A Spike Jones Spooktacular (In Screaming Stereo Sound!)
(Featuring Halloween Novelties, Monster Records, and Plenty of Spooktacular fun!  Originally broadcast on KPSU 15 October 2011 and in 2015 as “#21.2”..)

Pulling material from two classic Halloween Novelty records (namely the Spike Jones album in question, and Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By), this show focuses records and musical oddities that are on the fringes of niche music in the first place. Seasonal music of any kind is already a subset of the larger world Pop Music inhabits, and Halloween Music in particular contains a kind of specificity that excludes it from any kind of large audience. Fortunately this does not diminish the entertainment value of these oddities. This is merely a small sampling of the kinds of things that turn me on this time of year.

I have to say, this particular show had me a little giddy, in the same way that Christmas Music must affect people who love that holiday more. Perhaps it was a residual effect from Asian Women On The Telephone playing live during the 12 Noon hour? Hard to say. I would also venture a guess that these kinds of records evoke in me a sense of a collective musical experience, that of putting on a record at night when you should be in bed, and suspending your disbelief just enough to let something like this give you a prurient chuckle. There is something wonderfully perverse about Hitchcock describing how you will murder your wife, or listening to a litany of monster puns told in bad Transylvanian accents. You know you shouldn’t enjoy it, but you do. Or, maybe it’s just me.

My original obsession with Halloween Music dates back to when I first moved in with Dr. Science back in 2002 (I hope that’s the right year.) Shortly after he explained he was throwing a big party for Halloween. I immediately started pulling together what became an 8 hour playlist. In the years since I’ve continued to add to it, but doing Halloween Shows on the radio every year has caused me to exhaust much of the material I collected. I was wary of doing more shows this year, until I stumbled upon this Spike Jones album, plus a huge cache of other material, too. Not only does this secure my ability to keep doing shows like this in the coming weeks (and years), but also renewed my interest in collecting Halloween Music again. The upshot is that you can enjoy the fruits of these labors.

Special thanks go out to my assistant this week, Closetphotography, who not only recommended music for this episode, but kept me entertained during the show. (You can hear the debut episode of Closet Radio here, and stay tuned, as she’ll be joining the Saturday lineup starting next week.) DJ JustanotherDJ also helped flesh out the playlist, and Suzanne Falk for introducing me to the joys of Lenny & The Squigtones. (How did I go this long without knowing this existed? Shame on me.) This show was that much better with ya’ll helping out.

Next Week: the Novelties continue with our very own Mad Monster Party! Focusing on the excerpts from that classic film, we’ll deliver even more Halloween treats that range from the funny to the punny.

See you in seven.

A Spike Jones Spooktacular!
# Title * Artist * Album * Label
01.) Music To Be Murdered By (Excerpt) * Alfred Hitchcock * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
02.) I Only Have Eyes For You * Dracula and Vampira * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound *
03.) Innersanctum * Jim Wolfe And The T-Towners * Lux and Ivy’s Favorites Volume Twelve: The Lux Interior Memorial Edition – Journey into Outer Space
04.) The Haunted House * New Mayfair Dance Orchestra * Halloween Stomp
05.) Poisen To Poisen * Spike Jones * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
06.) She Lived As A Zombie In Life (Excerpt 1) * Ed Wood Jr. * Orgy Of The Dead
07.) Zombie Stomp * The Del-Airs * Lux and Ivy’s Favorites Volume 13
08.) The Creep (Twist) * Frankie Stein And His Ghouls * Monster Sounds And Dance Music * Power Records
09.) I’ll Never Smile Again (Excerpt) * Alfred Hitchcock * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
10.) The Headless Horseman * Kay Starr & Billy Butterfield Quintet * Halloween Stomp
11.) Teenage Brain Surgeon * The Mad Doctor * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
12.) The Blob * Five Blobs * Lux and Ivy’s Favorites Volume 02
13.) She Lived As A Zombie In Life (Excerpt 2) * Ed Wood Jr. * Orgy Of The Dead
14.) I Don’t Stand A Ghost Of A Chance With You (Excerpt) * Alfred Hitchcock * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
15.) (All Of A Sudden) My Heart Sings * Dracula and Vampira * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
16.) The Goblin Band * Glen Gray & Casa Loma Orchestra * Halloween Stomp
17.) After You’ve Gone (Excerpt) * Alfred Hitchcock * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
18.) Green Slime Theme * Richard Delvy * Lux and Ivy’s Favorites Volume 13
19.) Everything Happens To Me * Spike Jones * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
20.) Frankie And Igor At A Rock And Roll Party * Bob McFadden & Dor * Songs Our Mummy Taught Us
21.) She Lived As A Zombie In Life (Excerpt 3) * Ed Wood Jr. * Orgy Of The Dead
22.) Creature Without A Head * Lenny & The Squigtones
23.) Monster Movie Ball * The Feindager * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
24.) Alfred Hitchcock Television Theme * Alfred Hitchcock & The Jeff Alexander Orchestra * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
25.) Tammy * Dracula and Vampira * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
26.) Little Demon * Screamin’ Jay Hawkins
27.) She Lived As A Zombie In Life (Excerpt 4) * Ed Wood Jr. * Orgy Of The Dead
28.) The Purple People Eater * Sheb Wooley * Lux and Ivy’s Favorites Volume Eight
29.) Swingin’ At The Seance * Glen Miller & Orchestra * Halloween Stomp
30.) Suspicion (Excerpt) * Alfred Hitchcock * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
31.) My Old Flame * I. M. Arson * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
32.) I Come To Demolish Cleveland * Stacy Bengal & His Six Outfielders * Lux and Ivy’s Favorites Volume Eight
33.) Body And Soul (Excerpt) * Alfred Hitchcock * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
34.) The Vampire Speaks * Al Zanino * The Vampire Speaks
35.) This Is Your Death * Dr. Jekyll and Other Ghouls * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
36.) She Lived As A Zombie In Life (Excerpt 5) * Ed Wood Jr. * Orgy Of The Dead
37.) Amongst My Souvenirs * Sheldon Allman * Sing Along with Drac
38.) I’ll Walk Alone (Excerpt) * Alfred Hitchcock * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
39.) Voodoo Dreams * Martin Denny * Hypnotique
40.) Lover Come Back To Me (Excerpt) * Jeff Alexander Orchestra * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records
41.) She Lived As A Zombie In Life (Excerpt 6) * Ed Wood Jr. * Orgy Of The Dead
42.) Two Heads Are Better Than One * Beatnik Duet * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
43.) Frankenstein’s Den * Hollywood Flames * Doo Wop Halloween
44.) Frankenstein Meets The Beetles * Goodman and Ramal * The Monster Album
45.) Campo de Vampiros * Holy * Mas Rock and Roll – 26 Rare 60’s Teen-Punk Artyfacts
46.) Spooktacular Finale * The Entire Ghastly Cast * Spike Jones in Hi-Fi, a Spooktacular in Screaming Sound
47.) The Hour Of Parting * Alfred Hitchcock * Alfred Hitchcock’s Music To Be Murdered By * Imperial Records