Halloween, the greatest and best of all howlidays, boasts its own grand tradition of popular songs. Many of these tunes have their own fascinating origin stories. From urban legends to an interest in creating a new dance craze, these songs are timeless and embedded in October as much as witches, ghouls and goblins.
“Werewolves of London”, Warren Zevon, official music video.
Werewolves of London
Warren Zevon, who will be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this November, wrote the enduring Halloween standard in 1975 with friend Leroy Marinell and guitarist Waddy Wachtel in “about fifteen minutes”. The song was intended as a spoof on dance crazes, but proved unusually hard to record. While Zevon had performed the song live shortly after it was written, it was not released until 1978. It was his only chart hit, reaching #21. While Zevon died in 2003 from mesothelioma, a form of lung cancer caused by asbestos exposure, he left behind an incredible body of work celebrated by artists such as Weird Al Yankovic, Adam Sandler and Shooter Jennings.
“Monster Mash,” Bobby “Boris” Pickett, on American Bandstand, October 13, 1964
Monster Mash
The most successful Halloween song of all time, Monster Mash charted in 1962, 1970, 1973, and 2021 (where it hit #37.) The song was co-written and performed by Bobby “Boris” Pickett, a Boris Karloff impersonator and singer with a doo-wop group named the Cordials. It held the #1 position in October 1962 for two weeks, launching Pickett’s career and forging a holiday favorite. A new version with updated lyrics was released in 2009 by Bigga P, but the original retains its perennial appeal for multiple generations.
“Thriller”, Michael Jackson, original 13-minute music video
Thriller
The international cultural phenomenon that is The Thriller Dance started with the final single from the best-selling album of all time. Released in December 1984, Thriller went to #4 largely on the strength of its iconic video, which was directed by John Landis. Thriller was the first cinematic music video, encapsulating an entire mini-horror film within the confines of a song. Its indelible images and infectious melody have made such an impact on American society that it was the first music video preserved by the Library of Congress in 2009.
“I Put a Spell on you,” Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, September 12, 1966
I Put a Spell on You
The 1950s turned out a number of classic Halloween songs like The Purple People Eater and The Flying Saucer, but nothing prepared radio listeners to the sounds of Cleveland native Screamin’ Jay Hawkins. Although this was the closest thing he had to a hit record, Hawkins built a career that was brazenly theatrical and focused on the macabre, inspiring future acts like Alice Cooper and Tom Waits. Hawkins recorded the song in 1956, but the song has become a Halloween favorite for a tleast three generations of listeners. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame named it as one of the 500 songs that shaped rock and roll.
Halloween music, while not as celebrated (or reviled) as Christmas music, has plenty of standards and cheery melodies to appeal to almost everyone. Interested in learning more Halloween songs? Want to learn about Halloween traditions? Curious about customs like trick-or-treating, pumpkin carving or Day of the Dead? Ask us! iueref@iu.edu