Top 10 Halloween Songs!
The dark clouds are gathering as the witching season is upon us. Yep. Halloween is here and it's time to dig out some spooky records to give your loved ones the willies... here are our Top 10 Halloween Songs... and we promise that it won't feature Thriller by Michael Jackson.
1. Monster Mash Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and The Cryptkickers
Onced banned by the BBC for being "too morbid", this jolly little dancer is the daddy of all Halloween records. The track sees Pickett taking off Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi while telling a tale of a monster rising from a slab and coming up with a dance... you don't get enough of that in 45s do you? Infinitely superior to all other imitators, the original is still by far the best. Click here to see a brilliant and baffling video for the Monster Mash.
Read over for the rest of the Top 10 Halloween Songs.
2. We Got A Date by Hasil Adkins
If you have ever heard a record by Hasil Adkins, you'll already know how demented his tunes are. Unhinged howls and accidental time changes clatter around with a recording that can, at its kindest, be described as DIY. Well, if you want something that will genuinely scare the shit out of you, first stop is We Got A Date. Out of tune guitars wail whilst Hasil summons up gut wrenching screams and threatens to cut "yaw head off about half past eight"... a truly terrifying record.
3. I Put A Spell On You by Screamin' Jay Hawkins
You surely don't need to be told about this song? It's a classic with evil lurking at the core.
4. Boris The Spider by The Who
Probably the weirdest thing released by the art-rockers. Boris The Spider, with its elastic bassline, prowls and groans whilst telling the tale of a spider who meets a sticky end. A firm Halloween favourite.
5. Soul Dracula by Hot Blood
Click here to watch the insane and preposterous disco that is Hot Blood's Soul Dracula.
6. Devil Woman by Cliff Richard
As well you know, Sir Cliff is a big Christian. That didn't stop him creating a fine record about a woman with the ways of Lucifer himself. Devil Woman, a supreme guilty pleasure, is wily and slinky and, dare I say it, sexy. Even though Cliff says "beware the devil woman", he creates a perfect advertisement for sinning.
7. I Was A Teenage Werewolf by The Cramps
"I was a teenage werewolf... braces on my fangs..." The kings of B-movie garage hit the coffin nail square on the head.
8. El Monsturo by Los Shains
Available on the Teenage Shutdown comp, Jump, Jive and Harmonies, Los Shains cover The Crusher by The Novas. If the original was a scary enough couple of minutes, then Los Shains turn it into a blood curdling affair with grimy guitars and screams of real anguish. This is up there with Hasil Adkins.
9. The Witch by The Sonics
Basically, The Sonics are the greatest band who ever graced an ear. When they're bad, they're pure evil. In The Witch, they scream "she got long black hair and a big black car" before launching into "she walks around late at night among startled people sleepin' tight if you hear her knocking on your door you better sneak away". A masterpiece.
10. You Must Fight To Live On The Planet Of The Apes by The Mummies
Personally, no-one embodies the ghoulish fun of Halloween better than the sublime/ridiculous punk outfit, The Mummies. Dressed in ragged bandages, The Mummies ripsnort through 300mph garage and generally scare the piss outta anyone not in on it. Click here to watch The Mummies in action
Have we missed any out? Appalled at the lack of Warren Zevon? Demand to know why The Munsters theme was omitted? Feel free to leave a comment with your fave Halloween song!
Want more? Subscribe to the daily mailout of Electric Roulette articles here
Bella Lugosi's Dead - Bauhaus
Teenage Vampire - Sultans of Ping
The Witch - The Cult
Actually I don't really like those last two much but just thought I'd add a few suggestions.
I do like 'Werewolfs of London' though.
Posted by: Justine | 10/29/2007 at 05:28 PM
"Bela Lugosi's Dead" is a great pick. And FYI "The Witch" by the Cult is on the soundtrack to "Cool World".
A good addition might be "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo.
I also personally like "We Are the Dead" by David Bowie off of the Diamond Dogs album, and generally that whole album in general has a good Halloween atmosphere to it.
Posted by: Corby Ziesman | 10/29/2007 at 11:31 PM
"Lullaby" by The Cure!
Posted by: Kit | 10/30/2007 at 09:43 AM
"Lullaby" by The Cure!
Posted by: Kit | 10/30/2007 at 09:44 AM
"Lullaby" by The Cure!
Posted by: Kit | 10/30/2007 at 09:44 AM
"Lullaby" by The Cure!
Posted by: Kit | 10/30/2007 at 09:44 AM
Has someone suggested Lullaby by the Cure? ;-)
How about There's A Ghost In My House, preferably by The Fall. Mark E Smith has a Halloween face.
Posted by: David Walker | 10/30/2007 at 10:56 AM