Rate-O-Rama: I Put A Spell On You

Welcome to Rate-O-Rama!

Rate-O-Rama is a reader participation game.

Every Wednesday evening I will publish a Rate-O-Rama article which will feature three versions of a popular song.

The object is to listen to each of the music videos provided within the post.

After listening to each video you can rate each song in the comments section below.

(You must be a member to comment. If you are not a member you can join Vocal Media for FREE. You don’t ever have to pay for membership unless you choose to upgrade your membership)

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The rating method is easy. Simply give each song a rating of 1 to 100.

(The more you like the song the higher the rating).

If possible, please provide a brief comment to let us now what you think of each song.

After a week (Wednesday evening) I will tally the ratings and in the next Rate-O-Rama post, I will announce the average rating each song received.

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Last week we featured the Adult Contemporary classic: "Come in From the Rain" as recorded by Melissa Manchester (1976), Captain & Tennille (1977), and Diana Ross (1977).

The following are the average ratings for each song as a result of the votes:

🥇 The Gap Band: 95.7

🥈 Robert Palmer: 82.8

🥉 B.E.F. featuring Richard Darbyshire: 77.6

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The Twenty-Ninth Edition of Rate-O-Rama features three renditions of the Rhythm and Blues classic: “I Put a Spell on You."

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Screamin' Jay Hawkins (1956)

Jalacy “Jay” Hawkins co-wrote this song with songwriter and record label owner Herb Slotkin. Hawkins intended on recording the song as a blues ballad, a style he was known for from 1951 to 1955. However, the producer got everybody drunk during the recording session and the result was this weird version. Hawkins has said he was just a normal blues singer. He was just Jay Hawkins, but “Spell” turned him into Screamin' Jay. The song was banned from radio airplay because of its grunts and moans resulting in the song failing to chart. Despite this “Spell” became a cult classic and Hawkins' recording has sold more than a million copies.

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Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968)

CCR's rendition of this song only made it to #58 on the US charts. However, the song picked up more steam for CCR due to being track two on side one of the 1976 compilation Chronicle: The 20 Greatest Hits. The compilation album has sold more than 12 million copies in the US. The album is still on the US albums chart logging a total of 686 non-consecutive weeks on the chart. Every track on this compilation has gone on to become a CCR classic including ‘’I Put a Spell on You.”

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Annie Lennox (2014)

Lennox recorded a soulful jazz tinged version of the song for her 2014 album Nostalgia. After the song was included in the 2015 film Fifty Shades of Grey it became a worldwide hit for Annie.

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My Thoughts

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Screamin' Jay Hawkins:

I love Screamin' Jay with all his hoots and howls. He's a unique brand. That saxophone just slays me. I never paid much attention to him until 1984 when I watched the cult classic film Stranger Than Paradise in which the song is prominently featured. I give Screamin' Jay a 100.

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Creedence Clearwater Revival:

CCR is one of my all-time favorite bands. They have many songs that rate among my favorites. “I Put a Spell on You” fits John Fogerty's hysterical and manic voice perfectly and his lead guitar is killer. I have no other choice but to give CCR a 100.

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Annie Lennox:

The piano opening sets a haunting tone which continues through the song. Annie's lead vocal is furiously delicious - deep, rich, and powerful. She holds her notes and beautifully twists and develops them into a soulful treat that sends chills through my body. Annie is by all means one of the greatest singers of all-time. As if the song isn't already great enough, the guitar solo takes it way over the top with class, style, and just enough grit to make it rock and roll. I can go no place else but to also give Annie a 100.

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I will be back next week with the results of this Rate-O-Rama Edition.

Last Week's Rate-O-Rama:

https://vocal.media/beat/rate-o-rama-early-in-the-morning

With Love, RHC ❤️