Goblin Candy

 

Happy October, everyone! We are FINALLY in the thick of the 2024 Halloween season, and what better way to kick things off right than with a handful of strange songs to mix into your Halloween playlist.

A lot has happened since my last post. For starters, I landed a new job! I’ve spent the last couple of weeks prepping for the transition but still trying my best to keep posting content on IG and Threads (X/Twitter, not so much.) After picking a topic for this month’s blog, I felt like celebrating the start of a new chapter. So, let’s dive right into these eerie earworms. Yes, each pick will get stuck in your head for days during spooky season. You’re welcome! 👻

Diner with Drac Pt. 1 - John Zacherle (1958)

 

 "Dinner with Drac Pt. 1” is a song by John Zacherle, also known as “The Cool Ghoul.” Released in 1958, the song describes a dinner party hosted by Dracula, where his guests are all served gruesome dishes. It’s easily a song you can play while guests are arriving at your own Halloween party. I can picture guests bopping along to it while they get their food, mingle, and make drinks. 

I have a bit of a history with this song. I used to work at a candy store many years ago, and during the Halloween season, instead of having Willy Wonka playing on the TVs endlessly, they swapped it out for a soundtrack consisting of maybe eight “Halloween” songs, with “Dinner with Drac Pt. 1” making the list. So, while we put up Halloween candy displays and dealt with unruly customers, we had John Zacherle cackling in the background. It made that entire retail experience that much better.     

Transformation - Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde (1985)

 
“Transformation” is a track by the rap duo Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, released in 1985 on their album “The Champagne of Rap.” The song features a narrative style that plays on the classic story of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, using it as a metaphor for the transformation that occurs when they perform. For me, this song belongs on the Mount Rushmore of hip-hop Halloween Songs, right up there with "Nightmare on My Street," "Haunted House of Rock" and "The Freaks Come Out at Night."

Honestly, I don’t even remember how I came across this song. Years ago, when I was building my Halloween playlist, it came out of nowhere and has lived there ever since. "Transformation" is maybe the ONLY rap song about Dr. Jeckyll & Mr. Hyde, at least to my knowledge. If spooky hip hop is your jam, definitely don’t sleep on this track!

Bud the C.H.U.D. - Kip Lennon (1989)

 

 “Bud the C.H.U.D.” is featured in the 1989 horror-comedy film C.H.U.D. II: Bud the Chud. The song plays during the end credits. If one song on this list is THE song to get stuck in your head for days, it’s this one. The film itself is… okay. I don’t know. Maybe it has its place in the campy-horror genre, but it’s really the song that drives it home! When the end credits roll, I let them go until the song’s over.

In the movie, Bud and his zombie/chud crew crash a Halloween party where they attempt to eat everyone. This would’ve been a golden opportunity for the band to start playing “Bud the C.H.U.D.” and we get a full-on dance number à la Teen Wolf, where Bud is struttin’ and cuttin’ on the dance floor. Sadly, we did not get to witness that. This song definitely fits the bill for something a little lighter and fun for your Halloween playlist.

BONUS: The Mummy's Bracelet - Lee Ross (1959)

 

I have a vivid memory of sitting at my desk at my old job, listening to spooky songs and waiting to clock out when “The Mummy’s Bracelet” came on. It was one of those “Where has this song been hiding?” moments. The song tells a scary story of a thief who stole a mummy’s bracelet, and this mummy isn’t going to let that fly. The song itself has this eerie tone and haunting guitar riffs that make it almost downright scary.

In a way, the story told in the song could easily translate to film in a grainy black-and-white B movie from the 1950s. I won’t give too much away, but towards the end of the song, there’s this ghostly scream that still gives me chills even though I’ve heard the song a million times at this point. Much like the other three tracks listed here, if you want something a little different that gets stuck in your head on your Halloween playlist, I can’t recommend “The Mummy’s Bracelet” enough.

So, as I start a new chapter of my life during the best time of the year, I hope you find some enjoyment in these eerie earworms and add them to your playlist. Don't forget to play them while you're decorating or driving around looking for Mcboo buckets and Frosty Frights! I can't make any promises but I'm hoping to do an extra blog this month and continue to post more content on social media. Stay tuned and as always ...

Stay Spooky,

Jeremy