Feathers was born in Holly Springs, Mississippi, and recorded a string of popular singles like "Peepin' Eyes," "Defrost Your Heart," "Tongue-Tied Jill," and "Bottle to the Baby" on Sun Records, Meteor and King Records in the 1950s.
Feathers was known for being a master of shifting emotional and sonic dynamics in his songs. His theatrical, hiccup-styled, energetic, rockabilly vocal style inspired a later generation of rock vocalists, including Lux Interior of The Cramps.
He studied and recorded several songs with Junior Kimbrough, whom he called "the beginning and end of all music". His childhood influences were reflected in his later music of the 1970s and 1980s, which had an easy-paced, sometimes sinister, country-blues tempo, as opposed to the frenetic fast-paced style favored by some of his rockabilly colleagues of the 1950s.
He started out as a session musician at Sun Studios, playing any side instrument he could in the hopes of someday making his own music there. He eventually played on a small label started by Sam Phillips called Flip records which got him enough attention to record a couple singles for Sun Records and Holiday Inn Records. By all accounts the singer was not held in much regard by Phillips, but Feathers often made the audacious claim that he had arranged "That's All Right" and "Blue Moon of Kentucky" for Elvis Presley and recorded "Good Rockin' Tonight" months before Presley. He also claimed that his "We're Getting Closer (To Being Apart)" had been intended to be Elvis' sixth single for Sun. He did, however, get his name on one of Elvis' Sun records, "I Forgot To Remember To Forget" when the writer Stan Kesler asked him to record a demo of the song.
He then moved on to Meteor Records and then King Records where he recorded his best-known work. When his King contract ran out he still continued to perform, although Feathers—perhaps typically—thought there was a conspiracy to keep his music from gaining the popularity it deserved.
In the mid-1980s, he performed at times at new music nightclubs like the Antenna Club in Memphis, Tennessee, sharing the bill with rock-and-roll bands like Tav Falco's Panther Burns, who, as devoted fans of Feathers, had introduced him to their label's president. During this time, rockabilly icon Colonel Robert Morris played drums for Charlie. Charlie said "Robert tore up a brand new set of drums, but the crowd was dancing on the tables".
He released his New Jungle Fever album in 1987 and Honkey Tonk Man in 1988, featuring the lead guitar work of his son, Bubba Feathers. These later albums of original songs penned by Feathers were released on the French label New Rose Records, whose other 1980s releases included albums by cult music heroes like Johnny Thunders, Alex Chilton, Roky Erickson, The Cramps, The Gun Club, and others.
Charlie Feathers died on August 29, 1998.
Feathers' song, "That Certain Female" was featured on the soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino's 2003 film, Kill Bill Vol. 1. His "Can't Hardly Stand It" was featured on the follow-up Kill Bill Vol. 2 soundtrack.
Charlie Feathers' pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Bob Dylan has featured Charlie Feathers on the second season of his XM satellite radio show Theme Time Radio Hour, playing Feathers' records "One Hand Loose" (on the "Countdown" show, Dec. 12, 2007) and "Defrost Your Heart" (on the "Cold" show, April 2, 2008).
Jungle Fever
Charlie Feathers Lyrics
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Jungle fever, got a hold on me
Want somebody tell me
Where can my baby be?
I'm gonna climb me a tree
Where I can see
Where my baby done gone
With tears in my eyes
And tell my baby good-bye
The lion and the leopard
Creepin' thru the grass
The lion and the leopard
Creepin' thru the grass
Only Lord above
Know how long these hunts gonna last
I'm gonna climb me a tree
Where I can see
Where my baby done gone
Then, I'll look up in the sky
With tears in my eyes
And tell my baby good-bye
The song "Jungle Fever" by Charlie Feathers is about the feeling of being lost and bewildered, trying to find someone you love. The jungle is used metaphorically to represent the chaos in the singer's mind and surroundings. The darkness that is creeping through the leaves signifies the unknown that is surrounding the singer. He feels that he is trapped in this place, as if he is plagued with a fever that is affecting his every thought and feeling. The singer is consumed by this "jungle fever" and cannot move forward without finding the one he loves.
The song speaks about the desperation and fear of not being able to locate someone that you love. The line "Where can my baby be?" showcases the singer's despair in the situation. He is overwhelmed with emotions and unsure of what to do. The singer then talks about climbing a tree to try and find his loved one. This line can be interpreted as the singer trying to gain perspective and clarity. He wants to see his surroundings and try to find direction. But as he looks up in the sky with tears in his eyes, he realizes that his loved one has left him forever.
The lyrics of the song "Jungle Fever" have a deep sense of sadness and desperation. It tells the story of a person who has lost their love and is consumed by the fear of never finding them. The metaphor of the jungle used throughout the song adds to the haunting feeling of the lyrics, making them even more poignant.
Line by Line Meaning
Darkness, creepin' thru the leaves
The darkness of the jungle is covering everything, even the leaves rustle almost silently.
Jungle fever, got a hold on me
I am lost in the heat and mystery of the jungle; its allure has a firm grip on me.
Want somebody tell me
Where can my baby be?
I need to find my loved one, and I wish someone could offer me assistance.
I'm gonna climb me a tree
Where I can see
Where my baby done gone
Then, I'll look up in the sky
With tears in my eyes
And tell my baby good-bye
I'll climb a tree high up to see where my significant other went, but with sorrow, I'll accept the possibility that I'll never find them and then bid farewell.
The lion and the leopard
Creepin' thru the grass
The lion and the leopard
Creepin' thru the grass
Only Lord above
Know how long these hunts gonna last
The lion and the leopard are nearby me and sneaking up on me surreptitiously from the tall grass. Their hunting capability is unknown, only God knows how long before they prey on me.
Writer(s): Stevland Morris
Contributed by Alyssa H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
BlueParadoxical
Absolutely killer and amazing. I haven't found many other rockabilly recordings that compare to this. Charlie was the man!
coote62
Total rockabilly dynamite! I will never tire of listening to this one.
Paul Joseph
Wow. Primitive ferocious. Great guitar. No more to say
colin d. wescott
surely one of the top rockabilly kings
Viviane Blazquez
colin d. wescott
Bianca Bagnolet
toujours aussi fantastique trop trop géniale 👍
Dominique FARAUT
Charlie FEATHERS is one of the Rockabilly Kings ! with Johnny BURNETTE , Carl PERKINS , Ray CAMPI , Sonny FISHER , Hal HARRIS , Andy STARR and much more !!!!
Phillip Steffey
He is the King!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Graham Macken
Beast of a tune!
Gary May
Love Charlie