Monster Mash

Last updated

"Monster Mash"
Bobby "Boris" Picket Monster Mash 7-inch US vinyl.jpg
Side A of the 7-inch U.S. vinyl single (1962)
Single by Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers
from the album The Original Monster Mash
B-side "Monsters' Mash Party"
ReleasedAugust 25, 1962
RecordedMay 1962
Genre
Length3:14
Label Garpax (US)
London (UK)
Songwriter(s)
  • Bobby Pickett
  • Lenny Capizzi
Producer(s) Gary S. Paxton
Official video
"Monster Mash" (Official Lyric Video) on YouTube

"Monster Mash" is a 1962 novelty song by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The song was released as a single on Gary S. Paxton's Garpax Records label in August 1962 along with a full-length LP called The Original Monster Mash , which contained several other monster-themed tunes. The "Monster Mash" single was number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 20–27 of that year, just before Halloween.

Contents

"Monster Mash" has sustained a lasting impact in various recordings, film inclusions, and re-releases since its initial release. In 2021, nearly 60 years after its release, "Monster Mash" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 37. As of 2023, the song was generating $1 million annually in royalties. [2]

Boris Karloff's portrayal of Frankenstein's monster inspired Pickett to write and sing the song. Frankenstein's monster (Boris Karloff).jpg
Boris Karloff's portrayal of Frankenstein's monster inspired Pickett to write and sing the song.

Background

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 performing the Diamonds' "Little Darlin'." The audience loved it, and fellow band member Lenny Capizzi encouraged Pickett to do more with the Karloff imitation. [3]

Pickett and Capizzi composed "Monster Mash" and recorded it with record producer Gary S. Paxton. The band with which Pickett recorded the song is not known with certainty, except for some studio musicians: Johnny MacRae, Rickie Page, and Terry Berg, credited as "The Crypt-Kickers" (in the song is mentioned a fictional vocal group, "The Crypt-Kicker Five"). Mel Taylor, drummer for the Ventures, is sometimes credited playing on the record as well. [4] [5] Some sources incorrectly credit Leon Russell as the pianist; Pickett has clarified that Russell "was not on 'Monster Mash', just the flip side. He had shown up to the session late, and we had already finished 'Monster Mash'." [6] [7] The notable female backing vocals were performed by Darlene Love and her group The Blossoms, usually uncredited. [8]

The song was partially inspired by Paxton's earlier novelty hit "Alley Oop," as well as by the Mashed Potato dance craze of the era. A variation on the Mashed Potato was danced to "Monster Mash," in which the footwork was the same, but Frankenstein-style monster gestures were made with the arms and hands.

The producers made extensive use of sound effects in the recording; 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 simulated by water being bubbled through a straw (The Beatles would later do the same on their hit "Yellow Submarine") [9] and the chains rattling were simply chains being dropped on a tile floor. [10]

Synopsis

The song is narrated by a mad scientist whose monster, late one evening, rises from his slab to perform a new dance, with a name implying it is inspired by the Mashed Potato, a popular dance of the early 1960s. [11] The dance becomes "the hit of the land" when the scientist throws a party for other monsters, among them classic 1940s horror film icons such as the Wolfman, Igor, Count Dracula, and his son.

In addition to narrating the song in the Karloff voice, Pickett also impersonated fellow horror-film actor Bela Lugosi as Count Dracula with the line, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?", and character actor Peter Lorre as Igor (a role Lorre never played, though he did play numerous deformed eccentrics). The mad scientist explains that the twist has been replaced by the Monster Mash, which Dracula embraces by joining the house band, the Crypt-Kicker Five. The story closes with the mad scientist inviting "you, the living" to the party at his castle. [12]

Re-releases and other versions

The song was re-released several times and appeared on the U.S. Billboard charts on two occasions after the original release: August 1970 and May 1973. [13] The BBC had banned the record from airplay in 1962 on the grounds that the song was "too morbid", [14] but it was later performed on the network's television program, Juke Box Jury , by "The Children of the Night", a novelty group. The record was re-released in the United Kingdom in 1973, where it peaked at number three in early October. In Canada, it reached number one on August 4, 1973. [15] In the U.S., the record re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 on May 5, 1973, peaking at number ten on August 11. [16] On the September 15, 1973, edition of American Top 40 , Casey Kasem mistakenly said that the record had accumulated 40 weeks on the Hot 100, which then would have been the all-time record, only for a listener to inform Kasem later that the record's three weeks on the Hot 100 in 1970 had been included in the 1973 run, thus reducing the total to 37 weeks. The record re-entered the Hot 100 for a 38th week on the November 13, 2021, chart. The 1970 reissue on the Parrot label (Parrot 348) was certified as a Gold record (for sales of over one million copies) on August 28, 1973.

To celebrate the 1973 release, Bobby and the Crypt-Kickers toured Dallas and St. Louis around the 1973 Halloween holiday. On this tour, the Crypt-Kickers were composed of Brian Ray (now guitarist with Paul McCartney), drummer Brian Englund, keyboardist Don Chambers, singer Jean Ray, and others. "Monster Mash" re-entered the British charts again on November 2, 2008, at number 60. [17]

In 1974, Buck Owens re-invented "Monsters' Holiday," giving it the title "It's a Monsters' Holiday." That song peaked at number six on Billboard's Country chart in mid-September of the same year, [18] and number nine in Canada. [19]

In 1985, with American culture experiencing a growing awareness of rap music, Pickett released "Monster Rap," which describes the mad scientist's frustration at being unable to teach the dancing monster from "Monster Mash" how to talk. The problem is solved when he teaches the monster to rap. [6] A movie musical based on the song starring Pickett was released in 1995. [20] During the 2004 presidential election, Pickett turned the song into a campaign video and re-titled it "Monster Slash", with lyrics by environmental campaigner Peter Altman, in which he critiqued President George W. Bush's environmental policies. [21]

In 1989, Stuart Hersh began managing Pickett, and upon learning Pickett did not own the master recording of "Monster Mash", the pair in 1993 recorded a perfect copy of the original "Monster Mash" that they then used to undercut the owners of the track, Universal.[ clarification needed ] According to Hersh, the company was unconcerned with the song's legacy and was instead "preoccupied with how much money they could get off (the song)." Pickett was missing out on thousands of dollars in licensing fees, but Hersh and Pickett's goal was not just to make money. They sought instead to help keep "Monster Mash" relevant: by making "Monster Mash" affordable to independent production houses, they ensured it would always have a place in culture. [22]

The backing singers for the record were The Blossoms, led by Darlene Love. [23] [24] [ disputed – discuss ]

Chart history

On the Digital Song Sales chart, the song peaked at number 27 from 2005, from 2007 to 2011, and from 2013 to 2017. It is played annually on Sirius XM Satellite Radio. [25] In 2012, the song ranked at number 25 on Billboard. [26]

Weekly charts

Chart (1962)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [27] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B Sides [28] 9
Canada CHUM Chart [29] (2 weeks)1
Chart (1970)Peak
position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [30] 91
Chart (1973)Peak
position
Australia (Kent Music Report) [31] 3
Canada (CHUM) [32] (4 weeks)1
Canada (RPM) [15] (3 weeks)(#4 Yr End)1
UK [33] 3
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [27] 10
Chart (2021)Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100) [34] 29
UK Indie (OCC) [35] 1
U.S. Billboard Hot 100 [36] 37

Cover versions

Various cover versions of "Monster Mash" have been recorded:

Misfits version

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References

  1. ↑ Snyder, Michael (September 30, 2019). "Spooky, scary, and silly tunes". Marina Times. Retrieved October 9, 2019. Some might suggest that music inspired by All Hallows' Eve begins with Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers's whimsical 1962 rock 'n' roll novelty number "Monster Mash"..
  2. ↑ Knopper, Steve (October 31, 2023). "How Much Is 'Monster Mash' Worth?". Billboard. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  3. ↑ Samuelson, Tracey (October 30, 2009). "The origin of that terrible Monster Mash song". The Christian Science Monitor . Retrieved May 10, 2019. Pickett explains Monster Mash.
  4. ↑ "Drummerworld: Mel Taylor". The Ventures. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  5. ↑ Kubernik, Harvey (December 2, 2019). "Walk, Don't Run: 60 Years Of The Ventures | Cave Hollywood" . Retrieved October 31, 2021.
  6. 1 2 Vitagliano, Joe (October 29, 2021). "Behind The Song: "Monster Mash," Bobby "Boris" Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers". American Songwriter .
  7. ↑ Tramel, Jimmie (October 23, 2017). "Five things you might not know about 'Monster Mash' turning 55". Tulsa World . Writer Jan Alan Henderson interviewed Pickett in 1995. Pickett recalled that Russell showed up late to the recording session. Pickett told Henderson that Russell played on "Monster Mash Party," the "B" side of the "Monster Mash" single. Gary S. Paxton confirmed that he, not Russell, played piano on Monster Mash.
  8. ↑ "The Blossoms". Soulfulkindamusic.net. Retrieved August 16, 2021.
  9. ↑ ""Monster Mash" Rules Halloween - October 31, 1962".
  10. ↑ Fontenot, Robert (March 11, 2017). "Learn more about "Monster Mash" – Monster Mash song trivia and information – All about "Monster Mash"" . Retrieved May 10, 2019. Sound effects used on Monster Mash
  11. ↑ "Here Are the Lyrics to Bobby Pickett's 'Monster Mash'". Billboard . October 23, 2018.
  12. ↑ "Monster Mash by Bobby "Boris" Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers". songfacts.com. Song Facts, LLC. Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  13. ↑ B. Lee Cooper; Beulah B Ramirez; Frank Hoffmann; Wayne S. Haney (1997). Rock Music in American Popular Culture II: More Rock 'n' Roll Resources. Routledge. ISBN   1560238771.
  14. ↑ Allen, Jeremy (October 26, 2017). "8 songs banned by the BBC for the strangest of reasons". BBC News . Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  15. 1 2 "RPM Top 100 Singles - August 4, 1973" (PDF).
  16. ↑ Weekly Top40: 1973, December 31, 1973
  17. ↑ Tinoco, Armando (October 31, 2013). "'Monster Mash' Song History: Celebrate Halloween 2013 With 10 Fun Facts Of Classic". Latin Times. IBT Media . Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  18. ↑ Betts, Stephen L. (October 31, 2018). "Flashback: Buck Owens Gets Creepy With 'Monsters' Holiday'" . Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  19. ↑ "RPM Top 50 Country Singles - October 5, 1974" (PDF).
  20. ↑ "Monster Mash". Rotten Tomatoes.
  21. ↑ "'Monster Mash' reprised as campaign song". UPI. October 20, 2004.
  22. ↑ Millard, Drew (October 27, 2014). "Long Lost Daughters, Beach Boys, and Disco Toilets: The True Story Behind 'Monster Mash'". www.vice.com. Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. Retrieved October 28, 2019.
  23. ↑ Revealed in the documentary film 20 Feet from Stardom .
  24. ↑ "The Blossoms". Soulful Kinda Music.
  25. ↑ Bronson, Ted (October 30, 2018). "How Bobby 'Boris' Pickett Turned 'Monster Mash' Into a Graveyard Smash". Billboard.
  26. ↑ Greenberg, Steve (October 31, 2012). "Long Lost Daughters, Beach Boys, and Disco Toilets: The True Story Behind "Monster Mash"". Billboard. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  27. 1 2 [Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles 1955–2002]
  28. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2004). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942-2004. Record Research. p. 460.
  29. ↑ "CHUM Hit Parade - October 8, 1962".
  30. ↑ Whitburn, Joel (2013). Joel Whitburn's Top Pop Singles, 14th Edition: 1955-2012. Record Research. p. 658.
  31. ↑ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 233. ISBN   0-646-11917-6.
  32. ↑ "CHUM 30 - August 11, 1973".
  33. ↑ "officialcharts.com". officialcharts.com. Retrieved October 31, 2023.
  34. ↑ "Billboard Canadian Hot 100 Chart: Week of November 13, 2021". Billboard . Retrieved November 9, 2021.
  35. ↑ "Official Independent Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved November 3, 2023.
  36. ↑ "Michael Jackson's 'Thriller' Leads Halloween Treats on Billboard Hot 100". Billboard . Retrieved November 8, 2021.
  37. ↑ Ess, Ramsey (February 15, 2013). "'Do Not Adjust Your Set': The Children's Show That Launched Monty Python". Vulture.com. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  38. ↑ "Allstar Weekend Does the "Monster Mash"". Tiger Beat. October 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
  39. ↑ Dickson, E. J. (October 8, 2019). "The Writer of the 'Golden Girls' Theme Is Blowing Up on TikTok For Being Spooky". Rolling Stone. Retrieved December 24, 2020.
  40. ↑ Halloween Howls: Fun & Scary Music - Andrew Gold | Releases | AllMusic , retrieved December 24, 2020
  41. ↑ Masley, Ed (April 2, 2024). "How Alice Cooper reimagined 'I'm Eighteen' and 'School's Out' for a kids album". Arizona Republic . Retrieved April 13, 2024.
  42. ↑ Dickman, Maggie (October 31, 2016). "Misfits release free MP3 download of "Mad Monster Party" for Halloween". Alternative Press .
  43. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 the Misfits (2001). Cuts from the Crypt (CD liner notes). New York City: Roadrunner. 161 618 467-2.
  44. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Misfits discography". Misfits.com. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
  45. 1 2 3 the Misfits (2003). Project 1950 (CD liner notes). New York City: Misfits Records. RCD 10643.
  46. ↑ "American single certifications – Bobby Pickett – Monster Mash". Recording Industry Association of America.
"Monster Mash"
Misfits - Monster Mash cover.jpg
The cover features an image of Boris Karloff's character from Mad Monster Party? .
Single by the Misfits
ReleasedOctober 31, 1999
Recorded1997
Genre Horror punk
Length5:03
Label Misfits
Songwriter(s)
  • Bobby Pickett
  • Lenny Capizzi
Producer(s) Misfits
Misfitssingles chronology
"Scream!"
(1999)		"Monster Mash"
(1999)		"Day the Earth Caught Fire"
(2002)
Audio sample
The 1997 recording was the first time Jerry Only had performed lead vocals for the Misfits
Studio albums
Live albums
Compilation albums
EPs
Singles
Other songs
Associated acts
Tribute albums
Related articles
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