Gibson Guitars website has a great article posted about the top ten monster songs for Halloween. Author Russell Hall added a nice touch by including a YouTube video for each song. I agree with most of the picks, but a couple of these tunes really spooked me!
#1 “Monster Mash”
By Bobby “Boris” Picket & the Cryptkickers. A number one hit song in 1962 and a perennial favorite. Leon Russell once played in the backup group on a 1965 recording on the TV show Shindig.
#2 “Frankenstein”
The Edgar Winter Group crafted this 1973 instrumental together from various pieces. This song (and Edgar) really brought the synthesizer out to the forefront. Check out the nine-minute extended jam video on Gibson’s website! Remember TV’s Midnight Special?
#3 “Werewolves of London”
The only Top 40 hit single for Warren Zevon, written by him and guitarist Waddy Wachtel.
#4 “Ogre Battle”
A ferocious rocker from Queen’s second album that really shows off Brian May’s rock n’ roll riffs.
#5 “Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)”
Scathing guitar work from Robert Fripp and David Bowie’s theatrical vocals make this a haunting soundtrack for any Halloween collection.
#6 “Purple People Eater”
Sheb Wooley hit number one on the record charts with this novelty song in 1958. Still popular, it’s sold over one hundred million copies.
#7 “Feed My Frankenstein”
One of my favorite Halloween rockers from Alice Cooper, it features two awesome guitarists, Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.
#8 “Creature from the Black Leather Lagoon”
Perfect punk for Halloween, it’s scary and spooky, just like a midnight movie. What else would you expect from The Cramps?
#9 “Bela Lugosi’s Dead”
I agree with the author on this one. It’s a creepy goth-rock classic from Bauhaus.
#10 “Night of the Vampire”
Rock ‘n Roll legend Roky Erickson pioneered the psychedelic rock sound in the sixties with his Austin, Texas band “The 13th Floor Elevators.” He recorded this song with his band The Aliens during the late seventies, when he traded his psychedelia for a more heavy metal sound, utilizing lyrics with science fiction and horror film themes.
Source:
www.gibson.com
