When Screaming Jay Hawkins originally wrote I Put a Spell on You, he originally envisioned it as a ballad. After recording it as such, the original version wasn’t released, and Hawkins wound up in a studio a year later to re-record the song for Columbia records. This time, his producer showed up with fried chicken and beer, and at the end of the night, the wild, unhinged version we know today had been recorded.
Despite being banned from the radio, the new recording sold over a million copies. The success of the song prompted him to take on a more wild persona, rising out of a coffin with a cape on, surrounded by smoke, for his performances. Snakes on stage and tusks in his nose were added later, completing what is considered one of the first shock rock performances.
Love this song 🙂
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Reblogged this on blackwings666 and commented:
If anyone is curious about where SHOCK ROCK or HORROR ROCK or GOTH originated, most people will agree that it was with this song by SCREAMIN JAY HAWKINS. -who’s birthday was July 18th. If not for this -there may not have been ALICE COOPER or KISS or BLACK SABBATH or MARILYN MANSON – just to name a few – but you get the idea. I CAST A SPELL ON YOU was covered by too many artists to even try to list here – including MARILYN MANSON by the way.
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Interesting….
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Yes, he can probably be considered the original shock rocker 🙂
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