31 Days of "Spooky" Music Day 24: Ghost Riders in the Sky

      I do not count myself as a fan of country music in general. Sure, there are the occasional "The Gambler" and "They Highwayman" that I genuinely enjoy, but for the most part it is a a genre I avoid. I would count "Ghost Riders in the Sky" as one of those occasional exceptions though, and I expect that it will end up being the only country song on this list.

     If you are somehow unaware of this song, it tells the story of a man who witnesses a stampeding herd of demonic cattle being pursued by a group of cowboys cursed to chase after them forever. The riders offer the man a warning that if he does not change his ways, he will be joining them as one of the titular ghost riders in the sky. It is a good, truly American ghost story told in a classic song that has been performed many ways by many artists.

     Here is a live version by The Highwaymen (for my money, the best country group that ever existed):

    Here we have the man in black himself:

I believe is the original version from 1948, but I could be wrong:

The song is not limited to pure country though, as it does adapt well to electric guitars, as in this version from "Ghost Rider"

31 Days of "Spooky" Music Day 23: "Puppet Master" Theme

      While the series may have eventually gone a little bleh, the original "Puppet Master" is still a classic horror film, and easily one of the jewels in the crown of Full Moon, introducing the world to the deadly creations of Andre Toulon in the forms of Blade, Pinhead, Tunneler, Leech Woman, and Jester (I think that is all of the puppet from the first film anyway, other series favourites like Six-Shooter and Torch would not appear until the sequels).

     Produced in an era before everything was CGI, the original films feature all practical effects, some of which maybe do not hold up so well (Leech Woman is a good example of this, so it Pinhead being thrown through the air), and good puppeteering combined with beautiful character designs make the puppets much more important and likable characters than any of the human actors in the film.

     Of course we are here to talk about the theme song, which is haunting, beautiful, and something you definitely could dance to, albeit ballroom dancing. I really do think this is a fantastic piece of music that I expect I would like even if it were not associated with one of my favourite childhood horror films (I actually had a Blockbuster former rental VHS of the original film, and it was in frequent rotation).

31 Days of "Spooky" Music Day 22: "Gravity Falls" Theme

     this is another song that maybe is not "spooky" exactly on its own, but in context of the show is serves as the theme for, it still works well enough for me.

      If you have never seen "Gravity Falls" before, you are depriving yourself. I am almost tempted to say that it is like a "Rick and Morty" for kids, but only almost, so I am not actually going to say that. I will say that there is one scene in each show that does directly link them though. i will also say that the series is on Disney+, so when you've run out of Marvel and Star Wars stuff on there, go give it a watch and I doubt you will be sorry.

     The series ran on Disney Channel and DisneyXD for (sadly only) two series in the early to mid 2010's and followed the adventures of Dipper and Mabel Pines as they were sent to spend the summer with their great uncle Stan in the town of Gravity Falls, Oregon, a town that make some place like Twin Peaks seem downright dull. The show had a great central cast (Jason Ritter, Kristen Schaal, Linda Cardellini, and show-creator Adam Hirsch), as well as fantastic assortment of voices for re-occurring and guest starts including J.K. Simmons, Nathan Fillion, Justin Roiland, Nick Offerman, Will Forte, Patton Oswalt, and Neil deGrasse Tyson. Combine the talent with a well written and well animated show, and the only thing missing would be a good theme, right? Well "Gravity Falls" has that as well.

    Fast and cheerful, the song evokes a sense of joyful eerieness that perfectly fits the accompanying visuals of the opening sequence as well as setting the tone for the whole show.

There is an extended version of the song too, for longer enjoyment

Of course there are some fun remixes.

And even another epic version from L'Orchestra Cinematique

31 Days of "Spooky" Music Day 21: Creepy Doll

      Yup, it's another piece by Jonathan Coulton, and it is also from one of this Thing-A-Week albums. It doesn't seem that long ago when he really was all over  the internet; I remember being exposed to his music shortly before he gained more mainstream fame for the Portal closing theme, "Still Alive".

     The song very nicely switches back and forth between creepy music box and rock guitar while telling the tale of your experience with the creepy doll that manages to be both unsettling and ridiculous ("The doll disapprovingly asks if you really need that much honey"). 

     I don't know if you could really dance to this one of not, but it's definitely a good trick or treat soundtrack item.

31 Days of "Spooky" Music Day 20: Ghostbusters

      You had to know that this song would show up in here somewhere, right? Not only is "Ghostbusters" an integral part of my youth (I still have my original Stay Puft Marshmallow Man figure, although he is a bit mucky after all these years), but the song was a certified hit, reaching the top spot on the Billboard Top 100, and being nominated for an Oscar.

     I will admit that I do fear they will ruin it somehow in Afterlife, like they did with that truly awful Fall Out Boy version they did for "Ghostbusters: Answer the Call" a few years ago, although to be fair: the only redeeming things about that film were that the "LEGO: Dimensions" story pack for it was quite fun and the LEGO kit based on that version of Ecto-1 is really well designed (it is currently in my Halloween display).

     Here is the classic, catchy, sing-a-longable original song with its very 80's video:

     You have to love all that neon and those celebrity cameos.

    Here is an extended promotional video of the version used for the classic "The Real Ghostbusters" cartoon series:

     I'm going to be honest here: I think the animation holds up a lot better than a lot of animation from that period, especially for a DIC

     Here is the Run DMC version from "Ghostbusters II", which may not be as classic as the original, is still a fun effort,

    Especially when compared to this version. I do not encourage you to listen to/watch this, but it's here for if you want it:

     To make it up to you for linking to the Fall Out Boy version, here is the "Epic Version" from L'Orchestra Cinematique:

31 Days of "Spooky" Music Day 19: Hell

      This is another song you have heard even if you are not familiar with the band Squirrel Nut Zippers. "Hell" has appeared on numerous soundtracks including "Lucifer", "This Chilling Adventures of Sabrina", "Dead Like Me", and was the (possibly ill-advised) opening theme to the reality show, "Family Plots".

     The song is a catchy, upbeat jazz-swing piece with lyrics that make it a perfect addition to your Halloween soundtrack, be it for a party or just the trick or treaters.

31 Days of "Spooky" Music Day 18: Dead Man's Party

      Are you old enough to realize that before Danny Elfman did the theme for "The Simpson" and scored basically every Tim Burton movie in the last 40 years he was in a band called "Oingo Boingo" Well, he was, and today's song is one of theirs.

     The song "Dead Man's Party" originally released on the album of the same name, but is probably not the most famous track on there, being overshadowed by songs like "Weird Science" (another good Halloween song, actually) and "No One Lives Forever". I did not come across this track for my Halloween playlist from this album originally, but from the soundtrack for "The Haunted Mansion" that I mentioned a bit back in the entry for the song "Tombstone".

     Strong vocals combine with guitars and horns to make a great song to dance to, or jut play for the trick or treaters.

     I did not know that this song was also in the old Rodney Dangerfield film "Back To School" until I went looking for the video. If video for "The Crypt Jam" is painfully 90's. this gem is painfully 80's. Thankfully the song stands the test of time better than this video.