Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Playlist: Songs of Halloween (2012 Edition)

Album Art for Halloween 2012 Playlist Suggestions

We wail a mournful funeral dirge to Summer 2012, as she has crossed into the ether of times past. An eerie sense of the macabre overtakes the blog: for the witching hour will soon knell, heralding full moons, spooky costumes, and fun-size "Snickers" bars for all.

So here's another playlist of 9 songs to get in the spirit of Halloween: use them as a springboard for your own playlist, then add some more songs to stuff yourself an audio trick-or-treat bag.

Ghoulish Sounds Abound This Halloween

At most Halloween parties you'll hear songs like the "Ghostbusters" theme by Ray Parker Jr. and the original "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & The Crypt-Kickers. To keep things lively, most of these songs are deeper cuts with a spooky theme — to ease you into things, I did include "The Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show (hey, it never fails to get people on the dance floor) and a punk/ska cover of "Monster Mash," which is a bit of subversive fun.

 
Tracy Morgan's "Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" From 30 Rock
Image courtesy of HipsterJew.com

"Werewolf Bar Mitzvah" from 30 Rock has become a modern-day cult favorite for many, and "Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives" is a smooth Lounge tune sung by Mel Tormé (as Daffy Duck) exclusively for a 1988 Looney Tunes short The Night of the Living Duck. An early recording by Dr. John touts the majesty of New Orleans TV horror movie host "Morgus the Magnificent," then find out what happens when you learn a quietly creepy "Secret" from The Pierces.

Each song listed below is available on Amazon.com and/or iTunes. Links for each are right next to each song title, where you can listen to audio samples and purchase 'em if any suit your tastes. Please note: I don't get a piece of the profits if you make a purchase, the links are included to make things easier. Lots to sample, so let's go:

That Old Black Magic  Amazon | iTunes
Artist: Louis Prima & Keely Smith With Sam Butera and the Witnesses
Album: Jump, Jive an' Wail: The Essential Louis Prima

The Time Warp  Amazon | iTunes
Artist: Little Nell,Patricia Quinn,Richard O'Brien
Album: The Rocky Horror Picture Show Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Monsters Lead Such Interesting Lives  Amazon | iTunes
Artist: Mel Tormé
Album: Mel Tormé at the Movies - Motion Picture Soundtrack Anthology

Monster Mash  Amazon
Artist: Cousin Oliver
Album: Just Not Punk Enough

Look Out, There's A Monster Coming  Amazon | iTunes
Artist: Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band
Album: A Dog's Life (The Albums 1967 1972)

Werewolf Bar Mitzvah  Amazon | iTunes
Artist: Jeff Richmond and Tracy Morgan
Album: 30 Rock Original Television Soundtrack

Morgus the Magnificent  Amazon | iTunes
Artist: Morgus & The Three Ghouls
Album: Who Was Mac Rebennack?

Skeleton in the Closet  Amazon | iTunes
Artist: Louis Armstrong
Album: 30's & 40's Era Halloween, Vol. II

Secret  Amazon | iTunes
Artist: The Pierces
Album: Thirteen Tales Of Love And Revenge



You Want Candy? Bubblegum and Taffy?
Image © & Courtesy of Pop Culture Asylum

For the Summer 2012 playlist, there was a link to a FREE* downloadable MP3, and looks like I'm able to do the same as a Halloween treat. Any good [adult swim] fan will know this one from the first season of Aqua Teen Hunger Force: a candy-themed song performed by an evil diapered spider, posing as a youth rapper to summon sugar-rushes in order to benefit his diet pill pyramid scheme, hawked by re-awakened demons... aah, just click the link below and download it.

I Want Candy [WARNING: Mildly Explicit Lyrics]
Artist: Chris Ward (a.k.a. M.C. Chris)

"Kinda like close encounters of the cavity kind!"
Image Courtesy of Legends Alliance Forums
Aqua Teen Hunger Force © Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.

* "I Want Candy" © 2002 Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Audio file intended for historical and entertainment purposes only, it is not intended for resale or commercial release. I Can Break Away does not promote, advocate or approve of music piracy. If you hold the copyrights for the music track promoted here and would like your song file removed, please contact me and it will be removed within 24 hours.