This list is an anniversary of sorts, as well as a personal landmark. It was in 2019 that I published the original Halloween Playlist in my old former platform of Facebook Notes only to be told that Notes was going to be discontinued the following day. That was the impetus to contact friend Jeff Harrison who had been anxious to get my writing in a bigger and better organized platform and we created MarkOnTheArts.com. The Halloween Playlist was, unlike the Annual Christmas ones, limited by entries and intended to be a single evolving, growing entry. So for this Halloween, I’ve updated and amended it since the first time it was published. I know it’s too late for the parties and such but at least you can play it for the trick-or-treaters who haunt your stoops tonight. New entries are notated. And, sorry to disappoint, but even though her entire career of music is a horror show of late, like the Christmas Playlist, there is no Mariah Carey featured here.
If you have Spotify, I made it easy to follow me and listen to it there. If you want to download your own, most are available on any site where music is sold. Happy Halloween, my gift to you.
My link to Spotify:
https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0ukMZQUbav58aN8FzpfpPY?si=xByhqIBQSWeqkXKJX27nIg
THIS IS HALLOWEEN (formerly THE MONSTER MASH-UP)
* New Songs Added
1 THIS IS HALLOWEEN* by Marilyn Manson. I felt that suddenly the Playlist needed a fresher opening number than a 60 year old song, as times have changed. Even if I jumpstarted it with a 30 year old song from Danny Elfman’s now classic Nightmare Before Christmas soundtrack, performed here by Marilyn Manson in an even spookier arrangement found on an expanded 2006 Deluxe release.
2 MONSTER MASH by Bobby “Boris” Picket. The classic way to start the old Halloween party is still a really great #2.
3 WEREWOLVES OF LONDON by Warren Zevon. How—OOOOOL. And the best way to follow that classic is always with another classic. And very thankful it isn’t Kid Rock’s hijacked accompaniment.
4 LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS by Dionni Michelle Collins, Haneefah Wood, and Moeisha McGill. Expanded version of the theme song by the 2003 Broadway company picked solely for the bridge added for the movie
5 TIME WARP by Raul Esparza, Daphne Rubin-Vega, and Krista Lee Kelly. If you’re a fan of the show and haven’t heard this superior 2000 Broadway revival version of the score, do yourself a favor and check it out.
6 THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA by Sarah Brightman and Steve Harley. A British pop release version of the stage classic. It’s fun to hear the original lyrics before they were refined for the stage
7 THE WHOLE “BEING DEAD” THING* by Alex Brightman. The most recent addition is this great opening number from the Broadway hit Beetlejuice. Good news the genre is still alive (despite the title)
8 BAD THINGS by Jace Everett. This theme from True Blood adds a little fun rock-a-billy flair.
9 I PUT A SPELL ON YOU by Patty Cake. 27 years later and still finding no actual released mp3 of the flawless arrangement performed by Bette Midler, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Kathy Najimy in the hit film Hocus Pocus (HUGE mistake on the part of Disney/Touchstone Pictures; you’d think they’d have fixed that by now), even though word in drag circles is that one may exist that doesn’t have all the movie dialogue intact or poorly faded out, Patty Cake does her best to channel her inner Bette and give us the best facsimile for party purposes.
10 SCIENCE FICTION DOUBLE FEATURE by Daphne Rubin-Vega and Krista Lee Kelly. The opening number from the above mentioned cast recording. No lips and more chills.
11 THEME from THE ADDAMS FAMILY by Vic Mizzy. The classic theme song from the 60s classic horror-comedy TV show.
12 GHOSTBUSTERS by Ray Parker Jr. Retro 80s movie theme song fun.
13 DARK LADY by Cher. Her classic chart topper about the disreputable New Orleans fortune teller with a heart of brass who gets her own fortune told.
14 FRIENDS ON THE OTHER SIDE* by Keith David. Dark fun from the very underrated (and last hand animated) Disney feature The Princess & the Frog, featuring the scariest villain since Ursula stole a Mermaid’s voice as Voodoo conman Dr. Facilier gives eerie readings with darker implications.
15 DEVIL WITH A BLUE DRESS by Mitch Ryder. OK, maybe not the devil, but a devil
16 THEME from THE MUNSTERS instrumental. The classic theme song from the other 60s classic horror-comedy TV show.
17 OOGIE BOOGIE’S SONG* by Ken Page. A second entry from Elfman’s Nightmare soundtrack with Page voicing the vicious heavy joins the list.
18 LOVE POTION #9 by The Clovers. A top 40 60s throwback about shady Madame Ruth and her special concoction that looks like Indian ink.
19 CRUELLA de VIL by Dr. John. Salute to Disney’s demonic dognapper from the soundtrack of the Glenn Close movie.
20 THE LEGEND OF THE TOXIC AVENGER by Matthew Salazar and Nick Cordero. A Springsteen-esque salute to the other New Jersey hero from the off-Broadway cast recording, based on the 80s trash classic B (C?) movie.
21 A NIGHTMARE ON MY STREET by DJ Jazzy Jeff and the Fresh Prince. Rap in its infancy from the OGs
22 WITCHY WOMAN by The Clovers. Early version of the Eagles classic, a little more party friendly.
23 TRANSYLVANIA MANIA* by Christopher Fitzgerald, Roger Bart, Sutton Foster and company. Mel Brooks fun foolishness in his first act finale of the stage version of Young Frankenstein.
24 GRIM GRINNING GHOSTS* by The Ghosts. The theme song fun the classic Disney Haunted Manson attraction earned a new spot.
25 GYPSIES, TRAMPS, AND THIEVES by Cher. It’s Cher. She can have two songs. Shut up.
26 DON’T NOBODY BRING ME NO BAD NEWS* by Mabel King and the cast of The Wiz. Evillene, the Wickedest Witch of the West ever takes no prisoners in this tear-the-house-down warning to all who enter her abode.
27 THE DEVIL WENT DOWN TO GEORGIA* by the Charlie Daniel’s Band. Classic rockabilly retelling of The Devil & Daniel Webster. Figured if we alluded to the devil above, we ought to include the Prince of Darkness himself since he actually makes an appearance here. Almost used the updated Nickleback version but decided on the original.
28 EDDIE’S TEDDY by Lea DeLaria, Tom Hewitt, Krista Lee Kelly, & the cast of The Rock Horror Picture Show. The last big production number from the 2000 Rocky Horror revival.
29 SUPERSTITION by Stevie Wonder. 70s funk classic by the master.
30 ZOMBIE ZOO by Tom Petty. Petty’s ditty about the annual dance party at the titular venue.
31 FEED ME* by Hunter Foster & Michael Leon Wooley. Having just directed this awesome horror classic, it hit me the chilling song where the story kicks in and the plot turns dark also belongs on this list. Used the 2003 revival only because that’s where I picked the title song above.
31 “PUTTIN’ ON THE RITZ* by Roger Bart and Schuler Hensley. The classic set-piece from Young F2ankenstein immortalized on stage by Mel Brooks
33 THRILLER by Michael Jackson with Vincent Price. However you feel about the singer these days, still the best finale to wrap up the party.