This set includes music perfect for Halloween that isn’t actually about Halloween, although everything included here is definitely scary on one level or another. Consisting of vintage jazz and blues tracks issued between 1925 and 1961, there are plenty of songs here about devils and witches, including Tampa Red’s “Witchin’ Hour Blues,” Sippie Wallace’s “Devil Dance Blues,” and the Mississippi Sheiks’ “I Am the Devil,” among others. There’s also a classic version of Screamin’ Jay Hawkins doing his signature tune, “I Put a Spell on You,” this one done with the Leroy Kirkland Orchestra.
Amazing and superb collection of Devilish Down-at-the-Crossroads Blues and old-time Jazz. Yeah, the unfortunate inclusion of the word “Halloween” in the title may leave some dope hoping to hear garbage like “Monster Mash” or irritatingly saccharine treacle like “Purple People
Eater” in a state of confusion, but these marvelous down-and-dirty original shockers like Tampa Red’s “Witchin Hour Blues”, St. Louis Bessie’s 1927 gem “Ghost Creepin Blues” and (of course) Screamin Jay Hawkins’ “I Put a Spell on You” and Muddy Waters’ “Got My Mojo Working” all are really incredible, stripped-down howlers that I’d expect to hear playing in R. Crumb or Anton LaVey’s sitting rooms. Sippie Willis’ 1925 track “Devil Dance Blues” make the price of this disc worth it alone. An outstanding collection of Hoodoo and Voodoo inspired rarely heard songs from 1925 to 1961. Absolutely beautiful in its raw energy. Get a mason jar of Corn-Mash Moonshine Skull-Pop, slip this treasure into your CD player, and revel in the spirits – both real (from the jar) and those conjured up by these timeless recordings.
Tracklist:
01. Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – I Put A Spell On You (2:25)
02. Sonny Boy Williamson I – I Been Dealing With The Devil (2:49)
03. Tampa Red – Witchin’ Hour Blues (3:15)
04. Muddy Waters – Got My Mojo Working (2:51)
05. LaVern Baker – Voodoo Vodoo (1:50)
06. Memphis Minnie – Hoodoo Lady (3:04)
07. Charlie Burse – Magic Spell Blues (2:38)
08. Sippie Wallace – Devil Dance Blues (3:04)
09. The Johnny Otis Show – Casting My Spell On You (2:10)
10. Poppa Hop – My Woman Has A Black Cat Bone (Take 2) (2:25)
11. The 5 Jones Boys – Mr. Ghost Goes To Town (2:59)
12. Casey Bill Weldon – Jinx Blues (2:38)
13. St. Louis Bessie – Ghost Creepin’ Blues (3:11)
14. Louis Armstrong – Skeleton In The Closet (3:05)
15. Lonnie Johnson – Blue Ghost Blues (3:14)
16. Johnny Fuller – Haunted House (2:30)
17. Mississippi Sheiks – I Am The Devil (3:08)
18. Brownie McGhee – Secret Mojo Blues (2:24)
19. King Oliver – Call Of The Freaks (3:21)
20. Charles Sheffield – Its Your Voodoo Working (1:47)
Download FLAC & MP3 : VA – Blues, Blues, Hoodoo, Halloween: Scary Blues & Jazz 1925 to 1961 (2014)
