- "I Put a Spell on You" is a rhythm and blues song by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, released in 1956 in the United States by OKeh, one of Columbia's labels.
- At first, this song had to be removed from the catalog, under pressure from radio stations and it never reached the American national charts, including those of R and 'B. However, the American magazine Rolling Stone ranked it 313 in its 2003 selection of the 500 greatest songs of all time, and 320 in its 2010 selection.
- Originally, it was supposed to be a simple ballad. The most likely version of the recording circumstances is that Screamin' Jay Hawkins was drunk during the session, with his producer deliberately bringing alcohol into the studio.
- It has been covered by many artists, including Nina Simone in 1965 on the album I Put a Spell on You.
- Hawkins himself re-recorded his song several times, in sometimes very different versions:
- 1956: original version, waltz rhythm, mostly accompanied by piano, acoustic guitar, bass and drums.
- 1958: version from the album At Home with Screamin' Jay Hawkins, waltz rhythm, with brass. It has become the "classic" version associated with the artist. An alternative take exists on the 2010 reissue of the album.
- 1965: version from the album Live and Crazy, with the Jay Hawks, a rock band from Minneapolis, shuffle rhythm, accompanied by brass, electric guitars, bass and drums.
- 1968 : version from the movie Night of the Hunter, with the choir of the Church of God in Christ Temple of Los Angeles (directed by the pastor James Cleveland), gospel rhythm, accompanied by Hammond organ, piano, bass, drums, brass and percussion.
- 1990: version of the album Stone Crazy! with the American rock band The Blasters, blues shuffle rhythm, accompanied by brass, electric guitars, bass and drums.
