The 45 Brains

I got a major exam today so I thought I’d make today’s entry a quick one.

A few months back I was at amoeba (I was record binging during that time) and I saw this well designed cover with a great title and a trippy photograph of this macabre dressed brother. Needless to say, I had to get it.

I got home right away to listen to it, and I remember feeling very confused about how I felt about the record. I can’t say I fell in love with the song “I Hear Voices”, and I couldn’t imagine playing it anywhere outside of my room, or maybe at a halloween party. Regardless, the record was a good intro to Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. I read up a little on the man and found out that he was a big influence on rock and roll and that he really pushed musicians to take showmanship to a new level. He was quite the character as you can guess.

Take a listen to the more familiar “I Put a Spell on You”, which is as full of grunts, smacks, bumps, moans, and maniacal laughs as “I Hear Voices”.

Apparently he named his skull-cane “Henry”.

Two more things: (1) Today is the holiday edition of The 45 Sessions w/DJ Sake One. I’ll be celebrating finishing my exam at Disco Volante so come through. (2) If you haven’t, go check out last week’s #45Friday entry by my man Delgado. Tons of good info on a song I’ve always loved.