Screamin' Jay Hawkins - Constipation Blues

The spoken intro is somewhat of a rarity on studio recordings.  Largely relegated to live performances, or recreating those performances in the studio setting, the intro can work a crowd up, building excitement for a song they’ve been waiting for and know/hope is coming.  It can also place a crowd in the right mindset, creating a natural break in a set, readying the audience for a down-tempo tune.  Screamin’ Jay Hawkins knew the value of such a setup, even outside of his live act.

Screamin’ Jay provides a laundry list of harsh realities and adversities that can be addressed in song.  Heartbreak.  Loneliness.  Being broke.  All tried and true topics for a blues tune.  But each of those troubles pale in comparison to this, a song about REAL pain.  Give a listen to the tragicomic tale set forth in “Constipation Blues”, and let it go! Let it go…