The Ultimate Halloween Playlist: The Top 10

 

Here you go, boys and graverobbers, the finale to our Ultimate Halloween Playlist. I’m lovin’ all 40 cuts on the countdown, although there were two tough omissions. Loyal Pop Life reader Bill S. made repeated pleas to get Vanilla Fudge’s Season of the Witch included. Alas, I couldn’t squeeze it in. But if you live in Pasco, Bill promises to set up speakers outside his house and crank the ’68 creepfest for brave trick-or-treaters. That’s the evil spirit, Bill! Also, the fantastically named Vic Mizzy died this week. The Brooklyn songwriter was 93. Don’t know the Miz? He wrote two classic TV themes: Green Acres and...The Addams Family. Not sure why Gomez and Morticia’s finger-snappin’ fun didn’t make our list. But hey, if you’re building your own party soundtrack, feel free to swap it in for, say, Christina Aguilera’s Candyman, which readers really didn’t appreciate. Of course, we all agree on the Top 10, right? Happy Halloween, kids.

10 Time Warp, the cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show
9 Weird Science, Oingo Boingo
8 This Is Halloween, Danny Elfman
7 The Twilight Zone Theme, Marius Constant
6 Werewolves of London, Warren Zevon
5 Bela Lugosi’s Dead, Bauhaus
4 I Put a Spell on You, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
3 Halloween Theme: Main Title, John Carpenter
2 Monster Mash, Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt Kickers
1 Thriller, Michael Jackson

To recap the Ultimate Halloween Playlist, here are Nos. 40-31 and Nos. 30-21 and Nos. 20-11. 

Here's MTV's Halloween Playlist

 

As we put the finishing touches on the Ultimate Halloween Playlist -- stay tuned for the Top 10 -- here's a rundown of MTV's top haunted videos. I can honestly say I didn't even think of putting Rihanna's Disturbia on our list of 40 songs; same with Jibbs' King Kong (wha???). They have Ray Parker Jr. in the No. 4 slot; but our list is so damn cool, Mr. Ghostbusters could only muster No. 33. Anyway, to watch all of MTV's spooky spots, GO HERE.

R.I.P. Vic Mizzy, composer of the Addams Family theme (and Green Acres!!!)

Now I feel REALLY bad for not including this in my Ultimate Halloween Playlist. The Brooklyn-born Mizzy (what a name!) has left us at the age of 93. That's a darn good run, and there's certainly a place in heaven (or a dusty shelf in Chez Addams) for his contribution to pop culture. Well done, Vic.

'Grim Grinning Ghosts'

This one goes out to Kid Lulu, Mai-Mai, Larry and all my peeps on the NCMD Disney Extravaganza last weekend. We braved the Haunted Mansion -- and crooned along to No. 15 on the controversial Ultimate Halloween Playlist. Thurl Ravenscroft rules!

The Ultimate Halloween Playlist Nos. 20-11

 

Pennies, stickers, toothbrushes, toothpaste, anything promoting positive dental care — none of this is acceptable to give out on Halloween. Same goes for uncandied apples, Play Doh, boxes of raisins and anti-pagan tchotchkes doled out by women who remind you of Carrie’s mom. (Dirty pillows!) Here’s the deal, spoilsports: Kids will consume pounds of choco goodness whether you like it or not. In fact, you’re actually being harmful by trying to be healthy with your tricky treats. Why? Because (1) the “Stay in School” pencil topper you insisted on giving out are destined for a nearby landfill and (2) so is the toilet paper that will inevitably be wrapped around your house because kids hate you. Me? I’m giving out Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, KitKats and Take 5s. Cliche? Maybe. Delicious? Yep. Have a Baby Ruth, boys and girls, and enjoy the Halloween Playlist, Nos. 20-11.

20 Bark at the Moon, Ozzy Osbourne
19 Pet Sematary,the Ramones
18 Mr. Sandman, the Chordettes
17 (You’re the) Devil in Disguise, Elvis Presley
16 Witchcraft, Frank Sinatra
15 Grim Grinning Ghosts, from Disney’s Haunted Mansion ride
14 The Munsters Theme, Los Straitjackets
13 Psycho Killer, Talking Heads
12 Welcome to My Nightmare, Alice Cooper
11 I Want Candy, Bow Wow Wow

To recap, here are Nos. 40-31 and Nos. 30-21. 

Next week...the Terrifying Top 10!!!

Bing Crosby 'The Headless Horseman' (from Disney's 'Adventures of Ichabod & Mr. Toad')

Loved this movie as a kid, especially around All Hallows' Eve, when it would really scare the crap outta me. Der Bingle's Headless Horseman, recorded in 1949, ranks No. 25 on our controversial Ultimate Halloween Playlist. Hopefully the Daly fam will hear the spooky song again this weekend, when I take Kid Lulu and Mai-Mai to Disney World. Dad of the Year? No no, just doing my job, ladies and gentlemen. Just doing my job.

The ULTIMATE Halloween Playlist Nos. 30-21

 

So I had this killer idea for a family Halloween costume. The Daly clan would go as the Parkers from A Christmas Story. I’d be the Old Man (cardigan, leg lamp), the Forever Fiancee would be Mom (pink robe, 1940s ’do). We’d slick back Kid Lulu’s hair and pop specs on her for Ralphie. And as for Mai-Mai, our plump 19-month-old, she could either be Randy or the turkey absconded by the Bumpus dogs. Never mind that it’ll be 97 degrees on All Hallows’ Eve. This was genius! “No, Dad, I want to be Tinkerbell!” protested Lulu. The FF rolled her eyes. But Mai-Mai, dear sweet butterballian Mai-Mai, was up for anything —mainly because I had cookies. So I retinkered. Last year, I went as the Incredible Hulk, which meant 10 tubes of body paint plus an incredible rash. So this year, I can go as Bruce Banner...and Mai-Mai will be Hulk! Get it? I turn into her. More genius! Oh, don’t worry: She’s used to rashes. Plus we have plenty of butt paste. While I fine-tune this awesome idea, enjoy the Halloween Playlist Nos. 30-21.

30 Enter Sandman, Metallica
29 Highway to Hell, AC/DC
28 Devil Inside, INXS
27 Runnin’ With the Devil, Van Halen
26 Candyman, Christina Aguilera
25 The Headless Horseman, Bing Crosby
24 The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead, XTC
23 Zombie Zoo, Tom Petty
22 Trick or Treat, Otis Redding
21 Don’t Fear the Reaper, Blue Oyster Cult

To hear Nos. 40-31 of our Halloween Playlist, GO HERE.

The ULTIMATE Halloween Playlist: Nos. 40-31

I grew up in Westford, Mass., a sleepy hollow 25 miles northwest of Boston. Back then, the apple-pickin’ town was quiet, vaguely creepy; it looked cool at Christmas, but it was built for Halloween. When I was 11, Oct. 31 turned wicked. That was when, at the last minute, a brutish pal withdrew an invite to go trick-or-treating with the gang. Preteen devastation! I sat on the couch, blubbering all over my hobo costume, the same one I had worn the last three years. My parents, John and Mary, volunteered to take me out for Butterfingers, etc., but I sobbed no. So my mother grabbed the car keys and her kid and said, “Let’s go!” She drove me not to the movies or an arcade; instead, we went to Valle’s restaurant, where she ordered me twin lobsters. Let me tell you, this chubby lil' hobo chowed down! Since that pivotal night, I’ve celebrated every Halloween with gusto, if not crustaceans. So over the next four weeks, I’ll count down the 40 top Halloween songs for our party purposes. (Thanks for all your recommendations, and keep 'em coming!)

Here we go...

40 Tubular Bells, Mike Oldfield
39 Shakin’ Shakin’ Shakes, Los Lobos
38 Sympathy for the Devil, Rolling Stones
37 Dead Man’s Party, Oingo Boingo
36 House of Fun, Madness
35 The Mask, Danger Doom
34 Somebody’s Watching Me, Rockwell
33 Ghostbusters, Ray Parker Jr.
32 The Boogie Monster, Gnarls Barkley
31 The Devil Went Down to Georgia, Charlie Daniels Band