On September 7, 2011 I published the first in a three-part series (seen HERE) covering a favorite topic of mine, Halloween novelty songs. I initially became a fan thanks to the Dr. Demento Show (visit the official website HERE) that I would listen to as a young teen every Sunday night, pulling in a weak signal from a Boston-area station. Like all good things, the Dr. Demento Show eventually went off the air in this area but thanks to Rhino Records I was able to start building up a collection of novelty songs, with an emphasis on my favorite holiday, Halloween.
This series became very popular with part two being published on September 11, 2011 (seen HERE) and part three being published on October 16, 2011 (seen HERE). I actually had no intention of continuing the series from here as the best of what was available was already covered. Then, two years later, while looking through the iTunes store, I found some downloadable collections, featuring many songs not covered in the original series. This ended up being part four, also known as the Digital Download Edition which was published on October 6, 2013 (seen HERE).
Rhino Records used to be the best source of novelty song compilations but a more recent company, Wanda Records, has taken over releasing many new compilations, oftentimes showcasing songs not previously available. I first covered two of Wanda Records’ collections in part 2, with the titles HALLOWEEN FRIGHT NITE and BOMP IN THE NIGHT. Here I present for you eleven new collections, with nine of the discs being put out by Wanda! Many of these are available for digital download or you can order hard copies through Crystal Ball Records. As always I only cover releases that showcase original artists. My belief is that this is how these songs were meant to be heard and any imitations are just not worth the money.
THE BEST OF HALLOWEEN
This first collection, a two-disc set, is a great starter collection! It features 50 songs that are all must-haves in a Halloween novelty song collection. This is put out by One Day Music and it also features some fun artwork.
Disc 1: 1) Monster Mash – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers 2) Love Potion No. 9 – The Clovers 3) The Purple People Eater -Sheb Wooley 4) Frankenstein’s Den – The Hollywood Flames 5) Werewolf – Garry Warren 6) Screamin’ Ball (At Dracula Hall) – The Duponts 7) Dinner With Drac, Pt. 1 – John Zacherle 8) Jekyll And Hyde – Jim Burgett 9) Igor’s Party – Tony’s Monstrosities 10) The Fang -Nervous Norvous 11) At The House Of Frankenstein – Big Bee Kornegay 12) The Mummy’s Bracelet – Lee Ross 13) Ghost Satellite – Bob & Jerry 14) Graveyard Rock – Tarantula Goul 15) The Little Martian – Jan Amber 16) Midnight Monsters Hop – Jack & Jim 17) Don’t Meet Mr. Frankenstein – Carlos Casal & Jr. 18) Amazon – Phil Carter 19) Graveyard Shift – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers 20) Frenzy – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 21) Leopard Man – Joe Wallace 22) The Bat – John Zacherle 23) The Vampires – Archie King 24) The Gila Monster – Joe Johnson 25) The Shadow Knows – The Coasters
Disc 2: 1) I Put A Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 2) ‘Til The Following Night – Screaming Lord Sutch 3) Rabian The Fiendage Idol – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers 4) Gravy (With Some Cyanide) – John Zacherle 5) Rockin’ In the Graveyard – Jackie Morningstar 6) Teenage Creature – Lord Luther 7) Voodoo Woman – Smiley Smith 8) She’s My Witch – Kip Tyler 9) Rocket To The Moon – The Astro-Notes 10) Zippy, Hippy, Dippy – Coye Wilcox 11) The Martian Band – The Wild Tones 12) Monster Mash Party – Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers 13) You Can Get Him Frankenstein – The Castle Kings 14) The Cat – Rod Willis 15) Let’s Twist Again (Mummy Time Is Here) – John Zacherle 16) The Voo Doo Walk (feat. Cindy & Misty) – Sonny Richard’s Panics 17) The Monster Hop – Bert Convy 18) Count Down – Casey Grams 19) Popeye (The Gravedigger) – John Zacherle 20) Mad House Jump – The Daylighters 21) Jungle Hop – Kip Tyler 22) Sunglasses After Dark – Dwight Pullen 23) Night Of The Vampire – The Moontrekkers 24) Music To Be Murdered By – The Alfred Hitchcock Orchestra 25) The Purple People Eater Meets The Witchdoctor – The Big Bopper
DOO WOP HALLOWEEN IS A SCREAM
This collection is by Wanda records and features 27 fun tracks, most of which have never been released before!
1) Trick or Treat – 4 Flops 2) Zombie Walk – Magics 3) Headless Ghost – Nightmares 4) Monster Mash – Frankie & the Newports 5) Dead – Poets 6) Frankensteins Den – Hollywood Flames 7) I’m In The Ground For Good – Newports 8) Zombie Jamboree – King Flash & Calypso Carnival 9) Mummy’s Ball – Verdicts 10) Queen of Halloween – Chotalls 11) Horror Pictures – Calvanes 12) Spooksville – Nu-Trends 13) Witch Doctor – Frankie & Fashions 14) Dead Man’s Stroll – Revels 15) Screamin’ Ball – Duponts 16) That Halloween Night – Denise & Double-Dates 17) Rockin’ Zombie – Crewnecks 18) Frankenstein’s Party – Swinging Philles 19) My Baby Likes Scary Movies – Pete & the Bloodsuckers 20) Nightmare Mash – Bill Riley 21) Dorothy-My Monster – Companions 22) The Vampire – Archie King 23) Monster’s Love – Danny & Lenny with Hollywood Ghouls 24) At the House Of Frankenstein – Big Bee Kornegay & Group 25) Beware – Bill Buchanan 26) Dracula – Zane Brothers 27) Dr. Jekyll & Mrs. Hyde – Crystalairs
HALLOWEEN BASH!
This Wanda Records release features 25 tracks, 85% of which has never been released on cd before (according to the disc). To me this is a great selling point!
1) The Were Wolf – Benae Carol 2) Witch Doctor – Blazers 3) That Tickles – Brigidi Sisters 4) Teenage Brain Surgeon – Eddie Davis 5) This Way Frankie – Lord Chatterly 6) Dr. Poop – Howie Post 7) Mad Witch – Dave Gardner 8) Little Old Lady From Transylvania – Ghouls 9) I Created A Monster – Glenn Barber 10) The Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley 11) Ghost Guitars – Baron Daemon & Vampires 12) The Witch Doctor – Faron Young 13) Sittin’ Up in the Casket – Ron Britt 14) Voodoo Kiss – Don Sargent & Buddies 15) The Evils of Frankenstein – Choctan John 16) Teenage Creature – Lord Luther 17) Vampire – Jesse Martinez 18) Monster Holiday – Lon Chaney 19) Scalaroomie – Eddie Garson 20) Sittin’ Up with the Dead – Ray Stevens 21) Grave Yard Creep – James Duhon 22) Scarry Harry – Stylists 23) The Ghost of Love – Gar Bacon 24) Your Love is Haunting Me – Johnny Elgin 25) Zombie Jamboree – Harold (DIgby) McNair
HALLOWEEN HORROR SHOW
This Wanda Records release features 25 more tracks, 90% of which has never been released on cd before!
1) The Little Monster Song – Kenny Vance 2) Vampirella – Bruce & the Heartbreaks 3) Anything Can Happen on Halloween – Tim Curry 4) Trick or Treat – The Boys 5) The Headless Horseman – Bing Crosby 6) The Skeleton in the Closet – Louie Armstrong 7) The Best Things in Life are Dead – The Vegas Vampire 8) Riboflavin Flavored, Non Carbonated, Polyunsaturated Blood – Don Hinson/Rigamorticians 9) His Ghoul – Ghoularly Knight 10) Out of the Bushes – Murray Kaufman 11) My Baby Got a Crush on Frankenstein – Soupy Sales 12) Nightmare – Danny Harrison & the Count Victors 13) Monster Hootenanny – Gene Moss 14) The Pumpkin Man – Kathy Bee 15) Werewolf – Carl Bonafede 16) The Horror Show – Sharkey Todd 17) Dinner With Drac – Lee Kristofferson 18) Frankenstein – Bart Lewis 19) You’ve Got Me Voodoo’d – Louie Armstron 20) I’m a Monster – Scotty Mac Gregor 21) Headless Nightmare – The Villagers 22) Voodoo Voodoo – Lavern Baker 23) Tombstone Number 9 – Murray Schafe & the Aristocrats 24) Monster Goose Rhymes – Gene Moss 25) Horror Show – Johnny Thunder
HALLOWEEN NUGGETS: MONSTER SIXTIES A GO-GO
This three-disc set, by Rock Beat, features 99 tracks, many never before released with a variety of fun movie trailers thrown in as well.
Disc 1: 1) Witch Girl – The Mystrys 2) The Beast of Sunset Strip – Teddy Durant 3) Seance – The Ebb Tides 4) Why Do I Love You – Bela La Goldensetin 5) Graveyard – The Phantom Five 6) Tombstone No. 9 – The Aristocrats 7) Rockin’ In The Graveyard – Jackie Morningstar 8) Halloween Convention of Spooks – movie trailer 9) I’m The Wolfman – Round Robin 10) Jam At The Mortuary – Griz Green 11)Two Souls – The Grim Reaper 12) Count Macabre – The Connoissurs 13) Haunted – The Madmen 14) Devil’s Driver Theme – The Vettes 15) The Voodoo – Terry Gale 16) Voodoo Doll – Glenda & Glen 17) Ghost Guitars – Daron Daemon & The Vampires 18) Jekyll And Hyde – Jim Burgett 19) Atom Age Vampire – movie trailer 20) Vampire’s Ball – Mann Drake 21) Vampira – Bobby Bare 22) Zoola Zooky – Johnny Anderson 23) Frankenstein & Dracula – movie trailer 24) Mr. Frankenstein – Peter & The Wolves 25) Dr. Spook Twist – Frankie Stein and His Ghouls 26) The Wolfman – movie trailer 27) Werewolf – Gary Warren 28) Werewolf – The Frantics 29) Bury Me Deep – Chance Halliday 30) E.S.P. Theme for Shock Theatre – The Weirdos 31) The Raven – Kenny And The Fiends 32) The Guillotine – The Executioners
Disc 2: 1) The Invasion Is Coming – Invasion 2) Plan 9 From Outer Space – movie trailer 3) They’re Here – Boots Walker 4) Shadows In The Night – The Quests 5) Psychotic Reaction – Positively 13 O’clock 6) Castin’ My Spell – The Spellbinders 7) Deep Sleep – Chance Halliday 8) The Chiller – Vic Plati Quintet 9) The Night Stalker – Teddy Durant 10) Marble Orchard – The Graveyard Five 11) Wombat Twist – Glenn & Christy with The Adventures 12) Zombie Stomp – Billy Ghoulston 13) The Blob – movie trailer 14) It – Johnny Fraser and the Regalaires 15) Do The Zombie – Mr. Baseman & The Symbols 16) Go Go Gorilla – The Shandells 17) Go Go Cannibal – Ronnie Self 18) Robot Monster – movie trailer 19) Strolling After Dark – The Shades 20) Black Magic – Jericho Jones 21) The Mummy – movie trailer 22) The Mummy’s Bracelet – Lee Ross 23) The Mummy Walk (Walking Death) – The Contrails 24) The Werewolf – movie trailer 25) The Werewolf – Carl Bonafede & The Gemtones 26) Howl – Johnny Eager 27) I Was A Teenage Frankenstein – movie trailer 28) I Was A Teenage Monster – The Keytones 29) (I Was A) Teenage Creature – Lord Luther with the King’s Men 30) The Astro Zombies – movie trailer 31) Creature From Outer Space – Sonny Day and the Tony Ray Combo 32) Spider Walk – The Sabres 33) Nightmare – The Abstracts
Disc 3: 1) Scream – Ralph Nieson & The Chancellors 2) Night Of The Blood Beast – movie trailer 3) Roland – Billy & The Dukes 4) Evil Eye – Al Saxon 5) The Salem Witch Trial – Kiriae Crucible 6) One Eyed Witch – The 7th Court 7) Mad Witch – Dave Gardner 8) Witch Queen of New Orleans – Ervinna & The Stylers 9) Witchcraft In The Air – Betty Lavett 10) Burn Witch Burn – The Circus 11) Monster’s Bride – Miss L. L. Louise Lewis 12) Wolf Gal – Glenn Ryle 13) Midnight Rain – Gary Warren 14) Creature From The Black Lagoon – movie trailer 15) The Monster – Evans Carroll & The Tempos 16) Wombie Zombie – Billy Taylor & The Teardrops 17) Watusi Zombie – Jan Davis 18) Here Comes The Hearse – Terry Teene 19) Knives And Lovers – Frankie Stein and His Ghouls 20) Madness – The Blue Knights 21) Jack The Ripper – The Elites 22) Night Of The Phanton – Larry & The Blue Notes 23) Cha Cha With The Zombies – The Upperclassmen 24) Old Boris – Bela La Goldenstein 25) Haunted House – Chris Kevin 26) The House On Haunted Hill – movie trailer 27) The House On Haunted Hill – Kenny & The Fiends 28) Devil Blues – Skip Manning 29) Devil’s Gotten Into My Baby – The Devotions 30) Grim Reaper – The Twelfth Night 31) Grave Yard Creep – James Duhon 32) Godzilla King of the Monsters – movie trailer 33) Campo De Vampiros – Les Holys
HALLOWEEN SCARY TALES
This is another great release by Wanda Records featuring 25 songs, 80% of which has never been available on cd before!
1) Nightmare – The Marvels 2) Rock a Boogie – Andy Quinn 3) Transylvania Twist – Baron Daemon & the Vampires 4) Dinner With Drac – Children of The Night 5) Werewolf – The Frantics 6) Voodoo Doll – Rhonda Silver 7) My Son the Folk Monster – Larry Foster 8) Punky Pumpkin – Rosemary Clooney 9) The Ghoul in School – The Fortunes 10) Don’t Open the Grave – The Val Doros 11) Zombie Stomp – Billy Gholston 12) Dracula’s Wedding – Lord Chatterly 13) Gonna Go Down (To See My Baby) – The Rainbows 14) It’s a Monsters Holiday – Chick Willis 15) Will the Real Dr. Frankenstein Please Stand Up – The Zanies 16) Spooks the Cowboy – Sheppy King 17) Voodoo Dolly – Jimmy Hombs & the Invictas 18) I Crept Into the Crypt and Cried – Vic Norwin 19) Tombstone – Johnny Darcy 20) Teenage Creature – Doug Coby 21) Zombie – Johnny Fever 22) Nightmare Hop – Earl Patterson & the Darts 23) Franken Boogie – Frankie Stein 24) Chilly Billy’s Vamp – Bill Cardille 25) Monsters Have Problems Too – Zacherley
HALLOWEEN SPOOKTACULAR
Yet another great Wanda Records release with 27 assorted tracks, some released before and some not.
1) Lurch – Ted Cassidy 2) Devil’s Doll – Florida Joe 3) The Nightmare – Steve Barry 4) Jam at the Mortuary – Griz Green 5) Barnabas – Vampire State Building 6) I’m Your Witch Doctor – John Mayall 7) Bury Me Deep – Chance Halladay 8) Roland – Billy Duke & Dukes 9) John Smiths Body – Toledos 10) Halloween – Russ Conway 11) Beep Alonia – Glenn Mooney 12) I Created A Monster – Freddy Hart 13) Little Monster – Baker Sisters 14) Jack the Ripper – Elites 15) You Are My Girl – 3 Stooges 16) Voodoo Doll – Interiors 17) Shock Party – Amery Lynn 18) One Eyed Monster – Al Reed 19) The Drink That Makes You Shrink – Lord Douglas Byron 20) The 4-D Man – Dor & Confederates 21) The Little Martian – Jan Amber 22) Creepy Willy – Griz Green 23) I’m Bats About You – Vampire State Building 24) Munster’s Theme – Dick Jacobs Orchestra 25) Jingle Bones – Witches 3 26) Happy Birthday – The Count Lenny S 27) Grave Yard Rock – Tarantual Ghoul & Her Grave Diggers
HAPPY HORROR HALLOWEEN
Wanda Records keeps them coming with this 27 track release. One thing I will say about these compilations by Wanda is that the songs never repeat themselves so that you can actually buy all of their discs and never have the same song appear twice!
1) Count Drunkula – The Starlits 2) Monster Concert – Bobby Pickett 3) Zombie Jamboree – Jerry Landis 4) Transylvania (orig. version) – Zacheley 5) Teenage Monster – Jay Matty 6) Don’t Meet Mr. Frankenstein – Carlos Casal Jr. 7) Movin’ Outta This Haunted House – Bill ‘Butterbean’ Flippo 8) Monster Movies – Clif & Marty 9) Frankenstein Rock – Eddie Thomas 10) Peabody’s Tomb – Steve Bledsoe & the Blue-Jays 11) Monster Mash – The Monsters 12) I Was a Teenage Monster – The Keytones 13) Spooky Movies – Lee Lilly 14) The Mummy – Bubi & Bob 15) Cha Cha With the Zombies – The Upperclassmen 16) The Creep – Basil The Monster 17) Jekyll & Hyde – Jim Burgett 18) The Witches Crew – The Tweens 19) The Creature – The Jayhawks 20) Drac The Knife – Gene Moss 21) Coolest Little Monster (orig. version) – Zacheley 22) You Can Get Him Frankenstein – The Castle Kings 23) The Monster Twist – Tyrone A’Saurus 24) The Monster – A Pair of Kings 25) Frankenstein Stomp – Count Lorry & the Biters 26) Happy Ghoul Tide – Brice Armstrong & the All American Ghouls 27) Rockin’ in the Graveyard – Jackie Morningstar
HAUNTING HALLOWEEN
This 25 track release by Wanda Records features 80% material never found on any other cd release. My question is: where is Wanda finding all of these great songs?
1) The Mummy – Naturals 2) Who Dat? – Commodores 3) Frankie Frankenstein – Ivan 4) The Graveyard Hop – Chants 5) There’s A Fungus Among Us – Hugh Barrett & Victors 6) The Legend of Sleepy Hollow – Monotones 7) Dead Girls Are Easy – Graveyard Shift 8) Nightmare – Jack Turner 9) Janie Made a Monster – Fabulous Five 10) Witches Brew – Darla Hood 11) Terrible Ivan – Art Roberts 12) Gila Monster – Joe Johnson 13) She’s My Witch – Kip Tyler 14) Spooks – Louie Armstrong 15) These Ghoulish Things Behind Me Are You – Sheldon Allman 16) There’s a Ghost In My House – R Dean Taylor 17) Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde – Versalones 18) Boger Gonna Get You – Onie Wheeler 19) Swinging at the Seance – Deep River Boys 20) Keep A Gloomy Thought – Ethel Merman 21) Mr. Ghost Goes to Town – 5 Jones Boys 22) Trick or Treat – Teddy Randazzo 23) Doin’ the Monster Mash – Leonard Jewell 24) The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor – Joe South 25) Merry Monster Christmas – Len Maxwell
IF THE BROOM FITS, RIDE IT!
You just don’t get better than this album title! Wanda Records does it again with 25 more exciting Halloween tracks not found on any of their other collections!
1) Take Me To Your Leader Cha-Cha-Cha – Sam Space & Cadets 2) Nightmare – Billy Sills 3) Voodoo Doll – Amelia 4) Dr. Frankenstein’s Castle – Slick Slavin 5) The Eighth Floor – Johnny and Jay & High Hats 6) Mad House Jump – Daylighters 7) Zombie – Salmas Brothers 8) U.F.O. – Gene McKown 9) She’s Fallen In Love With A Monster Man – Revillos 10) Zulu Drake – Charlie Drake 11) Drac’s Back – Billy Demarco & The Count 12) The Thing – Phil Harris 13) House of Frankenstein – Johnny Legend 14) The Creep – Carillons 15) The Mad Scientist – Zanies 16) The Spider and The Fly – Bobby Christian 17) Soap Sally – Wes Lee Band 18) Spooky – Sal & Watchers 19) The Bell Witch – Merle Kilgore 20) The Cockroach That Ate Cincinnati – Possum 21) Let’s Twist Again (Mummy Time Is Here) – John Zacherle 22) Haunted House – Jumpin’ Gene Simmons 23) Frankenstein of ’59 – Dickie Goodman 24) Ajax Mortuary – Hudson and Landry 25) Little Green Riding Hood – Children of the Night
LOVE AT FIRST BITE: HALLOWEEN HITS!
This final collection, both by Wanda and on this edition of MUSIC TO DIE FOR, features 25 more tracks that are a welcome addition to all Halloween-themed music collections!
1) Love At First Bite – The Four Quarters 2) Monster Movies – Joey Dee 3) Hindu on a Honda – Countdown and the Moonsters 4) Screemin Meemies – Merv Griffin 5) Bugeyed Man – The Hollywood Argyles 6) The Cool Ghoul – Sharkey Todd 7) The Spook Spoke – Jupiter Jones 8) Surfer Smash – Bobby Boris Jones 9) Terror Vision Time – Brian and Gary 10) Spooky Movies – Roy Clark 11) Monsters Holiday – Buck Owens 12) Frankenstein Meets the Beatles – Jeckyll and Hyde 13) That Little Old Grave Robber Me – Don Hinson 14) Dracula – Desmond Dekker 15) (All of a Sudden) My Heart Sings – Vampira & Dracula 16) Zombie Jamboree – The Fairy Tales 17) The Wobblin’ Goblin – Rosemary Clooney 18) Graveyard Cha Cha – Frankie Espo & Lenny 19) Monster Time – Children of the Night 20) Monsters A Go-Go – Billy Gholston 21) Franken Boogie – Alt. Version Frankie Stein 22) Monster Party – Bill Doggett 23) House in the Alley – The Brassetts 24) The Invisable Thing – The Casual Three 25) Monster Mash – The Fairy Tales
So that’s it for this year! Hopefully by October of 2015 there will be a whole new selection of spooky tunes and scary melodies available so that I can present to you a MUSIC TO DIE FOR PART 6! Happy Halloween!
~David Albaugh
