Tag Archives: jazz

October 15, 2020 · 5:26 am

Spooky Scary Skele-tunes

Anyone who’s ever seen a spooky scary skeleton rattle its bones or turn a friend into a xylophone knows that they are a jazzy bunch. After 10 years I’m thrilled to get some Jazz into the mix, but it’s not all dooting horns and startling shrilly screams – you’ll find many genres in this bone-nanza.

Here are 13 spine-tingling tracks to get your guests shaking their hip bones.

The Skeleton in the Closet – Louis Armstrong

Who better to strike up the band than Satchmo?

Rattlin’ Bones – The Preservation Hall Jazz Band

I heard these guys play while packed like a crawdad in a po’boy between the sweltering ramshackle walls of Preservation Hall in New Orleans.

Spooky, Scary Skeletons – Andrew Gold

The foundation stone of the Triple S tradition.

Skeleton Fight – Mack Allen Smith

Things escalate quickly in this odd-ball 60’s jam.

Graveyard Boogie – King Flamingo

You take your chances when you bring a date to the cemetery.

Nobody Likes You (When You’re Dead) – Zombina & The Skeletones

Don’t cremate, appreciate.

I’ve Got A Bone – Dan Bull

Apparently this is a Minecraft thing, I’m probably the last one to hear it, but I’m glad I did. I love the manic energy, brilliant word play, hilarious performance, driving synth and pitch-perfect theremin.

Do the Skeleton Scat! – The Wiggles

Do the Wiggles always kick this much ass? I think I’m a Wiggles fan now.

Cumbia de los Muertos – Ozomotli

If I get a chance to show some love for LA’s hometown heroes ‘Ozomotli’ I’m taking it.

Dead Man’s Bones – Dead Man’s Bones

Did you know that Ryan Gosling had a band? Did you know they’re spooky as hell?

Graveyard’s Full – The Growlers

This band’s sound is called ‘Beach Goth’. I don’t know if that’s an oxymoron, but I like it.

‘Taint No Sin – Lee Morse

This song may seem corny, but it gives me ‘Hellraiser’ flashbacks.

Skeleton Sam – LVCRFT

And finally, a little more saxo-bone and scare-emin to close this year’s list.

Click here to get my book ‘We Bleed Orange & Black: 31 Fun-sized Tales for Halloween’, including my Top Ten Tips for Becoming a Spooky Scary Skeleton.

Click here for more Halloween Playlists

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October 20, 2016 · 11:40 pm

Season of the Witch: 13 Songs for Halloween

The Season of the Witch is upon us, and once again I have conjured songs for your Halloween party. The theme for this year is Witches. There are too many great weird songs to choose from, so I used arcane magicks to pick my lucky 13.

witchdance

Turn on any classic rock station and you’re bound to hear Love Potion No.9, I Put a Spell on You, Black Magic Woman, Witchy Woman or a ditty by Fleetwood Mac. This list is not meant to be comprehensive. I’m scooping down deeper into the cauldron and tossing back any tune you can’t dance to.

Come, have a sip of strange brew and listen for a spell.

Season of the Witch by Donovan (This isn’t No. 1, it’s the introduction)

Devil Woman by Cliff Richard (The 60s and 70s- the golden age of witch songs)

Swamp Witch by Jim Stafford (I love these southern fried stories full of creepy bayou atmosphere. “Snakes hang thick from the Cyprus trees, like sausage on a smokehouse wall.”)

marie-laveau-painting

Marie Laveau by Bobby Bare (This is a novelty song, but it harkens back to the time when everyone knew about the Witch Queen of New Orleans.)

Marie Laveau by Dr. John (This song does the Witch Queen more reverence.)

Voodoo by The Neville Brothers (Voodoo songs are often songs about love)

Voodoo Woman by Curtis Knight (or love lost)

Voodoo Woman by Koko Taylor (The next chapter in Curtis’ story?)

One Eyed Witch by The 7th Court (The manic energy of the electric organ just sounds like Halloween)

Abracadabra by Steve Miller Band (The cheesy fx of this music video had me spellbound as a kid.)

She’s My Witch by Kip Tyler (Let’s down tune for some Rockabilly and a few rippin’ guitar songs)

Brujo by Screamin’ Jay Hawkins (Screamin’ Jay is Halloween royalty, and he’s representing the Man-witches)

Wicked Old Witch by John Fogerty

19 Witches by Monster Magnet

 

The Witch by The Cult

Witchfinder General by Carl Douglas (It’s not all love songs. Pimps up, Witches down.)

The Salem Witch Trial by Kiriae Crucible (Dark days in Salem. But on the bright side: electric organ!)

It’s only right to give the last word on witches to the ladies who have been so persecuted and maligned. And who better than Yoko?)

Yes, I’m a Witch by Yoko Ono (the 1974 original is smoother, but this version brings the madness home)

Bonus: I Want to be Evil by Eartha Kitt

For five more curated lists, check out my other Halloween mixes here, here, here, here and here.

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