Screamin` Jay Hawkins - Heart Attack & Vine

[ughaibu]

Idiot. Get the adverts off.

[reyjalapeno]

I'd be curious to know what Tom Waits thinks of Sreamin Jays version.I like em both.

[CrystalTears234]

i wanna taste the madness!

massive credit to tom for writing this song and to screamy for doing such a great cover

[glaeken14]

TOM GENIUS CAZY DRUNK

[thecrikster]

Jay is the only person I can think qualified to cover this song. And he does a good attempt. I prefer Wait's original, but this has attitude crawling all over it!

[kaavin]

Heard within the context of the album it was on (Black Music for White People) this isn't the work of an old and sick man. The whole album rocks.

[LJH70122]

Not one of Screamin Jay's better efforts. He must have been old and sick when this was recorded . I would love to have heard him in his prime covering this song , but this one lacks the usual energy of his performances.

[b0dhisattvah]

Wow, this is really some horrible stuff.  I need to listen to the original to wash this out of my ears. (yes, the original is Tom Waits)

[jefster1961]

@b0dhisattvah waits version is no where good as this one

[b0dhisattvah]

@jefster1961 Well, you make a compelling argument. You have totally changed my mind.

[andymouse123]

@jefster1961 its not "waits version"..its tom waits fucking song ya moron

[WonderWomanFan4life]

i would love to see an interview with all the women and kids that he produced... I also would like to know why he didnt use birth control. Not to mention i was curious as to know if any of the women knew about each other at the time? To me that is almost Criminal to have all those kids. WOW could it be true? or just jibber jaw media hooplaw

[Mackers2317]

This is pretty shitty eh?

[ytkoekie2000]

@Mackers2317 no it's genius...

[WonderWomanFan4life]

@Mackers2317

ARE you serious??? Everyone loves his work.. I mean look at many people have sang his songs including Marilyn Manson. as well as a few others. he was a brilliant voice. i love it.  sorry you dont GET it

[Mackers2317]

@WonderWomanFan4life Yep I like Screamin' Jay Hawkins. But this version of this Tom Waits song I don't think is good. Must be because the Tom Waits version is really sick

[WonderWomanFan4life]

@Mackers2317

Hey this song playing right here is Screaming Jay. I have heard the Tom Waits version it's kool. This is Screaming Jays song not Tom Waits. He was performing this long before. but you can believe what you want. However you can also look up the facts.

[Mackers2317]

@WonderWomanFan4life alright I looked it up and it was STILL written by Tom Waits. When it was covered by Screamin Jay it was used without the consent of Tom Waits in a commercial and it went to court and Tom won. Umm... I dunno what else. I guess look up the wikipedia info on the song or the album Heart Attack and Vine. I tried to put the link in here but it doesn't like links in youtube comments and says there's an error

[WonderWomanFan4life]

@Mackers2317

Its still a GREAT song. They both made some money. I don't know everything. I get confused all these songs, skin care, hair care, nail polish, shoes, etc i cant remember everydam thing thats why i just tell people look it up. Glad we got that cleared up as I looked it up before and forgot. I love this song. both versions are kool but this one is better

[WonderWomanFan4life]

@Mackers2317

In my opinion Tom Waits only imitated Screaming Jay. He has a nice version but it is missing ENERGY or something. It is good but not GREAT. Screaming Jay was a talented classically trained operatic singer. He had a super strong voice. I am not sure if you understand this is song here is sCREAMing Jay and not tom waits. HERE is Tom WAITS anyone can tell the difference but i dont want to get into that with you /watch?v=FfXSef8FOAg&feature=r­elated

[WonderWomanFan4life]

sounds like hollywood/vine here in LA. LOL

[andymouse123]

@WonderWomanFan4life just noticed that !!!!!....HEHEHH !

[touchandgod]

Oh baby baby baby do I wish that Tom and Jay had dueted. Jay's ego woulda gotten in the way, but it would still be remarkable.

[mifisch71]

I ve happen to had that single-cd, too... cool!

[michelle88960]

i know this is a strange comment about this track. but a friend of mine was in prison a few years ago-in the UK- and he used to play this song really loud, and all the other prisoners and screws, loved it! they used to tell him, "put Screamin Jay on again" and they would all sing along to it. i suppose they could relate to some of the lyrics.

[i20d]

Tom waits sings "Don't you know ain't no Devil, there's just God when he's drunk" which Jay changed to "there's just screaming jay when he's drunk." Hubris I say! Hehe.

[thankallahalltime]

thenoblequran (Ctrl+Enter)

[rightenough]

This stuff'll probly kill ya, lets do another line...

[sclogse1]

Screamin Jay blew my mind with his early stuff. A classic dude, and visually, has no equal. His appearance in Jim Jarmusch's film was wonderful. He should be on more films. I'd like this more if I could watch him sing it. Good band here, tho.

Tom's version is perfection, and the black and white youtube video of him singing it in europe is one of the best things on youtube.

[AaronWallace]

The guitar part is better in Hawkins' version, but no one can do Tom like Tom.

[flipwaves]

Not that Wiki is the full authority but this is copied from said:

The song has been covered by Screamin' Jay Hawkins and featured in the Levi's commercial "Procession" directed by Michael Haussman. Waits sued in European court over this use of his music and won against Levi's. The following apology was printed by Levi's in a 1993 issue of Billboard Magazine:

And Waits' copyright is 1980 and Screamin' Jay in 1991. Regardless, it's a great version of the song!!!!

[saka1faka]

@flipwaves

congradulations for your knowledge my friend

[jimmymcclukcluk]

"you know there aint no devil thats just Screamin' Jay when hes drunk"

[CXHobbes]

Actually he sued for both. He sued Frito-Lay for a parody of "Step Right Up" to sell their corn chips (earning 2.6 million- more than he earned up to that point with his album sales) and also he sued Levi-Strauss for thier use of Screaming Jay's version of "Heartattack and Vine".

[timdalf]

It's actually quite a good cover.

[andymouse123]

@timdalf yep

[petfireball]

@aprilapril2 i could be more lol

[BeigeBomber25X]

Good cover. Not as good as the Waits version, though.

[wellerslastloafers]

"This stuff'll probly kill ya, let's do another line" Genius. I love this version.

[jszabi]

Atyaúristendeszeretemeeeeeeeee­eeezt!

[yousaiditzero]

not even close....don't let the lazy snare fool ya into thinking this even comes close to the real song.........

[lariberaaltamalc]

He may never have heard of prophilactics but for fucks sake 50+ women must have! Wonderful singer but generally a preventable virus.

[akoryzm]

both versions are just fantastic!

[andymouse123]

@akoryzm that's the way to settle this buddy!

[Kamil17G]

This is abomination

[byroncallas]

Terrific cover. Hawkins seems about the only guy who can deliver a Waits song like this. Terrific post.

[andymouse123]

@byroncallas oh! yes...you put it perfectly

[westpalmscott]

Great cover of Tom Waits. This album also contains Ignant And Shit which is one of the funniest things Jay ever did. Somebody needs to post that one

[andymouse123]

LET'S GET IT STRAIGHT

i love this cover but tom wrote it and he sing's it the best if you don't belive me check out tom at palace 1

[ncbloom]

if two people sing a song and one of them is tom waits , the other person sings it better . period !!! and if that person is screaming jay , then its not even close.

[alexfanx]

I don't know if Joey Ramone sang better than Tom Waits.

[TheFacelessK]

i like both tom waits and jay vers. they are too different to compare its like comparing bowie to zeppelin but im still confused was tom waits or jay covering because i thought i was a classic blues song or something and they both covered it

[andymouse123]

tom waits wrote and performed it

[trinityj1]

@TheFacelessK Everyone else is covering Tom Waits. He wrote this song.

[andymouse123]

@trinityj1 yep

[thegranddilligaf]

Damn- this is the song that first got me into Screamin Jay Hawkins- and also Tom Wait. I remember it being used on a Levis advert and I just had to have it. I have a soft spot for this version even if I do prefer the original- if it hadn't been for this version though I'd never have heard the original.

[yamiexup]

who cares if anyones thinks this is best version....no probs it may be for you

but for us Tom Wait addicts there will only be one version and this aint it!!!

[TheTruesonofliberty]

Well if you worship Tom Waites you need to respect his choice in tunes he covers

[yamiexup]

??he wrote this

he wrote most his stuff

he covered Leonard Bernstein's 'Somewhere' on Blue Valentine, cant think of many others

[Sworcha]

@yamiexup

He covered Sea of Love on the soundtrack of the movie by the same name.

[yamiexup]

@Sworcha ..relly surprised i didn't spot that one?? when yu l00k into it he's done quite a few covers, just i'm no expert (♫ i scream, u scream, we all scream for ice scream♫ if ur into his movies LOL). fair to say tho that more have covered his stuff than visa versa.

be intrestin to find out if more ppl judge him as songwriter or performer??? i can't relly decide altho his lyrics make him one of american finest poets of all time IMO

[Sworcha]

@yamiexup

I have not heard a cover of a Tom Waits song which did anything to improve on the original. I do not blame anyone for wanting cover his material as he (in partnership with his wife) is an exquisitely inventive songwriter. As a performer, he has developed such an original and complete persona that it is impossible to determine where his fundamental strength lies.

[zoso1019]

@TheTruesonofliberty I'm pretty sure Tom doesn't cover songs. This is one of his own.

[cormacb1]

@zoso1019 Tom covers some songs, such as Big Joe and Phantom 309 on his Nighthawks at the Diner album.

[blackcatsmith]

@cormacb1 .... and 'Somewhere (there's a place for us)' from West Side Story off the album Blue Valentines.

More?

[azraelstear1]

LIAR LIAR...etc.....Brilliant Blues.....Totally RAW!! If only my voice was as Good as HIS...!!

[Dresh7]

Tom Waits wrote it and does it better.

[downhillspill]

no he doesnt

[GAVFULLERTON1]

whos wrote this song screamin jay or tom waits?

[swingabilly]

nobody can do it like HE did it!! GREAT !!

[fightfan225]

im sorry.... tom waits didnt do it better then that... long live the wildman sceamin jay!!!!!!!!

[MartaBtrp]

Good!

[aprilapril2]

Hawkins died on February 12, 2000 after surgery to treat an aneurysm. He left behind many children by many women; about 55 were known (or suspected) upon his death, and upon investigation, that number "soon became perhaps 75 offspring".charismatic bastard eh.

[liquidfreak]

@aprilapril2 Thankyou Wikipedia

[Maddhater1]

@aprilapril2 lol copy/paste Wikipedia eh?

[MrOpinion]

Technically the children were the bastards...

[MrOpinion]

Technically the children were the bastards...

[sim4sho]

@aprilapril2 straight from wikipedia

[benspruce]

@sim4sho They made a movie called '57 Kids' and there is a website dedicated to tracking down all his (bastard) offspring. It's a great movie, check it out.

[stevedovefr]

Only just found out he's no longer with us. Thanks for the posting, a great interpretation of a great song, only discovered it thru the Levis ad circa 1989 - whoa that's 20 years ago !

[LeslieWelsh]

@andymouse123

I have been trying to find this version for years. I indeed saw the cinema advert & was most interested to read your note about it being stolen from Tom Waits ( and his incredibly generous gesture of giving his court award to charity). Thanks for the info. In my own ( humble ) opinion the SJH version is better than TW; so often someone else does a better interpretation than writer ( e. g: all of Chuck Berry's). ATB

LW

[andymouse123]

@LeslieWelsh Yse sometimes cover versions can be better but...yeah don't tell Tom but this is wicked hehehehe...you like Waits?

[45rpmSINGLES]

@andymouse123 that large settlement was over a different song " Step Right Up " - not this one ! .Regarding his courtcase over this song i quote " While the court ruled in favor of Waits, he was awarded only a fraction of the financial compensation he'd requested. However, he could take solace in the official apology he received from Levi Strauss and Company, which took the form of a fullpage ad in Billboard magazine."

[andymouse123]

@45rpmSINGLES thanks for putting me right my friend

[JezRG]

@45rpmSINGLES No actually, it WAS this one. dunno where you get your information from.

[45rpmSINGLES]

@JezRG Check the facts on the web , your mind is playing games in afraid .

[averagejoe670]

@JezRG STOP BITCHIN PEOPLE JUST ENJOY PEACE UP

[LocoRico89]

I love this song! Reminds me of downtown LA

[CptCHooks]

"I bet she's a virgin but it's only 25 to nine"

[MrUnidyne]

"This stuff will prob'ly kill ya / Let's do another line..."

[craigfromnewcastle]

@CptCHooks

one of the best lines ever written :D

[AlexTheRabbi]

at least he made it his own i hate people when they do other peoples song exactley the same,, like it was good when joe cocker did a little help with my friends by the bealtes but did it completley differnt :)

[awastedname]

i just don't hate

[23flowergirl]

real bawdy tune, i like it

[liquidfreak]

TOM WAITS!!!!

[Lucinnius]

Screamin'Jay a good singer but certainly one of the best "artists" from his time!

Timeless.

[seagullsummer]

" china white....let's do another line ".....

sounds straight forward to me....

[andymouse123]

screamin jay new how to drink ! bless him

[sfrenogildo]

Great instrumental part, but his interpretation is a bit over the top.

I know SJH is supposed to be over the top, but i prefer ol'Tom's version.

[andymouse123]

sorry dude don't agree

[ichbineintoober]

Ol Jay died from the cocaine. But meanwhile he got a lot of white whores pregnant.

Can't blame a dog for wanting to be a man.

[222nietzsche]

Hahaha...i like that...

[ForwardN2Unknown]

Vintage is good for records, but less than attractive in opinions. Get back to the typewriter.

[notdeadjustlazy]

I don't understand the lyrics, is it about drinking, coke or levi jeans lol.

[DocHou72]

It's about the rough parts of town where people have liberal views on morality. Like a lot of Mr. Waits' tunes.

[Zimbodance]

Razzledazzle

[Nothalfpoppickers]

The definitive version...

[RadialBen]

YEEHAA!! My uncle used to have a copy of 'Black Music for White Folks' which featured this song but he lost it. I haven't heard this for YEARS and now I find it here. Awesome!

[Heeey333]

lol

[RobotMonster42]

Screamin' Jay doing Tom Waits, if only I heard Waits doing Jay....

[webonnielad]

RIP Gary

[123stickman3]

this is one of the greatest songs of all time