Not long ago, somebody pointed me to this blog post on a misleading Halloween party playlist.
I’ve kept something of a mental playlist of songs that truly are appropriate for a Halloween Party, and I thought I’d share them. In no particular order, here are a dozen to get you started.
1. J. S. Bach – Toccata and Fugue in D-minor.
This is pretty much a no-brainer and mandatory. A listen to the first few bars and everyone knows this piece and associates it with vampires.
2. Artie Shaw – Nightmare
A gem that isn’t all that well known today, but is the ultimate swing addition to your Halloween mood.
3. The Who – Boris the Spider
On the lighter side, but still totally appropriate for that Halloween party.
4. Rush – Witch Hunt
The night is black, without a moon….
5. Gustav Holst – Mars: Bringer of War
Anything to do with Mars is usually frightening.
6. Pink Floyd – Careful with that Axe Eugene
With that Roger Waters blood-curdling scream. Yeah.
7. Warren Zevon – Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Yeah, everybody expects Werewolves of London, and I guess it’s okay if you play that one too. This song has a darker minor key, and hey, Roland walks around without a head!
8. The Rolling Stones – Paint it Black
How much darker can it get after you paint it black?
9 The Police – King of Pain
This is about as dark a song as the Police did.
10. Mike Oldfield – Tubular Bells (Part One)
Everyone associates this with the movie The Exorcist. ‘Nuff said.
11. Tchaikovsky – Symphony No. 6 “Pathetique”
It tells you how dark of a mind this man had when he says this was the only work he felt was worthy of being produced. It’s as dark as the man’s mind was.
12. Alan Parsons Project – Lucifer
Just some cool music with a thematic title. It doesn’t really get going until the 1:00 minute mark.