blues Rock

"The La De Da's" were a leading New Zealand rock band of the 1960s, formed in Auckland, New Zealand.
In January 1966, Eldred Stebbing invited the band to record a couple of songs he had from the US that he thought could be local hits. The songs were "How Is The Air Up There" and "Pied Piper". The single came out on the Phillips label in late February and was an instant hit with Auckland teenagers.
In November 1966 released their debut album "La De Da's".
The 14-track album was a collection of stage favourites, although their stage repertoire was about 50/50 originals and covers, the album was all covers. Nevertheless, it was a winning mixture of pop, soul and 12-bar blues, including The Small Faces' "Hey Girl", Sam Cooke's "Shake", "Land of 1000 Dances", the Bacaharach & David hit "Little Red Book", the ubiquitous "Bright Lights, Big City", Mose Allison's "Parchman Farm", Screaming Jay Hawkins "I Put A Spell On You"(sung by Kevin Borich).

1. On Top Of The World
2. How Is The Air Up There
3. Little Red Book
4. Jump Back
5. Bright Lights Big City
6. I Put A Spell On You
7. What Ya Gonna Do About It
8. Land Of Thousand Dances
9. I Take What I Want
10. Shake
11. Parchman Farm
12. The Pied Piper
13. I've Got My Mojo Working
14. Ride Your Pony

• Phil Key - Rhythm Guitar, Vocals
• Trevor Wilson - Bass
• Kevin Borich - Lead Guitar, Vocals
• Brett Neilson - Drums, Vocals
• Bruce Howard - Keyboards, Organ

The Animals ‎– Animalisms

The Animals ‎– Animalisms

Release date:June 1966

Genre: Blues Rock

"Animalisms" is the third album by "The Animals' released in UK June 1966 and  two months later to America as "Animalization". "Animalisms" features Dave Rowberry on keyboards who had joined after Alan Price had left the group. Prior to the release of the album, drummer John Steel also left the band and was replaced by the former "Nashville Teen", Barry Jenkins.
Eric Burdon's voice is hard and dark, a weapon of plantation sorrow in "Gin House Blues" and kicking-mule joy in John Lee Hooker's "Maudie". "Sweet Little Sixteen," though a relatively minor song here, was their best Chuck Berry cover to date,  "Squeeze Her - Tease Her," "I Put a Spell on You," "She'll Return It," all rate among the best work the band ever did, passionate, gorgeous, and exciting R&B down to the last note.
"Animalisms" peaked at # 4 in the UK album chart in June 1966.

1. One Monkey Don't Stop No Show
2. Maudie
3. Outcast
4. Sweet Little Sixteen
5. You're On My Mind
6. Clapping
7. Gin House Blues
8. Squeeze Her - Tease Her
9. What Am I Living For
10. I Put A Spell On You
11. That's All I Am To You
12. She'll Return It

• Eric Burdon - Vocals
• Chas Chandler - Bass
• Hilton Valentine - Guitar
• Dave Rowberry - Keyboards
• John Steel - Drums

Creedence Clearwater Revival ‎– Creedence Clearwater Revival

Creedence Clearwater Revival ‎– Creedence Clearwater Revival

Release date:July 5, 1968

Genre: Rock

"Creedence Clearwater Revival" is the debut album by the American Rock band "Creedence Clearwater Revival", released in 1968.
The great guitar sound is in place, but there isn't much in the way of great songwriting on this album, and that kinda hurts in this case, because it also affects the overall sound.
As it is, this record does not display us the talents of John Fogerty the songwriter - most of the songs are covers, and the originals are pretty generic.
The opening "I Put a Spell On You" also deserves some serious recognition, not so much because of the song itself (done as a pretty standard gospelish/rock cover), but because of the mighty slow building of intensity in the guitar parts during the instrumental breaks that culminate in a layering of several majestic strumming parts that sounds absolutely terrific when studied closely.
Fogerty can't carry the load by himself, and when he does get going, as in two or three spots on "Suzie Q.," their big number (over eight minutes long), he has no complementation from the other members of the group. ''The Working Man'' is a fine example of a song that indeed introduces you to the world of Fogerty brothers and their music companions at that point in time.
A song that regularly gets credit in this record is ''Porterville''. It's groovy rhythm along with the obvious characteristics of psychedelia, match perfectly to the album's southern boogie-style sounds.

1. I Put A Spell On You
2. The Working Man
3. Suzie Q
4. Ninety-Nine And A Half (Won't Do)
5. Get Down Woman
6. Porterville
7. Gloomy
8. Walk On The Water

• John Fogerty - Lead Guitar, Lead Vocals
• Tom Fogerty - Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Stu Cook - Bass Guitar, Vocals
• Doug Clifford - Drums, Vocals

Fever Tree ‎– For Sale

Fever Tree ‎– For Sale

Release date:1970

Genre: Psychedelic Rock

In 1970  the American Psychedelic Rock band "Fever Tree" released their fourth album "For Sale".
A quick glance at the liner notes indicated the band had basically collapsed with keyboardist Rob Landis and drummer John Tuttle credited as 'formerly of Fever Tree'.
Their places were taken by former Byrds drummer Kevin Kelley, keyboardist Grant Johnson, and various members of the Wrecking Crew and The Blackberries on ill thought out backing vocals.
In an online interview guitarist Michael Knust expressed few memories of working on the LP.  In fact the only track he seemed to have any recollections of were putting lead guitar on the group's cover of Love's 'She Comes In Colors'.
Most of the material was less than impressive with Keller sounding particularly uninspired (on a couple of tracks like You're Not the Same Baby'' he actually sounded like he was singing with marbles in his mouth).
As for the side long 'Hey Joe' cover - well ...  it was long.  For his part lead guitarist Michael Knust was all but absent from the proceedings.
That left the two Mainstream songs ('Hey Mister' and 'Girl Don't Push Me') and the Love cover as the album highlights. The album included a cover of Screamin' Jay Hawkins' "I Put a Spell on You."

1. I Put A Spell On You
2. You're Not The Same Baby
3. She Comes In Colors
4. Hey Mister
5. Come On In
6. Girl Don't Push Me
7. Hey Joe

• Kevin Kelley - Drums
• E.E.Wolfe - Bass
• Michael Stephen Knust - Guitar
• Grant Johnson - Keyboards
• Dennis Keller - Lead Vocals

Audience ‎– The House On The Hill (UK Edition)

Audience ‎– The House On The Hill UK Edition)

Release date:May 1971

Genre: Art Rock

"Audience" released their third album "The House On The Hill" in 1971.
A fantastic album which uses the flute, clarinet and sax stylings of Keith Gemmell to great effect, fans of early prog should not be put off by the fact Audience don't use keyboards - this has a big, lush sound worthy of any of the band's competitors like Rare Bird or Van der Graaf Generator. - though with a bit more jazz influence than either.
"You're Not Smiling" has a wonderful singalong chorus that could have packed the terraces during the glam era, and "I Had A Dream" is another wonderful song with a glorious gospel sound that is curiously catchy. Then there's an intriguing psychedelic "sinister folk" cover of Screaming Jay Hawkins' signature tune "I Put A Spell On You".The driving, brassy "Nancy" and "Eye To Eye", which really sounds like a spoof theme song of some 60s spy show, are probably the least memorable efforts, but they are not bad.

1. Jackdaw
2. You're Not Smiling
3. I Had A Dream
4. Raviole
5. Nancy
6. Eye To Eye
7. I Put A Spell On You
8. The House On The Hill

• Tony Connor - Drums, Percussion, Vibes
• Trevor Williams - Bass, Vocals
• Howard Werth - Electric Classical Guitar, Vocals
• Keith Gemmell - Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Flute
• Robert Kirby - String Arrangement for "Raviole"
• Members of the LSO - Strings on "Raviole"

Music Portraits - Randy Bachman

Few artists can claim to have made a bigger impact on popular music than Randy Bachman, widely regarded as the "architect of Canadian rock n' roll."  His list of unforgettable anthems turned pop-culture touchstones includes such hits as “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet,” "Taking Care of Business," "Looking Out for #1" and "Let It Ride" for Bachman-Turner Overdrive and "American Woman," "No Sugar Tonight," “Undun” and "These Eyes" with The Guess Who.
Since his first hit in 1965 with "Shaking All Over," Bachman has sold more than 40 million records and earned more than 120 gold and platinum album/singles awards around the world for performing and producing, and his songwriting has garnered him the coveted #1 spot on radio playlists in more than 20 countries.
He remains the only one of his countrymen to have been inducted twice into the Canadian Music Hall of Fame.
Randolph Charles Bachman (Randy Bachman) was born on September 27, 1943 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Bachman is of half German and half Ukrainian ancestry.
After winning a local Winnipeg radio talent show at age three, he studied violin from age five with George Rutherford and later with Iris Spencer, performing on that instrument at Winnipeg movie theatres.
He discovered the then-new music form of rock and roll while in his teens, and first played guitar at age 13, learning from his relatives. Later, he played in a rural polka band for weddings. While still in his teens, he met jazz guitarist Lenny Breau, with whom he developed his technique and playing style.

Randy Bachman: I'm a songwriter. When people ask me what I am, I say I'm a songwriter. I'm not that great a guitar player or entertainer. But my craft is writing songs.
Randy Bachman: My songs are like cheap Neil Young copies.

Guess Who? Chad Allan & The Expressions ‎– Shakin' All Over (Canadian Edition)

Guess Who? Chad Allan & The Expressions ‎– Shakin' All Over (Canadian Edition)

Release date:1965

Genre: Rock

In Winnipeg of Canada in 1960, Randy Bachman with Chad Allan (Allan Kobel) co-founded "Chad Allan & The Silvertones". The members of the group, Gary Peterson, Bob Ashley and Jim Kale, are five devoted young men who know well that this success just didn't happen.
The band changed their name to "Chad Allan & the Reflections" and they released their debut single, "Tribute to Buddy Holly," on the Canadian-American label in 1962.
From their first show, they worked hard to build a name for themselves. They played at school and community club dances throughout Winnipeg.
In 1963, the band changed their name to "Chad Allan & the Expressions" after signing with Quality Records and releasing several singles that were minor hits in Canada.
In 1965 they released their debut studio album "Shakin' All Over".
The album played to the local radio stations without telling them who they were. The anonymous band was dubbed 'The Guess Who' and Canada's first supergroup had been born.
These records reaffirmed their success and led to a tour last summer of western Canada.
The song "Shakin' All Over" became #1 to Canada, #27 to Australia and #23 to America.

1. Shakin' All Over
2. Tossin' And Turnin'
3. Stop Teasin' Me
4. Like I Love You
5. Till We Kissed (Where Have You Been)
6. Shy Guy
7. Shot Of Rhythm 'N' Blues
8. I Want You To Love Me
9. I'd Rather Be Alone
10. I've Been Away
11. Tuff E Nuff
12. Turn Around And Walk Away

• Chad Allan - Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar, Piano, Harmonica
• Randy Bachman - Lead Guitar, Backing Vocals
• Bob Ashley - Keyboards, Backing Vocals
• Jim Kale - Bass, Backing Vocals
• Garry Peterson - Drums

Randy Bachman ‎– Axe

Randy Bachman ‎– Axe

Release date:1970

Genre: Rock

Randy Bachman before departure from "The Guess Who" in May 1970, recorded a solo album for RCA Records "Axe" over three days in March 1970.
The album is a brilliant instrumental work, highlighting the importance of Bachman to the band he was in the process of leaving. A Don Troiano is listed twice here, and it's unclear if this is actually the future replacement for Bachman in the "Guess Who", Domenic Troiano.
Don Troiano performs guitar solos on "Pookie's Skuffle," "Take the Long Way Home," "Tin Lizzie," and "Noah" with his guitar in the right speaker side. On "Tally's Tune," Troiano is the middle solo.
Among others, featured on the album was "Tally's Tune", a song written for Randy's son Tal, who would go on to score big on his own in 2000 with "She's So High".
But saying "Axe" didn't light the critics' typewriters on fire is an understatement. Regardless, the album would go on to become a true collectible among his legions of fans, showing his jazz and blues roots.
He officially announced his departure from "The Guess Who" that same year when the band was ready to start recording "Share The Land".

1. Zarahemla
2. Not To Return
3. Pookie's Skuffle
4. Tally's Tune
5. Take The Long Way Home
6. La Jolla
7. Tin Lizzie
8. Suite Theam
9. Noah

• Garry Peterson - Drums, Congas, Percussions
• Wes Dakus - Pedal Steel
• Randy Bachman - Guitars and Bass
• Domenic Troiano - Guitar

Brave Belt ‎– Brave Belt

Brave Belt ‎– Brave Belt

Release date:May 1971

Genre: Rock

Randy Bachman after his first solo effort "Axe" he decided to return to the confines of a group setting. Hooking up with brother Robbie on drums and keyboardist Chad Allan, who was part of the original "Guess Who" in the early 60's under the guise of "Chad Allen & The Expressions", they formed "Brave Belt" in January of 1971.
As a trio, it fell upon Randy to handle the duties of laying down the bass tracks while they searched for someone to take over full-time.
In 1971 released their debut album "Brave Belt" on Reprise Records. The band made the Canadian Top 40 with the minor hit "Crazy Arms, Crazy Eyes," which peaked at #35 in November 1971.

1. Crazy Arms, Crazy Eyes
2. Lifetime
3. Waitin' There For Me
4. I Am The Man
5. French Kiss
6. It's Over
7. Rock And Roll Band
8. Wandering Fantasy Girl
9. I Wouldn't Trade My Guitar For A Woman
10. Holy Train
11. Anyday Means Tomorrow
12. Scarecrow

• Rob Bachman - Drums, Percussion
• Wally Didduck - Fiddle
• Ron Halldorson - Pedal Steel Guitarn
• Randy Bachman - Vocals, Lead Guitar, Bass, Herzog
• Chad Allan - Vocals, Piano, Accordion, Rhythm Guitar, Mandolin
• Billy Mac - Drums (#9, #12)

Bachman-Turner Overdrive ‎– Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Bachman-Turner Overdrive ‎– Bachman-Turner Overdrive

Release date:May 17, 1973

Genre: Hard Rock

In 1972, with the departure of Chad Allan from the "Brave Belt" the band stayed with a three-member lineup, replaced Allan with Randy and Robbie's brother Tim, who'd dropped out of college to join the group.
This lineup then signed with Mercury Records in 1973 and changed their name to "Bachman–Turner Overdrive", often referred to as "BTO".
Bachman–Turner Overdrive" released their eponymous first album in May 1973. The album broke through in the U.S. via border towns such as Detroit and Buffalo and stayed on the charts for many weeks despite lacking a true hit single. The hard-driving sound of "Give Me Your Money Please" mixed with the blues overtones of tracks like "Blue Collar" made it a hit.The Turner-penned "Blue Collar" reached #21 on the Canadian RPM charts, but stalled at #68 on the U.S. charts.
The album's eventual success was very much the result of the band's relentless touring. Reportedly, Fach had only agreed to put this album on the Mercury label if the band would promote it with a heavy concert schedule. In any market where the band was getting significant airplay, Bachman–Turner Overdrive would immediately travel there regardless of the tour routing to build momentum, and it paid off.

1. Gimme Your Money Please
2. Hold Back The Water
3. Blue Collar
4. Little Gandy Dancer
5. Stayed Awake All Night
6. Down And Out Man
7. Don't Get Yourself In Trouble
8. Thank You For The Feelin'

• Randy Bachman - Guitar, Electric Guitar, Vocals
• Robbie Bachman - Percussion, Drums
• Tim Bachman - Guitar, Rhythm Guitar, Vocals, Background Vocals
• C.F. Turner - Bass, Vocals

Ironhorse ‎– Ironhorse

Ironhorse ‎– Ironhorse

Release date:1979

Genre: Rock

Following the disappointing lack of success of "Freeways"  album and growing musical differences, Randy Bachman left "Bachman Turner Overdrive" in the spring of 1977, and recorded the second solo album called "Survivor".
He retreated to his west coast home to ponder his future, and while serving as producer for other acts including "Trooper", he began writing new material while searching out the supporting cast for his new group.
In 1979 Randy Bachman with Tom Sparks (vocalist/guitarist) formed a band called "Ironhorse".Drummer Mike Baird and John Pierce on bass were soon recruited to round out the group.
At the same year (1979) the band released their debut album "Ironhorse". It was described as Bachman's outlet to let loose all his penned up musical frustrations, the album ran the gamut of rock's spectrum, from the gritty "Watch Me Fly" and "Old Fashioned" to the almost-eclectic "Stateline Blues". The first single "Sweet Lui-Luise" showed great promise, cracking the Top 100. By that summer their second single "He's A Joker" hit the airwaves and also gained moderate success. "She's Got It", penned by Sparks was quick to follow, while the band was on the road finishing up their first North American tour.

1. One And Only
2. Sweet Lui-Louise
3. Jump Back In The Light
4. You Gotta Let Go
5. Tumbleweed
6. Stateline Blues
7. Watch Me Fly
8. Old Fashioned (Dedicated To Slowhand)
9. She's Got It
10. There Ain't No Cure

• Randy Bachman - Vocals, Guitars
• Tom Sparks - Vocals, Guitars
• John Pierce - Bass
• Mike Baird - Drums