Category: Music covers

Covers: I Put a Spell on You

The original version of “I Put a Spell on You” was by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins in 1956.    “Hawkins wore a long cape, and appeared onstage by rising out of a coffin in the midst of smoke and fog. The act was a sensation, later bolstered by tusks worn in Hawkins’ nose, on-stage snakes and fireworks, and a cigarette-smoking skull named “Henry”. “

There are covers by a variety of artists including Nina Simone (1965), Creedence Clearwater Revival (1968) and Annie Lennox (2014).

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins live  read the comments by Mike Armando!

Nina Simone

Creedence Clearwater Revival

Annie Lennox

Update 12/6/18:

It has been used in two recent commercials:

  1. Chase ATM with Serena Williams:

background

The commercial

2) It has also been used in an NCAA commercial.

https://www.instagram.com/tv/Ce6GsjLABLL/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

Covers: Hooked on a Feeling

“Hooked on a Feeling” was written by Mark James who also wrote “Suspicious Minds”.  The original version was by B. J. Thomas in 1968.   There is a weird well-known cover by the Swedish group Blue Swede from 1974.   It was similar to Jonathan King’s 1971 version.   The Blue Swede version is the films Reservoir Dogs and Guardians of the Galaxy.

B. J. Thomas

Jonathan King

Blue Swede

 

 

Covers: You Win Again

“You Win Again” was a Hank Williams song from 1952.  There are may cover versions – the Grateful Dead (1972).  Only the Dead could give it a beat you could dance to. Keith Richards covered it in 2001.  Keith sounds like it’s 4 am and he’s been out drinking all night.

Hank Williams

Grateful Dead

Keith Richards

Covers: Mystery Train

“Mystery Train” was written and performed by Junior Parker in 1953 as a blues song.  Elvis Presley did a rockabilly version in 1955.  Both versions were on Sun Records.  The Band recorded it with additional lyrics in 1973.  The Band with Paul Butterfield performed it in 1976 at their final concert which was filmed as The Last Waltz.

Junior Parker

Elvis Presley

The Band

The Band with Paul Butterfield