Comments on: Halloween Party Playlists – Moldy Oldies

By: Elsa L

Elsa L — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 02:09:50 +0000

I thought of another song too that haunted my childhood. “Lil Red Riding Hood” by Sam the Sham and Pharaoh’s included lines like “Hey there little Red Riding Hood, You sure are looking good. You’re everything that a big bad wolf could want.” It’s a rather predatory little ditty with some howls added for good measure.

Grim Gnome replies: Excellent suggestions, Elsa. Obscure and appropriate… and with full citations! You’re whiz kid in the college of haunted musical knowledge.

I only wish that Wolfman Jack had been an actual wolfman.

By: Freddy

Freddy — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 23:21:39 +0000

And if it comes to “moldie oldie” music, seems to me that you overlooked CCR’s “Bad Moon Rising” and incidentally, Creedence also does a pretty snazzy version of “I put a Spell on you” I mean it’s not Screamin’ Jay but it’s not crap either.

One could argue that Creedence ONLY did covers but that would be baiting a flame war, wouldn’t it? (grin?) But you’re 100% correct. “Bad Moon Rising” is totally appropriate. Incidentally, there’s also a cool cover version of “Bad Moon Rising” done by that trio of Goth heart-throb cellists, Rasputina. I’m sure they’ll pop up on some other play list

By: Freddy

Freddy — Thu, 21 Feb 2008 21:36:55 +0000

If I had one of these parties, the decorations would just HAVE to be some of my collection of vintage kid Halloween costumes. I’ve got some that are nearly in rags and the tattered condition makes them even creepier!

And I think if you’d thought about this just a couple seconds longer you’d have realized that classic monster movie posters would also be kind of cool. If you can’t find or afford a good assortment, do a web search for images, enlarge them a bit and print them on a color printer.

And the last idea that pops in my mind is that you could get a digital projector and project some the crappy old monster movies. If you don’t have any empty wallspace, project on the ceiling! I remember trick or treating to a house that was showing Super-8 movies on the window shade so they could be seen (in reverse) outside.

Cool idea for the playlists by the way.

Grim Gnome replies: Now that you mention those creepy kid’s costumes from days gone by, PLEASE send in some photos of them. Or heck, if ANYONE has photos of nightmarish nostalgia, share!

And you give me an idea for decorating the food table, one based on MY collections. I could have some of my old Aurora models. They all seem to have an odd pose like they’re reaching out for a hug or something. It’d be perfect to orient them so it looks like they’re reaching out for a hand full of chips.

By: Elsa L

Elsa L — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 19:57:15 +0000

I don’t know how, but you’ve overlooked at least two essential songs.

How could you have a Moldy Oldie party without “Monster Mash”? Written in 1962 by Bobby “Boris” Pickett and originally recorded by his band, The Cordials, the song reached #1 in the Billboard pop charts in 1962.

Don’t forget another incredibly popular novelty song, “The Purple People Eater”. It was written and performed by Sheb Wooley and reached #1 in the Billboard pop charts in 1958.

As for decorations, I consider orange and black streamers hung around the light fixtures to be essential. They create the right sort of shadowy atmosphere to be twisting to the oldies.