Cast a spell and fill the dance floor with a playlist that’s all killer, no “Thriller”.
Whether you need to curate the perfect party playlist or looking to upgrade your personal October soundtrack, here are 30 of the best songs to make your spooky season listening (and dancing) even better.
“I Was a Teenage Werewolf” – The Cramps
The Cramps didn’t invent Halloween, they just own it.
The Cramps are on all my Halloween playlists multiple times, but this is my favorite of their spooky jams. It starts with Poison Ivy’s sinister surf guitar intro, slips right into a burlesque, hip-swayin’ drumbeat then mauls you with Lux Interior’s tortured-transformation vocals.
It’s a whole mood and I’m here for all of it.
“The Munsters” Theme – Los Straightjackets
Jack Marshall’s “The Munsters” theme is a spooky, surf-rock banger to begin with. Fortunately for us, that’s right in Los Straitjackets wheelhouse. It’s a faithful cover for the most part, but it has a little something extra that manages to eclipse the original.
“Too Much Paranoias” – Devo
My favorite DEVO tune is perfect for any Halloween playlist. That manic guitar riff and relentless beat march you to the edge of insanity. The guitar solo takes you the rest of the way.
“Main Title” – Beetlejuice Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
I’ve listened to this song ABOUT 167 TIMES, AND IT KEEPS GETTING BETTER EVERY SINGLE TIME I HEAR IT.
“Red Right Hand” – Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds
The opening bell is the sound of a spell being cast. Don’t worry, it’ll only last about 4 minutes, 46 seconds.
“Psycho Killer” – Talking Heads
Tina Weymouth’s iconic bassline is a party-starter. You’re either heading to the dancefloor or bopping in your car. You’re singing along to all the fa-fa-fa’s and, at some point, pretending to know French.
“I Want Candy” – Bow Wow Wow
Does a pitcher only throw fastballs? No. As change-ups go, this is a fun one. Bonus points for that sweet opening riff.
“Dead Man’s Party” – Oingo Boingo
This is Danny Elfman’s second appearance on the list (see “Beetlejuice”) and I have to stop myself from including 30 more. We are Danny Elfman stans, here.
“Bloodletting (The Vampire Song)” – Concrete Blonde
Goth dancefloor anthem with the best group-shout chorus –
I got the ways and means
To New Orleans
I’m going down by the river
Where it’s warm and green
I’m gonna have a drink and walk around
I got a lot to think about
Oh, yeah…”
Who hasn’t felt like that sometimes, newly undead or not?
“Hell” – Squirrel Nut Zippers
The catchiest song about eternal damnation you’ve ever heard.
“Bela Lugosi’s Dead” – Bauhaus
We’re talking about the masterpiece that launched a thousand goths, so indulge me while I drop three videos on you.
First, we have the album version included above. A doom-filled beauty on its own that you should enjoy if you haven’t before.
I personally prefer to listen to one of the many live versions of “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” out there. I decided to go with Trent Reznor and TV on the Radio performing live with Peter Murphy, who throws rose petals on the band for reasons unknown.
Finally, we have a brilliant mashup of the Bauhaus tune with “Tear You Apart” by She Wants Revenge. Once I found it, I could not keep it to myself.
Beware the NSFW transition if you play it at a party. Or enjoy it. Whichever fits your party best.
“Me and the Devil” – Gil Scott Heron
In his 2010 cover of Robert Johnson’s “Me and The Devil Blues”, Gil Scott-Heron hears the devil knock on his door. Scott-Heron’s voice against the menacing drum and synth track makes you feel like you’re right there next to him.
“Howlin’ for You” – The Black Keys
If this isn’t a stadium anthem about a lovesick werewolf, don’t tell me.
“Laurie’s Theme” – “Halloween” Original Motion Picture Soundtrack
You want to go straight for the main theme, and that’s OK. Just don’t sleep on “Laurie’s Theme”. It’s the heart of the movie and way eerier, in my opinion.
“Ghost of Stephen Foster” – Squirrel Nut Zippers
If you find yourself wishing there were more Halloween drunken pirate sea shanties, I have good news for you.
“Jump In the Line” – Harry Belafonte
Go ahead and play it. You passed that test. Or made that phone call. Whatever you accomplished, big or small, you deserve to jump in the line and rock your body in time.
“Zydrate Anatomy” – Repo the Genetic Opera
Forget the name “Paris Hilton” for a minute and enjoy the scene-stealing Grave Robber (co-writer Terrence Zdunich) in this highlight from “Repo! The Genetic Opera”.
The other real highlight from this film is Anthony Stewart Head (Giles in “Buffy the Vampire the Slayer”) as a tortured, sadistic singing assassin.
“Sci-Fi Voodoo” – The Mulchmen
Dayton, Ohio’s “The Mulchmen” brings a sinister sci-fi feel to your playlist, as well as the secret weapon for any spooky track…the theremin.
“Witches Rave” – Jeff Buckley
This version was recorded live at New York City’s Arlene’s Grocery in 1997. It includes an intro from Buckley explaining the inspiration for the song –
This is called Witches’ Rave. About a spell that was cast over me one day. I loved it as much as I hated it. But I couldn’t make it go away. And I probably never will. So maybe this will help things along. Shall we? One, two, three, four…”
This is a lovely, ethereal addition to any playlist.
“Dracula’s Wedding” – Outkast
Love and peanut butter sandwiches so good, it’s scary.
“My Name is Mud” – Primus
Yeah, I could’ve included the creepy video.
Instead, I went the absolutely killer Woodstock ’94 performance. I loved the fact that Les Claypool uttered the word “mud” and, as if it was an inadvertent incantation, mud started raining upon the stage.
“What’s He Building?” – Tom Waits
The picture Tom Waits paints is incredibly detailed and unsettling. However, the genius of “What’s He Building” lies in the question of who the real monster is in this story – the watched or the watcher?
The only disappointing part of this song is the fact that there isn’t actually a town called Mayor’s Income, Tennessee.
“Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” – The White Stripes
The heavy, distorted beat along with the title makes “Dead Leaves and the Dirty Ground” a Halloween playlist fave.
“Danse Macabre” – Camille Saint-Saëns
Shout out to Mrs. Fox who would play this piece about Death’s annual graveyard dance party in music class every year.
“Neu!” – Super 16
I’m pretty sure if Godzilla could choose to have an entrance song like a pro-wrestler, he would choose this one over his namesake Blue Oyster Cult song.
“Dead Man’s Bones” and “My Body’s a Zombie For You”- Dead Man’s Bones
Once upon a time (2009), famous-but-not-yet-mega-famous Ryan Gosling bonded with friend Zach Sheilds over a lifelong love for all things spooky, especially the Disney attraction The Haunted Mansion.
In 2009, the duo released an album under the name of Dead Man’s Bones, which somehow pierced the armor of my musically cynical heart and lives there forever.
The album is lovesick and ghostly and tragic and hopeful. It has a creepy children’s choir that somehow infuses both solemnity and exuberance into songs about true love and tombstones.
Listen to the whole album, but, for now, add these two selections to your Halloween playlist.
The title track for “Dead Man’s Bones” is a solid pick for the graveyard imagery and beat. You can decide for yourself about “My Body’s a Zombie for You”, about a love stronger than death. I’ll just tell you that I think I might have had an out-of-body experience the first time I heard it. Just sayin’.
“I Put a Spell on You” – Nina Simone
I love the Screamin’ Jay Hawkins version, but Nina’s voice and almost contemptuous delivery of the title line raise her version of “I Put a Spell on You” to another level.
“Spooky Scary Skeletons (Dance Remix)” – Andrew Gold
Oh, you know I had to do it.
Say what you will, when the bass drops in this remix, there will be dancing.
Steal This Playlist!
I’ve got all these selections and more on a Spotify playlist for your streaming (or stealing) pleasure.
What are your Halloween playlist favorites?
What did I miss? What are your playlist staples and fall favorites? What new song have you added this season?
Let me know below in the comments!