AMG’s Ultimate Halloween Mixtape, Vol. 1
October 24th, 2007 | 11:03 am est |
Most Halloween enthusiasts spend the month (or more) planning their costumes for the big day, but audiophiles know that when it comes to getting into the spirit of the season, atmosphere is the name of the game. There’s only one problem — it seems that every October, the same tired songs get trotted out by radio DJs and slapped on compilation CDs. With all due respect to the late Bobby “Boris” Pickett, Monster Mash does tend to lose its luster after a while.
So, what is a Halloween ghost — er, host with the most — supposed to play to set the mood? Fear not: All Music Guide has your back with this, your guide to the Ultimate Halloween Mixtape. This is just part one, so be sure to check back for more songs that are silly, scary, or even a little of both. Got a suggestion of your own? Leave us a comment below.
Pulp, “The Fear” (sample). From the first ominous, distorted notes that pour forth in the introduction to the increasingly menacing electronic pulses that bring it to a close, this ode to trouble in moneyed paradise proves that sometimes the Fear is inescapable — because it’s life itself.
Metallica, “Of Wolf and Man” (sample). Unlike a more well-known werewolf song that sees plenty of airplay this time of year, this metal ode to shape-shifters is a reminder of what the beasts are supposed to be: fearless, unstoppable, and terrifying.
Pink Floyd, “The Trial” (sample). On an album known for its eerie themes and bleak outlook, what makes this song a creepy standout isn’t just the distorted, strangled voices of its characters or Michael Kamen’s theatrical orchestral score. No, what makes this song truly scary is the fact that this trial all takes place in the head of Pink, the album’s disturbed protagonist.
My Chemical Romance, “Early Sunsets Over Monroeville” (sample). Long before the dramatic bombast of The Black Parade, Gerard Way was already weaving tales of woe with a twist. What starts out as an ode to teenage love in suburbia morphs into a horror story capped by an impossible choice.
Echo & the Bunnymen, “People Are Strange” (sample). Even discounting the fact that this song originally appeared in the end credits for the ’80s teen horror classic The Lost Boys, this cover of a Doors classic gives the song an ethereal, unworldly sound that is haunting long after it’s over.
Voltaire, “The Vampire Club” (sample). For those who favor camp over capes when it comes to vampires, this rollicking little ditty tells the tale of the fights, sights, and sounds that take place in a pretender’s paradise one dark night.
Hughes Hall, “Sleep Now” (sample). A roaring boom of thunder opens this atmospheric tune, and the tension builds from there. This short piece from the Dark City soundtrack is the audio equivalent of being hunted by monsters — and the track’s repeated voice-over of “Sleep… sleep… now” makes it all the more disturbing.
Love & Rockets, “Haunted When the Minutes Drag” (sample). While ostensibly about love lost to a romantic split, the tense vocal delivery, suffocating music and overall anguish could indicate a different meaning entirely. Perhaps this haunting has less to do with memories and more to do with a restless and pervasive spirit.
Björk, “Army of Me” (sample). A slow but steady gait. A nearly emotionless voice. The constant threat of being overwhelmed. It sounds like the makings of a zombie apocalypse or evil machines flick, but it’s also a way of describing this menacing track.
Nine Inch Nails, “Terrible Lie” (sample). Against a disjointed musical backdrop, Trent Reznor delivers a fierce, furious, and deliciously frightening monologue about a love/hate relationship. It’s the sort of tale that Hollywood loves to turn into a cheap stalker thriller, but there’s no need to add visuals to a song that’s this ominous.
Yeah Yeah Yeahs, “Y Control.” The whole Album, Fever to Tell, has the end of summer sadness/emptyness sound echoing in it, but this song in particular stands out as Halloweenish, if for no other reason the Spike Jones music video for the song (wherein the band is in costume and little children run amuck committing acts of violence in costume as well). The song also gives the impression of fallen leaves blowing around in gusts of wind, at least in my opinion.
“Careful With That Axe, Eugene” by Pink Floyd, the Ummagumma live version
for 9 minutes the band slowly builds tension with Roger Waters’ ominous, pulsing bass and the click-clack of Nick Mason’s cymbals, culminating in a sincerely frightening scream. It sounds like a murderer’s inevitable approach up the stairs to the room where he knows his victim is trapped, hiding.
I have to go with “Spinal Meningitis Got Me Down” by Ween off of their 94 oddball masterpiece Chocolate and Cheese. The sound of a sick child pleading for relief to his mother over creepy percussion and the most evil guitar solo ever by the Deaner may not have a Halloween theme but you can’t spell Halloween with out Ween and the song is enough to give anyone the chills.
Nothing from The Horrors? They were invented for this time of the year.
GREAT list!
How about some classics, too?
Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads
Nightmare on My Street by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince
Pornography, by The Cure
Black Sabbath, by Black Sabbath
and
Wicked Annabella by The Kinks
Nico, “The End” the title track from the album of that name. At the risk of making it seem as though everybody could do The Doors’ songs better than they did them, in light of the Echo & the Bunnymen track cited above, there is nothing on this earth quite as terrifying as Nico’s version of “The End.” Fueled by her world weary vocals, nervous harmonium and Phil Manzanera’s minimal guitar contribution, John Cale utilized a kind of sound design in this track to create an aural equivalent to being lost in a spooky catacomb or labyrinth. It is an intensely visual, eerie and one-of-a-kind musical experience.
Well, of course almost anything by Nick Cave, like the mercy seat, but I must say nothing is more haunting than the piano in Kubrick’s Eyes Wide Shut. Here is what I found on wikipedia about it:
One of the recurring pieces of music in the film is the second movement of György Ligeti’s piano cycle “Musica Ricercata.” The piece is unusual in that transitions between successive notes are exclusively either half-steps, augmented fourths, or octave intervals. The fact that the piece uses only three tones, that the intervals between these tones are considered inappropriate in classical music theory, and the unyielding performance indication of Mesto, rigido e cerimoniale adds to the unsettling nature of the piece.
Really top notch list!
Might add T-Bone Burnett’s Zombieland or Down by Drumcorps, but I’m nitpicking. :)
Dave Matthews Band’s “Don’t Drink the Water”
Dave’s growling combined with a screeching violin and lyrics on disturbing actual occurrences make for a truly frightening listen that is more than appropriate for the season.
How could you possibly leave out “Jack The Ripper” by Screaming Lord Sutch? Or any Misfits song would do nicely.
I suggest ‘Subway Song’ by the Cure. That scream at the end always gave me chills and I enjoyed using it to frighten my little sister when we were kids. Hey thats what Halloween is all about right?
i’d have to say…
a lot of metal bands have great songs for halloween, particularly
black sabbath (especially the 1st album), alice in chains (anything just about), meshuggah (just about anything), slayer (all of it), primus (any of their more dark songs, particularly on pork soda), metallica (most of it), stooges (any of their songs that aren’t party inducing), stone temple pilots (1st album), anthrax (among the living), korn (1st album), and iron maiden (most of it)
thats to name the ones i’m closley familar with
but beyond metal:
curtis mayfield’s “if there’s hell below, we’re all gonna go”
michael jackson’s “thriller”
velvet underground’s creepier numbers like “venus in furs” or “the gift”
anything from the doors’ 1st album
rolling stones’ “sympathy for the devil”
any of pink floyd’s creepier songs, particularly anything from “animals” or “the wall”
a trend is noticeable here. all the songs i have chosen have halloween-esque lyrics, not so much just about death, but also monsters, suffering, hate, etc.
Good party songs for keeping the mood but also the vibe.
-”Pet Sematary” The Ramones
-”American Wheeze” 16 Horsepower
-”Suffer Well” Depeche Mode
-”Dragula” Rob Zombie
-”Dead Man’s Party” or most songs by Oingo Boingo
-various songs off Gentlemen, Black Love, or 1965 by the Afghan Whigs
A few more suggestions to add…
“A Forest” by The Cure
“Orion” by Metallica
“Torch” by The Sisters of Mercy
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” by Bauhaus
“Halloween I & II” by the Misfits
“Halloween” by the Dead Kennedys
The first four create a very creepy atmosphere, where the last three are about halloween and are a bit silly but still good for a mix.
“Victim” by The Golden Palominos is simply the most unsettling thing I’ve ever heard in my life. I also like “The Black Rider” by Tom Waits, because the song itself is hilarious circus lounginess but he’s singing about drinking your blood.
I don’t know, what is Halloween without novelty tunes? If Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s version doesn’t do it for you any more, try Bonzo Dog Band’s “Monster Mash,” or their creepy laugh track “Slush.”
“I Put a Spell on You” by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
“Dracula’s Wedding” by Outkast
“The Fang” by Nervous Norvus
“Halloween Spooks” by Lambert, Hendricks, and Ross
“Wild Women With Steak Knives” by Diamanda Galas
“Dracula” by Desmond Dekker
“Trick or Treat” by Otis Redding
How about “A Kind of Loving” by the Police - it can be found on their box set. Probably recorded with tongue in cheek given the song title, but suitable for background music at a torture house. I removed it off my iPod - it was too disturbing - but maybe I’ll put it back on at least for next week!
One of the scariest songs I’ve ever heard: “A Psychopath” from Lisa Germano’s album Geek the Girl. Absolutely chilling.
I’d also suggest “Werewolf” by Cat Power.
How about “Beads of Sweat” by Laura Nyro? Not necessarily scary, but mysterious and ominous for sure.
I really do prefer classical old-fashioned style:
http://humppazoid.blogspot.com/2007/07/psychobilly-grandfather-john-zacherley.html
If You’re serious to be more scary - try to pick up last album by Finntroll
Don’t forget “Frankie Teardrop” by Suicide. Also, “In Every Dream Home, a Heartache” by Roxy Music; either version is great, but I think the live version on Viva! is creepier. And last, I second Uncle Dave’s nod- “The End” by Nico.
How about Louis Armstrong’s “Skeleton in the Closet”?
or Season of the Witch–Donovan and Vampire Blues–Neil Young
Some good suggestions all around, if you can find it I recommend “Scream Thy Last Scream” by The Pink Floyd, Never officially released but it’s out there. “Night Shift” or “Voodoo Dolly” by Siouxsie & The Banshees. “War In Peace” by Skip Spence has great atmospherics to it. “Sycamore Trees” by Jimmy Scott & Angelo Badalamenti is very creepy. There are some things on ‘Nunsexmonkrock’ by Nina Hagen Band that are some of the most satanic sounds I have ever heard! And there are some very creepy songs on ‘The Pod’ by Ween (like “right to the ways and the rules of the world”, it may not have been intended but that song always makes me think of Lovecraft, for some reason). “The Electrician” by The Walker Brothers and most of ‘Tilt’ by Scott Walker. “The Rhythym of the Heat” & “Moribund the Burgermeister” by Peter Gabriel, hard to believe that man never did psychedelic drugs!
“Magick Power” by Opal (& “Happy Nightmare Baby” & “Supernova”, too). “Swamp Song” by Blur, & last “Fearfully in Danger” & “Tananore” by Nico. Happy hunting for all the great music out there, everyone!!!
“Song for Comus” by Comus is a great way to celebrate Halloween pagan style.
“The Ballad of Gary Gilmore” by Jonathan Bepler is also good creepy fun. It’s a country/death metal duet between Patty Griffin and Morbid Angel’s Steve Tucker recorded for Matthew Barney’s Cremaster 2. That’s right, you heard me.
Also, “Armenia” by Einsturzende Neubauten, anything by Krzysztof Penderecki, and let’s throw in the Birthday Party’s “Capers” for good measure.
I can’t believe no one has mentioned roky erickson!
1. Scared- John Lennon
2. Mean and Evil- Elmore James
3. Tam Lin- Fairport Convention
4. Vampire Wedding- Joey Molland
5. Suspiria- Goblin
6. Daybreak- Harry Nilsson
7. Bo Meets the Monster- Bo Diddley
8. Vampires and Failures- Grandpaboy
9. Goblin Girl- Frank Zappa
10. Ghosts- Albert Ayler
And some songs have nothing to do with Halloween, but if you have a sense of humor, play these at a party:
1. Possession- Elvis Costello
2. Maneater- Hall and Oates
3. Witchcraft- Frank Sinatra
4. Beware of Darkness- George Harrison
5. The Invisible Man- Elvis Costello
6. I’m Your Boogie Man- KC and the Sunshine Band
Some good choices here, but come on! No mention of the Cramps?!?
Also, a pathetic showing for anything from the 50s, where early rock n roll meshed well with the decade’s horror films. There was a compilation put out by DCC label years ago called “Monster Rock n Roll Show” with 50s/60s cuts like the obligatory Boris Pickett, but also: Bo Diddley, Screamin Jay Hawkins (”Feast of the Mau Mau”, not “I Put a Spell On You”), Sheb Wooley, Sam The Sham, etc.
Between cuts they had authentic old radio skits and ads for films like “I Was a Teenage Werewolf”. This is more like it. Halloween isn’t a holiday, it’s a goof. Might as well listen to appropriate stuff…..
I’ll second Chris Smith’s suggestion of Pink Floyd’s “Careful With That Axe, Eugene.”
1.- Cementery Gates - The Smiths.
2.- Zomby Woof - Frank Zappa
3.- Bela Lugosi’s Dead - Bauhaus
4.- Die, Die my darling - Misfits
5.- Bill’s Corpse - Captain Beefheart.
6.- Zombie Eaters - Faith No More.
7.- Lullaby - The Cure.
8.- New Dawn Fades - Joy Division.
9.- Fear of the Dark - Iron Maide
Just put the whole Black One album by Sunn0))) on repeat.
This list needs something off Univers Zero’s Heresie. That’s easily the darkest creepyist gothic, (as opposed to goth) music ever.
1. Alaska y Dinarama - “Mi Novio Es Un Zombi” (For the non-polyglots: “My Boyfriend is a zombie”).
This is the ultimate goofy-horror classic, ’tis “Monster Mash” done the Pet Shop Boys-way in Spanish. The silly gayness of this horror love-song is perfect for the framing of a Halloween party romance. (It is a shame, by the way, that A & D never did a christmas carol).
x.(Supplement: Alaska y Dinarama - “Vampirela”).
2. Future Bible Heroes - “I’m A Vampire”
Merrit’s own version of bloodsucking goofiness. It has the same monotone mad n’ gay gothic feeling as “Monster Mash” & “Mi Novio Es Un Zombi”, but the lyrics are somewhat more ambigious however and hence it leaves this listener with a less comfortable (echo of the) taste of blood.
y. Other non-comment supplements (need they comments those who are larger than life?):
(i)Future Bible Heroes - “Death Opened A Boutique”
(ii)David Bowie - “Scary Monsters”
(iii)Annie Lennox’ “Love Song For A Vampire”?
(iv) And last not least (thundering Meatloaf power drums accompany from now on ’til the end of this comment): Doing “anything for love”, that’s what Halloween’s all about. Crossing all borders - for there may not be no life nor death in love, merely goose bumps and shivering spines.
No Alice Cooper? How about “I Love the Dead”, for starters? And I second Brooke’s suggestion for Roky Erickson. Lastly, I’ll suggest Bowie’s “Chant of the Ever-Circling Skeletal Family”, off of Diamond Dogs. And “Science Fiction Double Feature” from the Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack.
Oingo Boingo - Dead Man’s Party
Concrete Blonde - Bloodletting
Rev Heat - The Devil’s Chasing Me
CCR - Bad Moon Rising
LeRoi Brothers - Zombie Rumble
I think you need some songs from The Fall. There version of R. Dean Taylor’s “There’s a Ghost In My House”, “Specter vs. Rector”, “Before The Moon Falls”, “City Hobgoblin” etc. Most of their songs just sound creepy anyway.
The Eels - “Cancer for the cure”, it actually samples a familiar spooky backtrack. I wonder what that sample is from, sounds kinda like strings. I know I’ve heard it in The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland or something of the like. If I could get that sample I would be quite happy.
No one mentions Nick Cave?
Where The Wild Roses Grow or Red Right Hand.
Dr John - Gris Gris Gumbo Ya Ya
Warren Zevon - Excitable Boy
Tom Waits - Shore Leave
The Specials - Ghost Town
The Future Sound Of London - Expander
Oingo Boingo - No One Lives Forever
Laika & The Cosmonauts - Psyko (Themes from Psycho & Vertigo)
Dead Kennedys - Halloween
Spike Jones - I Only Have Eyes for You
Vincent Price - Voice-over from Thriller
Doors - L’America
Artie Shaw - Nightmare
Cab Calloway - The Nightmare
A Forest Mighty Black - Everything
PJ Harvey - Down By the Water
Air - Run
Talking heads - Swamp
Neville Bothers - Voo Doo
No Philip Glass, especially from his Dracula record, The Crypt, Lucy’s Bitten, Dracula Enters…
Pavement’s barely-over-a-minute “Colorado” found as a bonus track on the second disc of ‘Crooked Rain Crooked Rain’. Sounds like it would fit in A Clockwork Orange.
rockin in the graveyard-roy loney
haunted house-jumpin gene simmons
halloween theme-john carpenter
psycho-bernard herrmann
munsters theme-los straitjackets
human fly-the cramps
re: Chris Smith-
I had a job at college driving students (often drunk) around campus in a glorified short bus, and one night, I was playing the live disc of Ummagumma over the speakers. During Rick Wright’s atmospheric noodling, someone remarked “What is this, Enya?”, but when it reached Waters’ blood-freezing scream, at least half the passengers jumped out of their seats. Classic.
No Halloween mix is complete without something by at least some of these artists: Alice Cooper, King Diamond, Mercyful Fate, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, Black Sabbath, Roky Erickson, and one song that always freaked me out a little, “Who Are the Brain Police” by the Mothers of Invention.
Mr. Bungle-Carousel
Venetian Snares-Aamelotasis, Dollmaker, Befriend a Childkiller, etc.
Aphex Twin-Gwely Mernans, and a bunch of other songs from Drukqs
also ditto for the guy above me regarding “Brain Police”
CCR - I Put A Spell On You