Get yer spooky on with our fab playlist of Halloween tunes!
Boys and girls of every age
Wouldn’t you like to hear something strange?
Come with us and you will hear
These, our songs of Halloween
This is Halloween, this is Halloween
Pumpkins scream in the dead of night
(Borrowed from Danny Elfman and tweaked by me)
Listen to the whole list on Spotify!
1) Halloween by the Dream Syndicate
Why not start a Halloween playlist with a song called Halloween? Here’s The Dream Syndicate, from their second album, Days of Wine and Roses from 1982. It’s timely because not only does the band have a brand new album that was released in September of this year “How Did I Find Myself Here?” but they’re also on tour for the first time in a bazillion years.
2) Monsterman by DEVO
I really like this song. but boy I freakin’ love this video! It’s kinda like Ultraman meets Godzilla, and I’ve been a Godzilla fan forever. When I was a kid, I watched Creature Double Feature on Saturday afternoons which used to play all of the great monster movies: Godzilla, Godzilla vs Mothra, Godzilla vs King Kong and so many others.
3) The Creature from the Black Lagoon by Dave Edmunds
Another song that reminds me of Creature Double Feature is this infectious track from the “Repeat When Necessary” album / the B side to the “Girls Talk” 45. Fun fact: Clint Eastwood’s first film was “The Revenge of the Creature” which was the sequel to “The Creature from the Black Lagoon”.
4) Meet the Witch by Big Dipper
She’s a witch! How can there be a Halloween list without a song about a witch? Thankfully Boston’s Big Dipper has a great song about it. How do you know that she’s a witch? Cause she looks like one.
5) Suspiria by Goblin
Not only is their band name Halloween appropriate, but they’re also known for doing movie soundtracks for during the 70’s and 80’s including “Dawn of the Dead”. These Italian prog-rockers are probably best known for the soundtrack to Italian horror classic Suspiria. Plus they just released their 40th anniversary box collection of their music and currently on tour.
6) My Wife and My Dead Wife by Robyn Hitchcock
Leave it to Robyn Hitchcock to write a love song to the ghost of his dead wife and his living one. That’s a complicated and a bit scary love triangle!
7) Attack of the Ghost Riders by The Raveonettes
Here’s another spooky ghostly song for the list. This haunting tale is delivered by Danish duo, The Raveonettes. Love the song and the retro black and white video!
8) I Am Stretched Out on Your Grave by Dead Can Dance
Most people know the Sinead O’Connor rendition of this song which is gorgeous, but I think this version by Dead Can Dance is even more haunting. The lyrics come from a 17th century Irish poem.
9) The Devil by PJ Harvey
From PJ Harvey’s Goth inspired album, “Chalk”, this song is haunting is beautiful and oh so dark.
10) Bloodletting (The Vampire Song) by Concrete Blonde
After listening to this song and watching the video, you have to believe that Johnette from Concrete Blonde is an Anne Rice fan. Vampires + New Orleans = Anne Rice Fan.
11) Staying on the Right Side of Satan by The Titanics
Off The Titanics’ eponymous album, this song inspired these Boston rockers to create their alter-ego band, The Satanics who recorded other satanic songs like “Helena Handbasket”, “666”, “The Number of the Beast” and “Hell, It’s Not the Heat, It’s the Humidity”. You also might recognize lead singer Nat Freedberg’s voice from his other band, The Upper Crust.
12) Haunted House of Rock by Satan’s Pilgrims
Spooky surf instrumental from Portland, Oregon’s own Satan’s Pilgrims. Considering the band members usually wear vampire capes, pretty much every day is Halloween for them.
13) Halloween by Siouxsie and the Banshees
Since this list started with a song called Halloween, why not go full circle and end with one called Halloween. This one is by the Queen of Halloween herself Siouxsie Sioux. Did you know that there are many YouTube videos dedicated to recreating her very distinctive eye makeup? So if this is your costume of choice this season, definitely check them out
Siouxsie Sioux Eye Makeup Tutorial
