| I Put a Spell on You | |
| Type: | studio |
| Artist: | Nina Simone |
| Cover: | Nina Simone - I Put a Spell on You.png |
| Released: | June 1965 |
| Recorded: | 1964–1965 |
| Studio: | New York City |
| Label: | Philips |
| Producer: | Hal Mooney |
| Prev Title: | Broadway-Blues-Ballads |
| Prev Year: | 1964 |
| Next Title: | Pastel Blues |
| Next Year: | 1965 |
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 and number 18 on the UK Albums Chart. The title track "I Put a Spell on You" peaked at number 23 on the Hot Rhythm & Blues Singles chart[1] and number 28 on the UK Singles Chart.
The album was re-issued in November 2020 by Verve and Universal Music Enterprises as part of their "audiophile-grade" Acoustic Sounds series.[2]
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." 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.'"
In 2017, NPR placed it at number 3 on the "150 Greatest Albums Made by Women" list.[3] Writing for NPR, Audie Cornish called it "the closest you'll ever hear her come to pop."[3] In 2024, Apple Music 100 Best Albums named it the 88th best album of all time, making it the only album by Simone to appear on the list.[4]
Credits adapted from liner notes.
| Chart (1965) | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[5] [6] | 99 | |
| UK Albums (OCC)[7] | 18 | |
| Chart (2021–2022) | Peak position | |
| US Jazz Albums[8] | 10 |