Portrait of a Man & His Woman

"SPECIAL HALLOWEEN EDITION". Ex-boxer turned showman, SCREAMN' JAY HAWKINS was born Jalacy Jay Hawkins in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1929. During the sixties he became infamous for his outrageous stage performances that would plague him for the rest of his professional career. Hawkins recorded his signature song "I Put A Spell On You" (featured here in a hauntingly macabre reinvention) in October 1956 for Okeh Records, reputedly while drunk, and later claimed that he didn't even remember making the record. It might explain the wild screaming and cannibalistic grunts that secured his fame and led to his pioneering shock rock stage show. He reprised the song, first in 1967 with a funky beat and later in 1972 for 'Portrait Of A Man...' during a Nashville recording session that found the showman in a more sombre, reflective, mood charged with emotion and alive with his characteristic moans and groans - a powerful monologue to his smoking skull-on-a-stick, stage prop, named Henry! "On this album, we have a very different Jay Hawkins. He is still "Screamin'" Jay Hawkins but he doesn't scream as much these days. Jay is now doing his thing in fine soul style and displays of lot of versatility This album will bring Jay back to a new group of Soul-Rock fans. There are many good cuts here, including a re-make of "Spell" that's outta sight!" - JOHN RICHBOURG, Nashville 1972