Well, it's Friday and you know what that means. Yes, my Oriental French tickler Fah Lo Suee and I are off to blah blah blah to blah blah blah blah.
And I say blah blah blah blah blah etc., because if you were here yesterday, you may recall that Blogger ate about two days worth of work I had meant to post, and frankly I'm not gonna waste a good joke on the chance that Its Satanic Blogesty decides to do something similar today.
So -- that being the case, and because things will almost certainly be a little quiet around here for a few days, here's a fun and hopefully rib-tickling little project to help us all beat the heat.
Best (or Worst) Post-Elvis Pop/Rock/Soul Song Referencing the Supernatural (But NOT Including God or the Devil)!!!!!
Self-explanatory, I think, and no arbitrary rules whatsoever apart from the God and Devil thing.
And my totally top of my head Top Five is/are:
5. "Jumpin'" Gene Simmons -- Haunted House
One of the all time great cheesy rockabilly hits. How this topped the charts in 1964, at the height of the British Invasion, remains one of history's most baffling mysteries.
4. Gwil Owen -- Haunted House
Nashville rocker Owen was responsible -- as a member of The Thieves -- for one of the great overlooked albums of the 80s (produced by no less a luminary than Marshall Crenshaw). This one -- an Owen original, not a cover of the Gene Simmons hit above -- was from their cassette-only indie follow-up record, and it just (you should pardon the expression) slays me.
3. John Cale -- Ghost Story
Because I just discovered this clip on YouTube, and realized I was at the show where it was recorded.
2. Warren Zevon -- Roland the Headless Thompson Gunner
Because his "Werewolves of London" would have been just too fricking obvious.
And the Numero Uno "I do believe in spooks!" song of them all simply has to be...
1. Zacherle -- Dinner with Drac
Because Bobby Pickett's "Monster Mash" would have been just too fricking obvious. And also because Zachacherle is my all-time hero.
Alrighty then -- what would your choices be?
Since Screamin Jay Hawkins would be too ficking obvious, I won't;>
ReplyDeletewow just ate my list...
Zombieland: T-Bone Burnett
If I Should Fall From Grace With God: The Pogues (gets around the god glause by mentioning angels and ghosts).
The Brain That Refused to Die: The Slickee Boys
Creature From The Black Lagoon: Dave Edmunds
And, depending on how you answer the Lovin' Spoonfuls eternal question: Do You Believe In Magic, about 3000 songs with magic in their titles or bodies.
"There's a Ghost in My House," written by Holland-Dozier-Holland with token Motown white guy R. Dean Taylor, who also sang it. Later covered by the proto-syntho production group British Electric Foundation with Paul Jones on vocals. I love the cover!
ReplyDeleteNever heard of Gwil before, I need to find some of his stuff!
ReplyDeleteTrey
The first Thieves album, "Seduced by Money," is a killer, you should pardon the expression. Still available at Amazon...cheap!
ReplyDelete"Dirty Creature" by Split Enz and "Is There A Ghost" by Band of Horses are the first that pop into my head.
ReplyDelete"Vampire Rock" by the Fabulous Poodles.
ReplyDelete"Why Can't I See You In My Mirror" by Tonio K. Also, "The Ballad of the Night the Clocks All Stopped" doesn't reference god by name.
"Ghosts in the Wind" by Richard Thompson.
(Don't Fear) The Reaper- BOC
ReplyDeleteWolfman Jack- Todd Rundgren
Theme from Suspiria- Goblin
The Witch- The Sonics
"Psycko (Themes from Psycho and Vertigo)"- Laika & the Cosmonauts
I'm sure there are others, but these always put me in the right frame of mind for Halloween.
-B. Simmons
The Iguanas' cover of Fortune Teller -- pretty New-Orleans Spooky!
ReplyDeleteAll covers of Fortune Teller are spooky.
ReplyDelete:-)
And how could we forget - "Monster Mash"!!!
ReplyDelete"Ghosts" by Japan 1982-
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ruj8qgkV9k
The theme from "Ghostbusters", of course!
ReplyDelete"Love Potion #9"
And I don't really like "Witchy Woman" but I feel obliged to mention it.
Gotta call foul on Brooklyn Girl: "Witchy Woman" includes the line "sleeping in the Devil's bed".
ReplyDeleteMaybe "Hotel California" instead? "We haven't had that spirit here since 1969..." Although I really prefer Big Daddy's inspired cover to the Eagles' original.
I can toss in a few:
ReplyDeleteSantana - Black Magic Woman
Dr John - She Walks on Gilded Splinters
The Police - Spirits in the Material World
Neil Young - Vampire Blues
Indigo Girls - Ghost
And you could get sued for this...
Ray Parker Jr - Ghostbusters
No love for the Ran-Dalls' immortal "Martian Hop"? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veSLdNos7q8
ReplyDeleteHow about "Season of the Witch" by Donovan?
ReplyDeleteA few additional nominations -
ReplyDeleteNeutral Milk Hotel - "Ghost", off of In The Aeroplane, Over The Sea. As with everything on this album, I'm not exactly sure what he's singing about, so it's possible the ghost here isn't really supernatural.
Randy Newman - "Harps and Angels", off of the album by the same name. No direct mention of God, plus plenty of after-death supernatural, so I think it qualifies.
Creedence Clearwater Revival - "Bad Moon Rising", off of Green River. Not explicitly supernatural, but close enough.
The Pixies - "Caribou", off of Surfer Rosa. Apparently about re-incarnation. Weird & wonderful.
The Police - "Synchronicity II", off of Synchronicity. The song is the best evidence that, at least at this point in his career, Sting could still write an excellent rock song. Pretentious lyrics yes, but I think it works.
and does the soul count as supernatural? If so:
They Might Be Giants - "Birdhouse in Your Soul", off of Flood.
and finally:
The Who - "Magic Bus", off of Meaty, Beaty, Big and Bouncy. Ok, so, its not clear that the 'magic' here is of the supernatural variety, even though it does 'go like thunder'. But, come on, whatever is happening with the drums, bass and rhythm guitar here is clearly outside the bounds of explanation by modern science...
"Magic Bus."
ReplyDeleteWhy didn't I nominate that myself? Also "I Can See for Miles."
Dance of the Swamp Woman - Five Man Electrical Band
ReplyDeletehttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyyItUehjvE
Aw, crap. I posted before listening all the way. The Devil gets a mention. Disqualified.
ReplyDelete