Friday, June 22, 2012

Weekend Listomania (Special That Voodoo You Do Audio/Video Edition)

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?

21 comments:

edward said...

Since Screamin Jay Hawkins would be too ficking obvious, I won't;>
wow 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.

dave™© said...

"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!

TMink said...

Never heard of Gwil before, I need to find some of his stuff!

Trey

steve simels said...

The first Thieves album, "Seduced by Money," is a killer, you should pardon the expression. Still available at Amazon...cheap!

Anonymous said...

"Dirty Creature" by Split Enz and "Is There A Ghost" by Band of Horses are the first that pop into my head.

cthulhu said...

"Vampire Rock" by the Fabulous Poodles.

"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.

Anonymous said...

(Don't Fear) The Reaper- BOC
Wolfman 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

Who Am Us Anyway? said...

The Iguanas' cover of Fortune Teller -- pretty New-Orleans Spooky!

steve simels said...

All covers of Fortune Teller are spooky.
:-)

dave™© said...

And how could we forget - "Monster Mash"!!!

buzzbabyjesus said...

"Ghosts" by Japan 1982-

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ruj8qgkV9k

Brooklyn Girl said...

The theme from "Ghostbusters", of course!

"Love Potion #9"

And I don't really like "Witchy Woman" but I feel obliged to mention it.

cthulhu said...

Gotta call foul on Brooklyn Girl: "Witchy Woman" includes the line "sleeping in the Devil's bed".

Maybe "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.

Unknown said...

Hey, Anonymous: I'm afraid that Split Enz's "Dirty Creature" may have to be disqualified from this imaginary list. The "dirty creature" Tim Finn sings about is depression.

And I second the other Anonymous's* vote for Blue Öyster Cult's "(Don't Fear) The Reaper". That'd definitely be my number one.

(*Unless it's the same Anonymous.)

Feral said...

I can toss in a few:

Santana - 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

Dave said...

No love for the Ran-Dalls' immortal "Martian Hop"? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=veSLdNos7q8

Billy B said...

How about "Season of the Witch" by Donovan?

John Fowler said...

A few additional nominations -

Neutral 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...

steve simels said...

"Magic Bus."

Why didn't I nominate that myself? Also "I Can See for Miles."

spinetingler said...

Dance of the Swamp Woman - Five Man Electrical Band

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TyyItUehjvE

spinetingler said...

Aw, crap. I posted before listening all the way. The Devil gets a mention. Disqualified.