Ten Great Halloween Hits

Not “hits” in the chart sense, of course, but with the annual scare-fest coming soon, here’s a few tunes to spice up your party compilations:

Dream Syndicate: Halloween – Steve Wynn and company channel were always a little nasty in their delivery, this classic from them is especially creepy.

Ministry: Every Day is Halloween – Before their industrial-aggro phase, Ministry was a gothic dance act, this was their best song.

45 Grave: Party Time — not a Halloween song, really, except for its association with the film Return Of The Living Dead, which makes it appropriate, especially for a party mix.

The Misfits: Halloween – a single from Glenn Danzig’s original death-punk band, covered by lots of other bands.

Screamin’ Jay Hawkins: I Put a Spell On You – screaming, crazy blues doesn’t get any better than this classic side.

The Cramps: I Was a Teenage Werewolf – forgettable movie, great song from the kings of horror-billy.

Various Artists: Do They Know It’s Hallowe’en? — Released in 2005, this was a spoof of benefit songs that actually was a benefit for UNICEF itself, it features members of Arcade Fire, Rilo Kiley, Islands, Redd Kross, plus Elvira, Beck, and tons more.

Dead Kennedys, Halloween — Their last single, in 1982, like much of their songs this was a politically charged song that used the holiday as a metaphor for Jello Biafra’s opinions.

Lou Reed: Halloween Parade — lesser known track from his New York album, not really about Halloween but it’s a cool song.

Alice Cooper: Welcome to my Nightmare – no scary song list would be complete without one from the king of over-the-top hard rock horror, who lately is much meeker on his syndicated radio show.

Back To School Top Ten

Around here, we’re getting into back-to-school mode with the kids, which gives me another excuse for a list of great songs—this time, school-related.

“Be True To Your School,” Beach Boys
A fine example of the squeaky clean pop harmonies that are a Beach Boys trademark, this is about as saccharine a sentiment as you’ll hear about school, complete with a piece of the Univeristy of Wisconsin’s fight song in the middle.

“Wonderful World,” Sam Cooke

Now this is a more honest-sounding tune, with the narrator using his lack of knowledge about school subjects like history to contrast that with his love for a girl. If school’s not for picking up girls, what’s it for, right?

“Catholic Schoolgirls Rule,” Red Hot Chili Peppers

Speaking of picking up girls…anyone who ever dated a catholic school girl (my brother married one) knows of what this song speaks.

The Headmaster Ritual, The Smiths

You want realism in music, here’s a horrific example of a school experience nobody would want to have. At least it’s a great song.

High School Confidential, Jerry Lee Lewis

All the best school songs are from the 50s and 60s, and this is one of the Killer’s best, period.

Hot For Teacher, Van Halen

Who hasn’t had a crush on at least one teacher in their lives?

Another Brick in the Wall, Part II, Pink Floyd

The anti-school anthem: “We don’t need no education…”

Rock ‘n’ Roll High School, The Ramones

Maybe they could make rock ‘n’ roll magnet schools, like they do for science or arts…then you really could have a Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.

School’s Out, Alice Cooper

The classic end-of-school anthem.

School Is Out, School Is In, Gary U.S. Bonds

60’s teenybopper star Bonds covered both ends of the school year with these two singles, making certain he’d be on the radio as school started and as it ended.