Screamin' Jay Hawkins

[Freetoojazz]

Screamin'Jay Hawkins (Jul 18, 1929 in Cleveland, OH - Feb 12, 2000 in Paris, France) was consider to be a eccentric and theatrical guy on scene with his skull named Henri and his coffin (Halloween freak image).

He sang with comic effects, played the piano and scream. His music was sometimes R&B, sometimes Rock & Roll and influenced by blues. He made a hit with this song "I Put a Spell on You" in 1956. Made another hit with "Constipation Blues" in 1967.

Surrealism, weird was Screamin Jay Hawkins! That's what people said when they are not familiar with his music. In his case, it's a quality to say that is music and his personality are weird.

Today, I still admire his spirit and personality.

Do you enjoy is music? Which album do you like the most?

Main Albums

-1957 I Put a Spell on You [Collectables]
-1958 At Home with Screamin' Jay Hawkins
-1969 What That Is!
-196? A Night at Forbidden City
-1970 Screamin' Jay Hawkins Philips
-1977 I Put a Spell on You [Unidisc]
-1983 Real Live
-1985 Live [Midnight]
-1989 Live & Crazy
-1991 Black Music for White People
-1993 Stone Crazy
-1994 Rated X [live]
-1994 I Shake My Stick at You
-1995 Somethin' Funny Goin On
-1998 Screamin' the Blues [Blue Boar]
-1998 At Last
-1999 Live at the Olympia, Paris
-2004 Live [Fremeaux & Associes]


Compilations:
-1965 The Night & Day of Screamin' Jay Hawkins
-1972 Portrait of a Man
-1979 Screamin' the Blues [Drive]
-1982 Frenzy
-1988 Feast of the Mau Mau
-1990 Voodoo Jive: The Best of Screamin' Jay Hawkins
-1991 Cow Fingers & Mosquito Pie
-1991 Spellbound! 1955-74
-1998 She Put the Wammee on Me
-1998 Don't Fool with Me
-1999 Alligator Wine: The Best of Screamin' Jay Hawkins
-1999 I Put a Spell on You [Charly]
-1999 Portrait of a Maniac
-2000 Greatest Hits
-2000 Best of the Bizarre Sessions: 1990-1994
-2000 Essential Recordings
-2001 My Little Shop of Horrors
-2001 Screamin' Jay Hawkins [Dressed to Kill]
-2002 Spells & Potions
-2005 I Put a Spell on You: The Best of Screamin' Jay Hawkins
-2006 Spellbound
-2006 The Whamee

[Cem]

Originally Posted by Freetoojazz

Today, I still admire his spirit and personality.

Absolutely! I'd heard of him, but sadly, was not aware of him till hearing his music in the movies Stranger Than Paradise & Smoke. Since then, I've heard odds & sods here & there. Any reccommendations?

[Squaredancecalling Steve]

I have his first album, "I Put A Spell On You", which includes a mind-blowing version of "Orange Colored Sky" as well as the classic title cut.

Sun Ra's singer, Yochanan the Space Age Vocalist, claimed Jay ripped off his act. Jay had a much better voice, but Yochanan sounded crazier.

[Freetoojazz]

"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."

- Screamin' Jay Hawkins


It's hard to find good information on the Web. This is some
interesting i found (here some links):

Unofficial site & biography

http://home.datacomm.ch/mik/ba/h/hawkins_jay/index.html

http://ohiobio.org/hawkins.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screamin'_Jay_Hawkins

Interview:

http://home.datacomm.ch/mik/ba/h/haw...000_203-1.html

Lyrics:

http://www.leoslyrics.com/artists/9527/

Review:

http://www.warr.org/screaminjay.html

http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p...kq67ub0h0j3~T0

[Freetoojazz]

Originally Posted by Cem

Any reccommendations?

It depends of your feeling:

If you want to play safe, choose the I Put a Spell on You [Collectables, 1957];

If you want a disco love boat feeling, choose I Put a Spell on You [Unidisc, 1977] ;

If you want something easy, but funny, choose Live & Crazy [Evidence1989];

I may suggest two good compilations:

Best of the Bizarre Sessions: 1990-1994 ;

and

Spells & Potions

I'm sure there something for you!

[Noj]

Is it worth supplementing my Okeh Rhythm & Blues box set with the '57 album?

[John L]

His version of "I Put a Spell on You" turned out quite nice. But I have never been much of a Screamin' Jay fan in general. He was pretty much an average R&B singer (IMO) who crossed over to larger white audiences through the use of gimmicks.

[Freetoojazz]

Originally Posted by Noj

Is it worth supplementing my Okeh Rhythm & Blues box set with the '57 album?

You have three songs of Screamin' on it only (on your box), but you have a lot of different stuff on this Okeh Rhythm & Blues box. I'm a little insecure to sugest you buying the 57 album. If you're in this mood of freak music right now, yes! If you want something different from the stuff of your box, the Best of Bizarre Session is a good one.

[Abu Zazen]

Try the Voodoo Jive compilation to hear the berserk at his best

The Best of Bizarre Sessions and Spells & Potions compilations are really good. Hey! I'm the one who lend these to you, freetoojazz, and I only listen to good stuff

[Freetoojazz]

Originally Posted by Abu Zazen

Try the Voodoo Jive compilation to hear the berserk at his best

The Best of Bizarre Sessions and Spells & Potions compilations are really good. Hey! I'm the one who lend these to you, freetoojazz, and I only listen to good stuff

Hi Abu Zazen! I really enjoy your avatar. Welcome to Jazzcorner's Speakeasy! I'm very glad that you come here talk about good music.

Yes, it's because of you if i bougth these compilations. But first, if i listen to Screamin' now, it's also because of you. Before you lend me these discs, i didn't know who was Screamin'.

Thanks again!

[Freetoojazz]

If you follow this link, you will see some video of Screaming:

http://www.youtube.com/results?searc...&search=Search

[Freetoojazz]

It seems that Screaming made a lot of children everywhere on earth:

He wanted all of his children to meet. But here's the problem: Hawkins fathered (no joke) 57 kids.

follow the link:

http://www.villagevoice.com/news/004...s,19820,1.html