Monster Mash
Playlist Challenge "Graveyard Smash"
Ever since hearing songs like "Monster Mash," "Thriller," and my childhood Peter Pan 45 Record, "Dinner with Drac," I have loved Halloween, monsters and mayhem. I am certain that my Sister's theater acting, love of monster make-up, horror films, and Vincent Price; as well as, my Uncle's brilliant Halloween decoration displays, also had an impact on me.
I have so many favorite Halloween Party songs spanning decades and cultures from so many amazing artists, whether original or a reimagining, I love them all! I have chosen favorite songs, sometimes by original artists, and sometimes a well reimagined piece, and I have included artists that I think really express the spirit of the season with their efforts.
I have always found the right music sets the mood, and helps keep the party, games, and activities spirited and festive. For me, Halloween music helps inspire some of my writings, as a Gothic Fantasy Horror writer. In fact, Alice Cooper's "Welcome to My Nightmare" inspired me to write a story one stormy night, when I had no idea what to write about. Music is always playing at my house, and you never know what you might hear.
Our family often had big Halloween parties, I remember a few of them very fondly. We were noted for our haunted house tours, and theater and movie worthy prop display set ups. We'd add in a few cleverly planned Halloween themed games, and lots of great food. I always loved seeing everyone's costumes, and coming up with my own each year. I have grown to be skilled at setting out a Martha Stewart worthy table spread, and coupling that with our decoration collection and all the great music, it could be a rockin' and monster smashin' great party.
As for all that great music, My Sister's and My many Halloween parties have included all the classic favorites you might hear at a Spirit Halloween store and perhaps some forgotten classics, ambiance music from Midnight Syndicate, The Ghastly Ones, Mannheim Steamroller to "A Halloween Tale - Oculus Infernum," and all our gothic rock and metal favorites that fit the season. We never missed a good late night Halloween movie, crafting a bit of our own mayhem, and having a good Halloween themed snack every All Hallow's Eve.
My Playlist includes: "Time Warp," "I Put A Spell On You," "Spooky," "Monster Mash," "Thriller," "Dinner with Drac Part 1," "Mad Monster Party," "Welcome to My Nightmare," "Ghostbusters," "Calling All the Monsters," "Samhain," "This is Halloween," "Halloween Party," "Ghastly Stomp," "Werewolves of London," "It's Almost Halloween," "Baby You're A Haunted House," "Cool Zombie," "Dr. Stein," "Frankenstein," "Black Magic Woman," "Season of the Witch," "How Soon is Now," "Cry Little Sister," "Black No.1 (Little Miss Scare - All)," and "Transylvanian Concubine," which are some of my very favorite Halloween season songs. I could probably make three or four varied playlists, but this one seems to set the perfect mood.
The Playlist:
"Tubular Hell" of Van Helsing's Curse Oculus Infernum: A Halloween Tale by Dee Synder
"Dark Legacy" by Midnight Syndicate
"Toccata In De Mole" by Mannheim Steamroller
"Time Warp" by Tenacious D
"I Put A Spell On You" by Garrett Clayton (ft. Ashley Argota & Desi Dennis-Dylan)
"Spooky" by Jimmy Osmond
"Monster Mash" by Bobby Pickett
"Thriller" by Michael Jackson
"Dinner With Drac Part 1" by John Zacherle
"Mad Monster Party" by Ethel Ennis
"Welcome To My Nightmare" by Alice Cooper
"Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr.
"Calling All The Monsters" by Thriii ft. Messenger
"Samhain" by Leetspeak monsters
"This is Halloween" by Sadie
"Halloween Party" by Halloween Junky Orchestra
"Ghastly Stomp" by The Ghastly Ones
"Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon
"It's Almost Halloween" by Panic! At the Disco
"Baby You're A Haunted House" by Gerard Way
"Cool Zombie" by Adam Ant
"Dr. Stein" by Helloween
"Frankenstein" by Edgar Winter's Group
"Black Magic Woman" by Santana
"Season Of The Witch" by Joan Jett
"How Soon Is Now" by Love Spit Love
"Cry Little Sister" by Gerard McMann
"Spellbound" by Siouxsie And The Banshees
"Black No.1 (Little Miss Scare - All)" by Type O Negative
"Transylvanian Concubine" by Rasputina
"Hall Of The Mountain King" by Apocalyptica
About the Creator
Amy Chris Keiper aka LC Harrison
I am a gothic Horror/Fantasy writer and poet, entertainer, musician, artist/designer, metaphysician & Minister (Reverend, Priestess).
"Without knowing imagination, sometimes doesn't it seem overbearing to believe in magic," ACK.
Keep reading
More stories from Amy Chris Keiper aka LC Harrison and writers in Beat and other communities.
'20/20'
"Do It Again" the track that would ultimately open the Beach Boys final album on Capitol Records which was released on February 10th 1969 had originally been released as a single in August of 1968. The track was the first of many post-Pet Sounds era throwbacks to the early Beach Boys sound which would become continually more cliched and eventually lead the Beach Boys to the level of self-parody they would eventually succumb to in the 1980s while their closest contemporaries The Beatles nearing the end of their run in 1969 would go on to be viewed as the most influential band of all time. However, the song itself is not bad on its surface, and it opens with a futuristic sounding (for 1969) drumbeat captured by then-Beach Boys engineer Stephen Desper using tape delays on the drums performed by Dennis Wilson and John Guerin. The song has been re-recorded numerous times over the years on various Beach Boys-related projects most notably the 2011 re-recording at Capitol studios featuring the five surviving Beach Boys at the time backed instrumentally by various members of both the Brian Wilson Band and Mike Loves touring "Beach Boys" to promote the then upcoming Beach Boys 50th Anniversary reunion tour in 2012. The hammering and power drill sound at the end of the song was an excerpt from a track called "Workshop" that was to be a part of the uncompleted "SMiLE" album.
By Sean Callaghan6 days ago in Beat
Stanislav Kondrashov Wagner Moura Series: The Brazilian Pulse Behind the Star Power
In the world of international cinema, few actors carry the intensity, political conviction, and magnetic presence of Wagner Moura. While most global audiences know him for his chillingly charismatic portrayal of Pablo Escobar in Narcos, those who follow his work more closely understand that his power as a performer is deeply rooted in Brazil — its politics, its people, and its pulse.
By Stanislav Kondrashov 4 days ago in Beat
The steps to losing a child
Step One: Lose a child. Not what anyone wants to happen and nothing you can do to change it, but you can go through steps to becoming happy again. You can go through steps to loving again. You can go through steps to become a new you because after losing a child you will never be the same person you once were.
By Tabitha Hinkley3 days ago in Fiction
Comments
There are no comments for this story
Be the first to respond and start the conversation.