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EspañolMONSTER MASH
"'Monster Mash'" is a 1962 novelty song and the best-known song by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. Pickett was an aspiring actor who sang with a band called The Cordials at night while going to auditions during the day. One night, while performing with his band, Pickett did a monologue in imitation of horror movie actor Boris Karloff while covering The Diamonds' "Little Darlin'". The audience loved it and co band member, Lenny Capizzi encouraged Pickett to do more with the Karloff imitation.
Pickett and Capizzi composed "Monster Mash" and recorded it with Gary Paxton, Leon Russell, Johnny McCrae and Rickie Page, credited as "The Cryptkickers". This song was partially inspired by Paxton's earlier novelty hit "Alley Oop", as well as by the Mashed Potato dance craze of the era.
The song is narrated by a mad scientist whose monster, late one evening, rises from a slab to perform a new dance. The dance becomes a hit when the scientist throws a party for other monsters. The producers came up with several low-budget, but effective sound effects for the recording. For example, the sound of a coffin opening was imitated by a rusty nail being pulled out of a board. The sound of a cauldron bubbling was actually water being bubbled through a straw and the chains rattling were simply chains being dropped on a tile floor. Pickett also impersonated the horror actor Bela Lugosi as Dracula when he said, "What ever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"
On October 20, 1962, eight weeks after it was recorded, "Monster Mash" reached number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart just in time for Halloween. It has been a perennial holiday favorite ever since. The single was re-released twice, the first re-release was in 1970, and the second re-release resulted in the single peaking at #10 in early-May, 1973. The song remains a staple on oldies radio.
"Monster's Holiday", a Christmas-themed follow up, was released in December 1962 and peaked at #30 on the ''Billboard'' chart. The tune was penned by the renowned novelty song composer Paul 'Oops! upside ya head' Harrison.
The Bonzo Dog Band released a version of "Monster Mash" on their 1969 album ''Tadpoles''.
Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers charted with "Monster Mash" in the UK in 1973 where it peaked at #3 in the early October. The BBC banned the record in 1962 on the grounds they thought the song was "too morbid." Hence part of the reason why the record failed in the UK.
In 2005, "Climate Mash", a version with re-written lyrics about global warming and new vocals by Pickett, was released on the Internet by the organization Clear the Air.
"Monster Mash" was written by Pickett and Leonard Capizzi.
★ When Elvis Presley heard the song for the first time, he said that it was "the dumbest song he had ever heard" (Music Choice Trivia).
★ Mixing the cereals ''Count Chocula'', ''Franken Berry,'' and ''Boo Berry'' into one bowl is commonly known as a Monster Mash.
★ Horror punk group The Misfits covered this song on their album ''Monster Mash,'' and ''Project 1950''.
★ British ska band Bad Manners released a cover of the song on their 1980 debut album, Ska 'n' B.
★ Jesse Sails played drums and Chuck Trainor played bass for this song.
★ Vincent Price recorded a version of the song in 1977.
★ The 1993 ''Simpsons'' episode "I Love Lisa" featured this song when a radio disc jockey played the wrong record.
★ The ''Cheers'' episode "Bar Wars V: The Final Judgment" featured this song prominently, played repeatedly as a prank by rival bar owner Gary on Halloween.
★ Ron Howard performed the song on ''Happy Days'' (episode 124, "The Evil Eye" 10/31/78), but used a Peter Lorre impression rather than Boris Karloff.
★ In 1995, a movie musical called '', written in the spirit of the song and starring Bobby Pickett himself, was produced.
★ Mentioned in the Dire Straits song Your Latest Trick.
★ Boris Karloff was so taken with the song that he performed it himself on a 1965 episode of ''Shindig!''. (Skal. The Monster Show, 279)
★ Mike Tyson appeared with Bobby Brown on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live'', performing a duet of the song.
★ The song was performed by The Bonzo Dog Band in the first episode of ''Do Not Adjust Your Set''.
★ The song appears on an episode of ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'', where a bunch of monsters invade the Spellman house on Halloween, caused by an evil talking doll.
★ Mannheim Steamroller's 2006 album, ''Halloween, Vol. 2'' features a slightly re-worked version of the song.
★ In American TV spots, the song was used to promote the film, ''.
★ In the ''Freaks and Geeks'' episode "Tricks and Treats", Mrs. Weir sings "Monster Mash" at dinner to the amusement of her children.
★ Bob Dylan is a fan of the song and played it on the Halloween 2006 edition of his ''Theme Time Radio Hour'' program on XM Satellite Radio.
this song is on a video on the pounder.com
★ Uncle John's Fourth Bathroom Reader, Bathroom Reader' Institute, , , St. Martin's Griffin, 1991, ISBN 0-312-06484-5
★ Official "Monster Mash" site
Pickett and Capizzi composed "Monster Mash" and recorded it with Gary Paxton, Leon Russell, Johnny McCrae and Rickie Page, credited as "The Cryptkickers". This song was partially inspired by Paxton's earlier novelty hit "Alley Oop", as well as by the Mashed Potato dance craze of the era.
The song is narrated by a mad scientist whose monster, late one evening, rises from a slab to perform a new dance. The dance becomes a hit when the scientist throws a party for other monsters. The producers came up with several low-budget, but effective sound effects for the recording. For example, the sound of a coffin opening was imitated by a rusty nail being pulled out of a board. The sound of a cauldron bubbling was actually water being bubbled through a straw and the chains rattling were simply chains being dropped on a tile floor. Pickett also impersonated the horror actor Bela Lugosi as Dracula when he said, "What ever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"
On October 20, 1962, eight weeks after it was recorded, "Monster Mash" reached number one on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100 chart just in time for Halloween. It has been a perennial holiday favorite ever since. The single was re-released twice, the first re-release was in 1970, and the second re-release resulted in the single peaking at #10 in early-May, 1973. The song remains a staple on oldies radio.
"Monster's Holiday", a Christmas-themed follow up, was released in December 1962 and peaked at #30 on the ''Billboard'' chart. The tune was penned by the renowned novelty song composer Paul 'Oops! upside ya head' Harrison.
The Bonzo Dog Band released a version of "Monster Mash" on their 1969 album ''Tadpoles''.
Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers charted with "Monster Mash" in the UK in 1973 where it peaked at #3 in the early October. The BBC banned the record in 1962 on the grounds they thought the song was "too morbid." Hence part of the reason why the record failed in the UK.
In 2005, "Climate Mash", a version with re-written lyrics about global warming and new vocals by Pickett, was released on the Internet by the organization Clear the Air.
"Monster Mash" was written by Pickett and Leonard Capizzi.
| Contents |
| Trivia |
| Occurrences in the media |
| References |
| External links |
Trivia
★ When Elvis Presley heard the song for the first time, he said that it was "the dumbest song he had ever heard" (Music Choice Trivia).
★ Mixing the cereals ''Count Chocula'', ''Franken Berry,'' and ''Boo Berry'' into one bowl is commonly known as a Monster Mash.
★ Horror punk group The Misfits covered this song on their album ''Monster Mash,'' and ''Project 1950''.
★ British ska band Bad Manners released a cover of the song on their 1980 debut album, Ska 'n' B.
★ Jesse Sails played drums and Chuck Trainor played bass for this song.
★ Vincent Price recorded a version of the song in 1977.
Occurrences in the media
★ The 1993 ''Simpsons'' episode "I Love Lisa" featured this song when a radio disc jockey played the wrong record.
★ The ''Cheers'' episode "Bar Wars V: The Final Judgment" featured this song prominently, played repeatedly as a prank by rival bar owner Gary on Halloween.
★ Ron Howard performed the song on ''Happy Days'' (episode 124, "The Evil Eye" 10/31/78), but used a Peter Lorre impression rather than Boris Karloff.
★ In 1995, a movie musical called '', written in the spirit of the song and starring Bobby Pickett himself, was produced.
★ Mentioned in the Dire Straits song Your Latest Trick.
★ Boris Karloff was so taken with the song that he performed it himself on a 1965 episode of ''Shindig!''. (Skal. The Monster Show, 279)
★ Mike Tyson appeared with Bobby Brown on ''Jimmy Kimmel Live'', performing a duet of the song.
★ The song was performed by The Bonzo Dog Band in the first episode of ''Do Not Adjust Your Set''.
★ The song appears on an episode of ''Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'', where a bunch of monsters invade the Spellman house on Halloween, caused by an evil talking doll.
★ Mannheim Steamroller's 2006 album, ''Halloween, Vol. 2'' features a slightly re-worked version of the song.
★ In American TV spots, the song was used to promote the film, ''.
★ In the ''Freaks and Geeks'' episode "Tricks and Treats", Mrs. Weir sings "Monster Mash" at dinner to the amusement of her children.
★ Bob Dylan is a fan of the song and played it on the Halloween 2006 edition of his ''Theme Time Radio Hour'' program on XM Satellite Radio.
this song is on a video on the pounder.com
References
★ Uncle John's Fourth Bathroom Reader, Bathroom Reader' Institute, , , St. Martin's Griffin, 1991, ISBN 0-312-06484-5
External links
★ Official "Monster Mash" site
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psst.. try this: add to faves
