My Favorite Halloween Tunes

When you think of Halloween, you don't often think about music that's symbolic of the holiday. But I do. My son, now 18, was born on All Hallow's Eve and I had so many Hallo-Birthday parties over the years that I became an expert at party background music. So here, for your enjoyment, are my favorite picks for Halloween music.

This 1982 tune by Michael Jackson, and the unforgettable music video that was way ahead of its time, is one of my favorites. If you haven't memorized the "Thriller" dance by now, it's never too late to get your moves down. I could only get access to a live performance, since Michael has the rights to the original video and doesn't like to share. 

If you've never gone to a midnight showing of "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" on Halloween, what the heck are you waiting for? One highlight of the campy film is the cast and audience's performance of "Time Warp," a song and dance featured in the rock musical. The song is a parody and includes step instructions. Believe it or not, cover versions of "Time Warp" have been recorded by a host of other artists, including Italian and Spanish adaptations. Here's the familiar chorus, which all Rocky Horror fans will know by heart:

It's just a jump to the left. And then a step to the right.

Put your hands on your hips. You bring your knees in tight.

But it's the pelvic thrust That really drives you insane.

Let's do the time warp again! Let's do the time warp again!

Released in 1962, "The Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett has been heard on radio stations for years, and has been featured on television shows like The Simpsons, Cheers, and Roseanne, and in a long list of films that include "Halloween III." The video shows one animated version of  "The Monster Mash."

If you've seen "Psycho," then the theme from the film will automatically bring it all back to you. It was written by Academy Award winning composer Bernard Herrmann, who was known for his collaborations with director Alfred Hitchcock on the films "Psycho", "North by Northwest", "The Man Who Knew Too Much", and "Vertigo". You can hear the violins in the theme song, the only instruments used by Herrmann in the film.

Just hearing this theme song brings memories of seeing "The Exorcist" flooding back to me and sends shivers down my spine. "Tubular Bells" was actually a record album released by musician Mike Oldfield in 1973. The opening theme on the album was eventually chosen for the 1973 film, where it gained its notoriety. It's been used many times since, including by Janet Jackson, in a TV ad by Volkswagen, and in "Scary Movie 2."

"I Put a Spell on You" was released in 1957 by Screamin' Jay Hawkins, and the recording was selected as one of The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame's 500 Songs that Shaped Rock and Roll. The fun song, which was meant to be somewhat romantic, was later covered by many other artists, including Creedence Clearwater Revival and Marilyn Manson. I personally love the version that Bette Midler does in the kids' film "Hocus Pocus." 

Whenever I hear Frank Sinatra's version of this standard, I have to stop what I'm doing and just swoon. Whatta song. But yes, it's also a great tune to play at a Halloween cocktail party. "Witchcraft" was written in1957 by Cy Coleman and was released that same year as a single by Sinatra. You gotta love this tune, channeled through the Chairman and sounding heavenly with Nelson Riddle's arrangement. 

The "Ghosbusters" song was written for the film and performed by Ray Parker Jr., and included the now-popular phrase "Who you gonna call? Ghostbusters!" The song was a huge hit, at #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 list for three weeks, and Parker was nominated for an Academy Award for "Best Original Song". In addition, the music video produced for the song was a #1 MTV video. Huey Lewis successfully sued Ray Parker, Jr. for plagiarism, alleging that Parker stole the melody from him.

"Nightmare on My Street" was the hit rap song released in 1988 by DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. In the song, Will Smith recalls a scary encounter with Freddy Krueger, of "Nightmare on Elm Street."

This song is from one of my son's favorite childhood movies, Tim Burton's lovely "The Nightmare Before Christmas." The music, most by Danny Elfman, is quirky and wonderful. Enjoy this little video clip from the film, and have a scary Halloween!