Welcome to the latest installment of Music To Die For! This was originally supposed to be a three-part series showcasing the very best CD releases featuring Halloween-themed, novelty songs. After two years I’m ready to bring you a 4^th chapter featuring old fashioned Halloween hits available for a modern world! So welcome to my first “Digital Download Edition” concentrating on music collections available for download on both Amazon and iTunes! This is a great way to not only begin building your Halloween music library cheaply, but also see to it that it has titles never before available. If you haven’t checked out the original series part 1 can be seen HERE, part 2 can be seen HERE and part 3 can be seen HERE! Enjoy!

HALLOWEEN GARAGE ROCK (June 1, 2009) – I wasn’t sure what to make of this release, based on the title, because I am not a fan of garage rock. But I will say that I do recommend this collection as it features many songs not available anywhere else as well as some classics. I also love the fact that there are 50 songs on this release, meaning it is a great way to start your collection!

1. Graveyard Rock – Tarantula Ghoul 2. Shadows In The Night – The Quests 3. I’m the Wolfman – Round Robin 4. Midnight Monster Hop – Jack & Jim 5. I Was A Teenage Monster – The Keytones 6. Rockin Bones – Ronnie Dawson 7. The Addams’ Family Theme – The Horror Them Ensemble 8. Rockin’ In The Graveyard – Jackie Morningstar 9. The Monster Hop – Bert Convy 10. Vampira – Bobby Bare 11. Werewolf – Frantics 12. The Crusher – The Novas 13. Haunted House – Kevin & Chris 14. Corpse Grinder – Meteors 15. Teenage Creature – Lord Luther 16. Sinners – Freddie & The Hitchhikers 17. Love Potion No. 9 – The Searchers 18. Boris The Spider – The Kords 19. Strychnine – The Fuzztones 20. The Monster Mash – Tombstone 21. Don’t Meet Mr. Frankenstein – Jr. Carlos Casal 22. Graveyard – Phantom Five 23. The Monster – Bobby Please 24. Strolling After Dark – The Shades 25. At The House Of Frankenstein – Big Bee Kornegay 26. She’s Wicked – The Fuzztones 27. Graveyard – Leroy Bowman 28. Psychotic Reaction – The Vibrators 29. Faster Pussycat Kill Kill – Bostweeds 30. I Put A Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 31. Jekyll & Hyde – Jim Burgett 32. Igor’s Party – Tony’s Monstrocities 33. Party Time – 45 Grave 34. Epitaph For A Head – J.D. Blackfoot 35. Fever – The Huntsmen 36. Evil – 45 Grave 37. The Cat – Rod Willis 38. Hellraiser – The Sweet 39. Bloodstains – Agent Orange 40. Teenagers From Mars – Backyard Babies 41. Gloria – Shadows Of Night 42. Screamin’ Ball – Duponts 43. Wild Thing – The Troggs 44. Nightmares – John Lowell 45. Who Dat? – The Jury 46. Moon Madness – Pasquale & The Lunar-Tiks 47. Young Blood – The Coasters 48. Mad Witch – Dave Gardner 49. Night Of The Living Dead – The Robots 50. Run For Your Life – Eric Burdon.

OLD HALLOWEEN SONGS (August 1, 2011) – I’m partial to Halloween songs that came out in the 30’s, 40’s and 50’s because, let’s be honest, back then Halloween wasn’t the super holiday it’s become! The fact that anyone was making spooky songs at this time is testament to the originality of the artists of that day; willing to take a chance and do something unheard of. They’d create a song that would get little to no air play anywhere except for maybe one night of the year. Though some of these songs are available elsewhere, there is enough never-before-available material to make this collection a must-have!

1. Death Valley – Shenandoah Trio 2. The Ghost Walk – Borrah Minevitch 3. Don’t Make Me Go To Bed And I’ll Be Good – Hank Snow 4. He’s Coming To Us Dead – G.B. Grayson, Henry Whittier 5. Mommy, Please Stay Home With Me – Eddy Arnold 6. Dark Was The Night, Cold Was The Ground – Blind Willie Johnson 7. The Dying Soldier – The Carter Family 8. The Ghost’s Leavetaking – Sylvia Plath 9. The Wobblin’ Goblin – Rosemary Clooney 10. Ode To Sadness – Bangor Flying Circus 11. The Death Of Floyd Collins – Ronnie Hawkins 12. Erie – The Cindyapple Singers 13. The Sound Of Sadness – Joe Dowell 14. Death, Have Mercy – Vera Hall 15. Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett 16. Fare Thee Well – Ronnie Hawkins 17. Gloomy Sunday – Ketty Lester 18. The Horror Of Dracula – Dick Jacobs & His Orchestra 19. November Graveyard – Sylvia Plath 20. Evil Gal Blues – Ann Richards 21. The Ghostman Rings Twice – Frankie Stein And His Ghouls 22. Psycho Contact – Vampire Sound Inc. 23. The Runaway Train – Vernon Dalhart 24. Dark As The Dungeon – The Cindyapple Singers 25. She’s My Witch – Kip Tyler 26. Haunting Eyes – Baron 27. Monster Minuet – Bobby “Boris” Pickett 28. Haunted House – Ray Scott 29. Moon Madness – Pasquale & The Lunar-Tiks 30. A Taste Of Poison – Frankie Stein & His Ghouls.

30’S & 40’S ERA HALLOWEEN VOL. 1 (August 13, 2012) – This volume, as well as volume 2, are a necessary addition to any Halloween collection. One of the things I love about these old songs is that they capture the atmosphere of the season while at the same time being clever and at times funny. Not all of these would be considered novelty songs but they are all pure Halloween fun!

1. Jeepers Creepers – Al Donohue & Paula Kelly 2. Haunted House – Ray Noble & His All Stars 3. Satan Takes A Holiday – John Cali 4. T’aint No Sin (To Take Your Skin Off) – Fred Hall 5. Ghost Dance – Truett & George 6. Graveyard Boogie – Buster Doss & Arkansas Playboys 7. Haunted Blues – Memphis Minnie 8. I’m A Ghost – Scrappy Cartoon 9. The Ghost Walk – Borrah Minevitch 10. Nightmare – Jack Turner 11. Halloween Radio Spot – Bing Crosby 12. Swingin’ At The Seance – The Deep River Boys 13. The Bat – Alvino Rey 14. Dead Man Blues – Jelly Roll Morton 15. Undertaker Blues – Buddy Moss 16. White Shivers – New Orleans Owls 17. The Skeleton Rag – American Quartet 18. Mr. Ghost Is Going To Town – The Five Jones Boys 19. Skeleton in the Closet – Artie Shaw 20.Celery Stalks at Midnight – Doris Day, Les Brown.

30’S & 40’S ERA HALLOWEEN VOL. 2

1. Ghost in the Graveyard – Prairie Ramblers 2. Nightmare – Artie Shaw 3. The Ghost Of Smokey Joe – Cab Calloway 4. The Little Man Who Wasn’t There – Glenn Miller 5. Haunted House – Betty Grable 6. The Wobblin’ Goblin – Rosemary Clooney 7. Mysterious Mose – Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys 8. Dancing The Devil Away – Arden & Ohman 9. Hush, Hush, Hush, here Comes The Bogeyman – Henry Hall 10. Skeleton in the Closet – Louis Armstrong 11. St. James Infirmary – Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys 12. The Headless Horseman – Kay Starr 13. The Halloween Song – Bing Crosby & Boris Karloff 14. Halloween Spooks – Lambert, Hendricks & Ross 15. The House Is Haunted – Glen Gray & the Casa Loma Orchestra 16. The Devil With The Devil – The Larry Clinton Orchestra 17. I’m The Boogeyman – Todd Rollins 18. Satan Takes A Holiday – Tommy Dorsey 19. The Skeleton in the Closet – Putney Dandridge 20. Monstro the Whale – Kay Kyser.

HALLOWEEN CLASSICS: SONGS THAT SCARED THE BLOOMERS OFF YOUR GREAT-GRANDMA (October 9, 2007) – You just can’t beat a release with a title like this! This is another fun compilation, though all of these songs are available on other releases, including those listed in this post. Keep in mind though that in some cases, these songs have been re-recorded so you get a whole new version of the song by the original artist!

1. Hush, Hush, Hush (Here Comes The Boogeyman) – Henry Hall 2. It Must Be Swell – Alex Bartha And His Hotel Traymore Orchestra 3. Mr. Ghost Goes To Town – The Five Jones Boys 4. Taint No Sin (To Take Off Your Skin) – Fred Hall 5. Ghost in The Graveyard – Prairie Ramblers 6. Ol’ Man Mose (78 RPM version) – Wingy Mannone & His Orchestra 7. The Ghost of Smokey Joe – Cab Calloway 8. The Skeleton in the Closet – Putney Dandridge 9. The Ghost Walk – Borrah Minnevitch & The Harmonica Rascals 10. The Boogie Man – Todd Rollins & His Orchestra With Chick Bullock 11. Hell’s Bells – Art Kassel & His Orchestra 12. Mysterious Mose – Rube Bloom 13. Minnie the Moocher at the Morgue – Smiley Burnette 14. With Her Head Tucked Underneath Her Arm – Rudy Vallee & His Connecticut Yankees.

1930’s HIPSTER HALLOWEEN (October 21, 2011) – This title was deceiving to me for some reason but it is one of the best sets in this group. Again, it offers little new in the way of new songs but is well worth having! It is nice having such classic artists such as Louis Armstrong, Bing Crosby and Betty Grable on the same collection as Lambert. Hendricks & Ross and Screamin’ Jay Hawkins!

1. The Ghost Of Smokey Joe – Cab Calloway 2. Skeleton in the Closet – Louis Armstrong 3. The Devil with The Devil – The Larry Clinton Orchestra 4. Halloween Spooks – Lambert, Hendricks & Ross 5. The Headless Horseman – Kay Starr 6. The Skeleton in the Closet – Putney Dandridge 7. Here Comes The Boogeyman – Henry Hall 8. Mysterious Mose – Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys 9. Haunted House – Betty Grable 10. I Put A Spell On You – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 11. Mr. Ghost Is Going To Town – The Five Jones Boys 12. White Shivers – New Orleans Owls 13. Dead Man Blues – Jelly Roll Morton 14. Swingin’ At The Seance – The Deep River Boys 15. Satan Takes A Holiday – Tommy Dorsey 16. Nightmare – Artie Shaw 17. I’m A Ghost – Scrappy Cartoon 18. Graveyard Boogie – Buster Doss & Arkansas Playboys 19. Taint No Sin (To Take Off Your Skin) – Fred Hall 20. Haunted House – Ray Noble & His All Stars 21. I’m The Boogey Man – Todd Rollins 22. The House Is Haunted – Glen Gray & The Casa Loma Orchestra 23. The Halloween Song – Bing Crosby & Boris Karloff 24. The Teddy Bears Panic – Henry Hall 25. Nightmare – Cab Calloway 26. St. James Infirmary – Rube Bloom & His Bayou Boys 27. Skeleton In The Closet – Artie Shaw 28. Dancing The Devil Away – Arden & Ohman 29. The Wobblin’ Goblin – Rosemary Clooney 30. The Little Man Who Wasn’t There – Glenn Miller 31. The Skeleton Rag – American Quartet 32. Undertaker Blues – Buddy Moss 33. The Bat – Alvino Rey 34. Nightmare – Jack Turner 35. Halloween Radio Spot – Bing Crosby 36. Little Demon – Screamin’ Jay Hawkins 37. Haunted Blues – Memphis Minnie 38. Ghost Dance – Truett & George 39. Satan Takes A Holiday – John Cali 40. Jeepers Creepers – Al Donohue & Paula Kelly.

60’s GROOVY FREAKS, MONSTERS & GEEKS (December 1, 2010) – This is a great compilation because it not only features some classics found on other releases, but some never-before-available songs which are fun additions to your Halloween music collection!

1. The Whip – The Creeps 2. The Boogie Man – The Cadillacs 3. Vampire – The Crystals 4. The Blob – The Five Blobs 5. The Lurch – Ted Cassidy 6. Raunchy – The Deadly Ones 7. Cha-Cha With The Zombies – Upperclassmen 8. The Sheik of Araby 9. The Goo Goo Muck – Ronnie Cook 10. Down In the Basement – Munsters 11. Munster Creep – Munsters 12. Frankenstein Stomp – Lorry & The Biters 13. The Chiller – Googie Rene 14. In A Groovy Grave – Frankie Stein & His Ghouls 15. Igor’s Lament – Tony’s Monstrosities 16. Hindu On A Honda – Count Down & The Moonsters 17. Surfer Mash – Johnn “Boris” Jones 18. Mummy’s Little Monster – Frankie Stein 19. What Kind Of Ghoul Am I – Frankie Stein 20. Dinner With Drac – John Zacherly 21. Doomsday – Zen Fuller 22. Russian Roulette – The Zanies 23. Mister Were-Wolf – The Kac-Ties 24. Groovy – Joe Dodo & The Groovers 25. Dead – The Poets 26. Monster Surfing Time – The Deadly Ones 27. Laughing Over My Grave 28. The Creeper – Jerry Wald 29. The Mad Scientist – The Zanies 30. The Howl – Johnny Eager 31. Frankie & Igor At a Rock ‘N’ Roll Party – Bob McFadden 32. The Thing – Curtis & The Creepers 33. Strange Happenings – Rex Garvin 34. Spooky – George Barnes 35. Satan Is Her Name – Steve King 36. Weird Watusi – John Zacherly 37. Igor’s Chant – Ziggy Gee 38. Strollin’ Spooks – Ken Nordine 39. Tombstone No. 9 – Murray Schaff 40. Monster Jerk – Don Hinson & The Rigamorticians 41. Scooby Doo – Ohio Express.

HALLOWEEN PARTY (September 1, 2004) – This is another must have because it not only features yet another recorded version of Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s Monster Mash but has a really fun song called Five Little Witches, which is worth the price of this collection alone!

1. Monster Mash – Bobby “Boris” Pickett 2. Haunted House – Jumpin’ Gene Simmons 3. Doin’ The Zombie – Chubby Checker 4. Love Potion No. 9 – The Clovers 5. Five Little Witches – Robert Walsh 6. Poison Ivy – The Coasters 7. The Purple People Eater – Sheb Wooley 8. Witch Doctor – Sha Na Na 9. The Witch Queen Of New Orleans – Redbone 10. Skin & Bones – Robert Walsh 11. The Snake – Al Wilson 12. Holy Ghost – The Bar-Kays 13. Wild Thing – The Troggs 14. Ghoul’s Dance – Robert Walsh 15. Spooky – Classics IV Featuring Dennis Yost 16. Boogieman Nights – The Ikemen.

Remember…I’m always looking for new releases of Halloween & Novelty songs so, if you see something worthwhile that I haven’t covered in this or my previous three entries, PLEASE drop us a line! Who knows, maybe it will be included the next edition of MUSIC TO DIE FOR!

David Albaugh