I Put a Spell on You (album)
| I Put a Spell on You | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | June 1965 | |||
| Recorded | 1964 – 1965 | |||
| Studio | New York City | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 34:21 | |||
| Label | Philips | |||
| Producer | Hal Mooney | |||
| Nina Simone chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [1] |
| Pitchfork | 9.1/10[2] |
I Put a Spell on You is a studio album by American jazz singer, songwriter, and pianist Nina Simone. Recorded in 1964 and 1965 in New York City, it was released by Philips Records in 1965. It peaked at number 99 on the Billboard 200 chart[3] and number 9 on the UK Albums Chart.[4] The title track, "I Put a Spell on You," peaked at number 23 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart[5] and number 28 on the UK Singles Chart.[4]
Critical reception
AllMusic reviewer Richie Unterberger gave the album 3 stars out of 5, calling it "One of her most pop-oriented albums, but also one of her best and most consistent."[1] He added, "There are really fine tunes and interpretations, on which Simone gives an edge to the potentially fey pop songs, taking a sudden (but not uncharacteristic) break for a straight jazz instrumental with 'Blues on Purpose.'"[1]
In 2017, NPR placed it at number 3 on the "150 Greatest Albums Made by Women" list.[6] Writing for NPR, Audie Cornish called it "the closest you'll ever hear her come to pop."[6]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "I Put a Spell on You" | Jalacy Hawkins | 2:34 |
| 2. | "Tomorrow Is My Turn" | Charles Aznavour, Marcel Stellman, Yves Stéphane | 2:48 |
| 3. | "Ne me quitte pas" | Jacques Brel | 3:34 |
| 4. | "Marriage Is for Old Folks" | Leon Carr, Earl Shuman | 3:29 |
| 5. | "July Tree" | Irma Jurist, Eve Merriam | 2:41 |
| 6. | "Gimme Some" | Andy Stroud | 2:57 |
| 7. | "Feeling Good" | Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley | 2:53 |
| 8. | "One September Day" | Rudy Stevenson | 2:48 |
| 9. | "Blues on Purpose" | Rudy Stevenson | 3:16 |
| 10. | "Beautiful Land" | Leslie Bricusse, Anthony Newley | 1:54 |
| 11. | "You've Got to Learn" | Charles Aznavour, Marcel Stellman | 2:41 |
| 12. | "Take Care of Business" | Andy Stroud | 2:03 |
Personnel
Credits adapted from liner notes.
- Nina Simone – piano, vocals
- Rudy Stevenson – guitar
- Hal Mooney – arrangement, conducting
- Horace Ott – arrangement, conducting
Charts
| Chart | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[3][7] | 99 |
| UK Albums (OCC)[4] | 18 |
References
- ^ a b c Unterberger, Richie. "I Put a Spell on You - Nina Simone". AllMusic. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ Wallace, Carvell (July 30, 2016). "Nina Simone: I Put a Spell on You". Pitchfork. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
- ^ a b "Nina Simone - Billboard 200". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ a b c "Nina Simone". Official Charts Company. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ "Nina Simone - Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs". Billboard. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ a b "Turning The Tables: The 150 Greatest Albums Made By Women 10-1". NPR. July 24, 2017. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
- ^ "Nina Simone - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on March 23, 2016. Retrieved January 25, 2018.
External links
- I Put a Spell on You at Discogs (list of releases)