It’s the end of September when I write this. On Oct. 1, everybody will post the same Green Day joke, but I’ll be in full-on Halloween music mode.
And I don’t mean Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” the “Ghostbusters” theme or that Lady Gaga song that every drag queen will be performing throughout the next 31 days. I mean music about ghouls, creeps, zombies and monsters; music that is often campy, kooky, and slightly corny. It’s the kind of music you can find in the Oldies section of HalloweenRadio.net.
Now, I’m not the “Everyday is Halloween” type who listens to Walk Among Us every single week of the year. I was, at one time, but there’s only so much Danzig you can take. And while I probably have too many skulls in my house for polite company, I’ve exerted enough restraint to keep my apartment from looking like a Hot Topic dumpster.
Vintage Halloween records: Monster sounds from the 1960s
But yeah, there’s still part of my heart that proudly beats black and orange. And once we enter the October Country, I let loose that love by digging up some of my favorite novelty” Halloween records from the 1960s.
And you should throw them on during October, if you need some extra tunes for your Halloween playlist or if you need help getting into a creepy mood.
Zacherley, Monster Mash (1962)
If you can get your hands on a record by a horror host, you’re guaranteed to have the best Halloween ever. Tarantula Ghoul, Morgus the Magnificent, Baron Daemon & the Vampires, and Elvira, Mistress of the Dark have all put out music fitting for the season. I also like The Cool Ghoul's Phantasmagorical Funky Fonograf Record, but if you want to go with the best? Go with Zacherley.
Zach and Vampira were the first horror hosts, and every single Mad doctor, late-night witch, and Svengoolie owes them a debt of gratitude. And both Vamp and Zach put out music: Vampira teamed with Satan’s Cheerleaders for 1987’s I’m Damned 7."
By that time, Zach had at least four albums out, the first being Spook Along With Zacherley. But I prefer Monster Mash, mainly because it has “Dinner with Drac,” a Top 10 hit for the “Cool Ghoul.”
Oddly enough, RSD Essentials just announced that a purple-green split with black splatter is available. It should arrive just in time for Halloween.
The Ghouls, Dracula’s Deuce (1964)
So, I’m in the future with you. I know that “deuce” has an entirely different connotation than it did in 1964, when the Ghouls put out this LP. In car terms, “Deuce” is short for “Deuce Coupe,” which itself refers to a 1932 Ford that made it a favorite among the custom car culture of the 1960s.
The album is a product of producer Gary Usher, who worked with the Beach Boys and the Byrds. Usher loved his custom car culture, and with his crack team of musicians at Capitol Studios—also known as the Wrecking Crew—they put out this album.
There are monster-fied versions of songs, giving us “The Little Old Lady from Transylvania,” “Bela Be Good,” and “Be True to Your Ghoul.” Personally, I like the instrumental originals on this that touch upon the surf and exotica sounds of the era.
Original copies will set you back around $150, or you can get the reissue via Real Gone Music for $24.99. Real Gone Music has a whole Halloween section, which you should go Trick Or Treatin’. Score yourself a treat.
The Vampires, At The Monster Ball (1964)
In this case, “The Vampires” are Milton Delugg and his orchestra. Delugg seems like a cat who has been lost to history. Here’s a guy who apparently served in World War II, found work in film and radio after his service, was briefly the bandleader for The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, the music director for The Gong Show, and wrote numerous TV theme songs. And he made this Halloween record that is mod, camp, and fun as hell.
According to a 2011 Blogpost interview (so take it with a grain of salt), At The Monster Ball was meant to be a stock record for Sonny Lester’s United Artists. “Every record company has a [stock] catalogue,” he said.
“I don’t remember [the music], but it’s got to be kind of corny?” asked Delugg. And it is. There are corny impressions of Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff and Peter Lorre, but the music is kind of great? “The Head Shrinker” is a bit problematic by 2025 standards, but the type of groovy, funky guitar that accompanies the Lorre impression is top rate. If this is what Delugg was doing when he was phoning it in, dang.
Frankie Stein and His Ghouls, Introducing Frankie Stein and His Ghouls (1964)
In 2017, Dino Stamatopoulos (Moral Orel, Mr. Show, Community) released a Halloween album on cassette called Black & Orange. The second track, “Rahr! Rahr! Rahr! (Backed With Surf Guitar),” dealt with the phenomenon of how monster movies and surf music enjoyed a burst of popularity early in the ‘60s.
And somehow, the two trends were “crudely stitched together,” resulting in “Rahr! Rahr! Rahr! (Backed With Surf Guitar).”
For proof, look no further than 1964’s It’s Monster Surfing Time by the Deadly Ones. And while I think that is a good addition to the season, I recommend another album that came out that year: Introducing Frankie Stein and His Ghouls.
The music here is instrumental, but more chill than your typical surf rock affair. The music is labeled with the kind of dances you’d do to it—from the Twist to the Swim to the Frug to the Mashed Potato—but it’s really great if you want to put on something that just radiates that Halloween spirit.
Thankfully, Real Gone Music dug through the blood and guts to find the rights and has put out some gorgeous reissues of the Frankie Stein catalogue.
Bobby “Boris” Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers, The Original Monster Mash (1962)
I know it’s corny. I know it’s dumb. But I love the “Monster Mash.” And while it’s clear that they built this entire LP after the success of the single, it’s still a decent record. It helps that Bobby Pickett was not just a schlub looking to capitalize on novelty record fame; oh, he was seeking that fame and the "Monster Mash" was a pure, 'let's make a hit to make a lot of money' cash-grab—but Pickett and his group, The Cordials, were a decent bar band.
Otherwise, this record would be trash. And instead, it's a fun listen. You actually find out about the “Transylvania Twist,” while also getting songs like “Sinister Stomp,” “Graveyard Shift,” and “Blood Bank Blues.” There's some swing, some soul, and a lot of fun.
While none of these songs ever had the same impact as the “Monster Mash,” the album is a fun listen.
Happy Halloween!