Bryan Ferry 'I Put A Spell On You (single mix long version)

Chart Peak:
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Screaming Jay Hawkins 'I Put A Spell On You' has been recorded by acts as diverse as Nina Simone, Alan Price and Demon Fuzz... Ferry's interpretation returned him to the Top 20 in March '93

Third cover version on the trot. Now I've nothing against cover versions and in fact I'm listening to some as I type this, but Bryan Ferry's covers have never really appealed to me. At best they're over-theatrical expressions of his persona but this song, which is famously dramatic to start with, is tackled in a very bland manner. Presumably this is supposed to be intentional and somehow subversive, but it just sound like he's run out of ideas and filled his album with cover versions out of necessity. He sounds bored by his own record and you can hardly blame him.

Since 1993 the song has of course been recorded by many other acts including Annie Lennox, though the highest-charting version here was by Sonique. If you're one of the people who bought Now 48 after seeing it on Peter Kay's recent TV series you'll already know that.

Also appearing on: Now 5, 13
Available on: Best Of

Bryan Ferry 'Slave To Love'

Chart Peak: 10

YouTube

Perhaps Ferry's most popular solo song, and despite my general dislike for his music I admit I don't really mind this one. It helps, perhaps, that this is his own song rather than one of the many awful covers he tends to inflict on us, although it does seem a little similar to the late Roxy Music hit 'Avalon'. As there, he seems to rein in the most affected parts of his crooning and set up a mellow, slightly jazzy mood. In fact, the major flaw of this track is that it's so laid back it's easy to overlook it, even when you're trying to pay attention so you can write a blog post about it. Sorry Bryan.

Also appearing on: Now 13, 24
Available on: Best Of