Hawkins, Screamin' Jay
Baptize Me In Wine, Singles & Oddities 1955-1959
In a long line of rock and roll outsiders hailing from Ohio, Screamin' Jay Hawkins may very well be the first. Born and raised in Cleveland, Hawkins' 1956 single "I Put A Spell On You" is one of the most instantly recognizable songs in the history of R'n'B and rock. Baptize Me In Wine compiles that classic track along with 18 other specimens of pure, unhinged, guttural R'n'B madness into what is sure to be considered the definitive Hawkins collection on the vinyl market. Most tracks were originally released as singles on the Okeh label except for the last four, which are outtakes from the first album. Before Devo, before Pere Ubu, before Guided By Voices, there was Screamin' Jay. There really must be something in the water out there.