"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. It has been a perennial Halloween favorite ever since. In 2021, nearly 60 years after its release, "Monster Mash" re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 chart at number 37.
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.[2]
Pickett and Capizzi composed "Monster Mash" and recorded it with Gary S. Paxton, pianist Leon Russell, Johnny MacRae, Rickie Page, and Terry Berg, credited as "The Crypt-Kickers". (Mel Taylor, drummer for the Ventures, is sometimes credited playing on the record as well,[3][4] while Russell, who arrived late for the session, appears on the single's B-side, "Monster Mash Party".[5]) 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")[6] and the chains rattling were simply chains being dropped on a tile floor.[7]
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.[8] 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.[9]
Re-releases and other versions
A version was performed by the Bonzo Dog Doo-Dah Band on the UK TV series Do Not Adjust Your Set for which they were the house band. A studio recording was subsequently included on the Bonzos' 1969 album Tadpoles.
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.[10] The BBC had banned the record from airplay in 1962 on the grounds that the song was "too morbid",[11] 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.[12] In the U.S., the record re-entered the Billboard Hot 100 on May 5, 1973, peaking at number ten on August 11.[13] 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.[14]
"Monsters' Holiday", a Christmas-themed follow-up, was recorded by Pickett and released in December 1962, peaking at number 30 on the Billboard chart. The tune was penned by the renowned novelty song composer Paul Harrison.
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,[16] and number nine in Canada.[17]
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. A movie musical based on the song starring Pickett was released in 1995. 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.
The song is featured in "I Love Lisa", the fifteenth episode of The Simpsons' fourth season, when a radio presenter accidentally plays it on Valentine's Day (and again later in the episode for President's Day), and tries to cover up the mistake by weakly arguing it could be viewed as a love song from a certain angle ("...all the monsters enjoying each other's company...").
In 1989, Stuart Hersh began managing Pickett, and upon learning Pickett did not own the master recording to "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.[18]
In 2012, the song ranked at number 25 on Billboard.[22]
An unrelated version of "Transylvania Twist" (the original featuring on the album The Original Monster Mash), was written for the film Spookley the Square Pumpkin. The film version is more reminiscent of "Monster Mash" than the original track.
Comedian Nick Wiger appeared annually on the Comedy Bang! Bang! Halloween podcast as a character named Leo Karpatze who originally wrote Monster Mash but was forced to change the lyrics due to profanity. Wiger would appear on the show and pretend to have a new song to sing but would sing only the same profanity-laced version of Monster Mash.
Blair Packham wrote and performed "One Hit Wonder" in 2004 about the later years of Bobby Pickett's musical career and Pickett's relationship with his most-recognized song.
Various cover versions of "Monster Mash" have been recorded:
The esteemed Mad scientist/Ringmaster of The Circus of Horrors Doktor Haze released a version of the song on the albums, An Evil Anthology (2008), Destiny and Desire (2014)
Allstar Weekend remixed that song on October 8, 2011.[34]
Andrew Gold released a version on his 1996 Halloween novelty album Halloween Howls featuring frequent collaborator Linda Ronstadt on background vocals.[35][36]
The Wiggles recorded a version of the song for their album The Sound of Halloween.
The Misfits recorded their version of "Monster Mash" in 1997 in a recording studio in Newark,New Jersey.[39]BassistJerry Only later stated that "The 'Monster Mash' was a no-brainer for the Misfits to cover as a timeless Halloween release. The song was always a childhood favorite of mine."[39] The recording was the first time that Only had performed lead vocals for the band,while then-Misfits lead singer Michale Graves provided backing vocals.[39] On October 18,1997,a live performance of the song was recorded and broadcast from the studio of the New Jersey-based cable television music show Power Play,the same studio in which the song was recorded.[39]
The Misfits' version of "Monster Mash" was used in a cross-promotion campaign arranged by Deluxo and John Cafiero,who had directed the Misfits' music videos for "American Psycho" and "Dig Up Her Bones",to create awareness of a home video release of the 1967 Rankin/Bassstop motion film Mad Monster Party?. Deluxo had recently acquired the rights to the film in hopes of restoring it,but could not find a quality print. They eventually found a quality 16 mm print and the Misfits hosted a special screening of the film at Anthology Film Archives in New York City,with the "American Psycho" music video as an opening featurette.[39] Notable attendees at the screening included members of the Misfits,Cafiero,Marky Ramone,Jimmy Gestapo of Murphy's Law,and executives from both Geffen Records and Roadrunner Records.[40] Deluxo restored Mad Monster Party? from the 16mm print and re-released it on VHS in limited numbers. A music video for the Misfits' live recording of "Monster Mash" was created interspersing clips from the film with footage from their "Power Play" performance,and was intended to be included as a bonus feature on a forthcoming DVD release.[39][40] However,due to complications over distribution rights,the DVD was not released and the VHS version was discontinued.[39] A DVD version of the film was eventually released in 2003 by Anchor Bay Entertainment,restored from a different 35 mm print.
As part of the promotional campaign,an image of Boris Karloff as he appears in Mad Monster Party? was used under license from his daughter Sarah Karloff in artwork for a 7" vinylsingle of the Misfits' version of "Monster Mash".[39] Percepto Records used the same image of Karloff for the cover of the film's soundtrack album which was released in September 1998. The Misfits single was intended to be released the following month,but was delayed due to lack of time to properly mix the studio recording.[39] Instead the artwork was used in connection with a free MP3 download of the band's live recording of "Monster Mash",available through their website as a "virtual single".[39][40] The image was used again as cover artwork when the finished single was released physically in October 1999 as the first release of the band's new label Misfits Records.[39][40]
The Misfits' studio recording of "Monster Mash" was included on their 2001 compilation albumCuts from the Crypt. At the insistence of the band's label Roadrunner Records,the live recording was omitted from the album and only the studio version was used.[39] The Misfits recorded a new version of the song,featuring Cafiero on backing vocals,for their 2003 album Project 1950. By this time the band had a new lineup consisting of Jerry Only (bass guitar and lead vocals),Dez Cadena (guitar and backing vocals),and Marky Ramone (drums). Only called this version of the song "probably the best version we've ever done. I'm really happy with it. We've recorded it several times in the past and this is the hardest hitting version of them all."[41] Ramone commented:"'Monster Mash' always reminded me of Boris Karloff. Our version's a lot faster than the original,which was a slower 4/4 beat. I always liked the way the drums seemed to come in out of nowhere after Igor walked across the room."[41] Cadena,meanwhile,remarked that "If I didn't know any better ['Monster Mash'] could have been written for the Misfits."[41]
Release
Two separate pressings of the Misfits single were released,both issued on 7" vinyl in 1999.[40] The first pressing had the studio version on both sides and consisted of 1,000 copies:800 on green vinyl,100 on red,and 100 on gold.[39][40] It was sold by the band while on tour and also by mail order through their "Fiend Club" fan club and official website.[40] 1,000 promotional CD copies of the studio version were also pressed and used for limited solicitation to radio stations.[39][40] A second pressing of the vinyl single had the studio version on side A and the live version on side B and consisted of 1,000 copies on glow-in-the-dark vinyl,available exclusively by mail order through the band's website.[39][40] The single sold out and is no longer in print.[39]
The Misfits are an American punk rock band often recognized as the pioneers of the punk subgenre, blending punk and other musical influences with horror film themes and imagery. The group was founded in 1977 in Lodi, New Jersey, by vocalist, songwriter and keyboardist Glenn Danzig. Over the next six years, Danzig and bassist Jerry Only were the group's main members through numerous personnel changes. During this period, they released several EPs and singles, and with Only's brother Doyle as guitarist, the albums Walk Among Us (1982) and Earth A.D./Wolfs Blood (1983), both considered touchstones of the early-1980s hardcore punk movement. The band has gone through many lineup changes over the years, with bassist Jerry Only being the only constant member in the group.
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Robert George Pickett, better known as Bobby "Boris" Pickett, was an American singer-songwriter and comedian. He is best known for co-writing and performing the 1962 smash hit novelty song "Monster Mash".
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Skip & Flip was a U.S. pop duo, consisting of Skip and Flip. They met while attending the University of Arizona in the late 1950s.
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"In the Still of the Nite", also subsequently titled "In the Still of the Night", is a song written by Fred Parris and recorded by his band the Five Satins. Originally the song was titled "(I'll Remember) In the Still of the Nite" to distinguish itself from Cole Porter's "In the Still of the Night". Later the title was changed to "In the Still of the Night".
Gary Sanford Paxton was an American record producer, recording artist, and Grammy and Dove Award winning songwriter. Paxton was a member of Skip & Flip and the Hollywood Argyles and was the producer of two number one Billboard Hot 100 singles, "Alley Oop" for the Hollywood Argyles in 1960 and "Monster Mash" for Bobby "Boris" Pickett in 1962.
The Blossoms were an American girl group that originated from California. During their height of success in the 1960s, the group's lineup consisted of Darlene Love, Fanita James, and Jean King.
The Horror Hall of Fame was an annual Oscars-style award show hosted by Robert Englund which honored the best horror films, television series, actors, producers and special-effects designers. It ran for three years during October from 1990 to 1992 and was shown in syndication. At the end of Horror Hall of Fame III, the host promised a Horror Hall of Fame IV, but it never happened. All 3 shows was held at Universal Studios Hollywood.
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The Original Monster Mash is the only studio album by Bobby (Boris) Pickett and The Crypt-Kickers. It was recorded and released in late 1962, following the success of Pickett's "Monster Mash" single. The Crypt-Kickers included Leon Russell and Gary Paxton. In addition to the hit single, the album features spin-off songs of "Monster Mash" as well as horror-themed parodies of contemporary hits and dance trends.
"Mashed Potato Time" is a 1962 single written by Kal Mann and Bernie Lowe, and performed by Dee Dee Sharp, with backing vocals by The Orlons, on her debut album It's Mashed Potato Time. The song refers to the Mashed Potato dance move, which was a fad. It was one of several songs that at that time that referenced the dance, another being James Brown's "Mashed Potatoes U.S.A." The Marvelettes song "Please Mr. Postman" is mentioned in the lyrics and is copied in the arrangement. Also mentioned in the lyrics are the songs "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" by the Tokens and "Dear Lady Twist" by Gary U.S. Bonds. Sharp recorded a sequel to "Mashed Potato Time" called "Gravy ".
The discography of Misfits, a horror punk band formed in Lodi, New Jersey, in 1977, consists of seven studio albums, three live albums, four compilation albums, four EPs, nineteen singles, one video album, five music videos, one box set, one demo, and one cancelled album.
Monster Mash is a 1995 musical comedy horror film written and directed by Joel Cohen and Alec Sokolow, based on Bobby Pickett's 1962 novelty song "Monster Mash" and the 1967 stage musical, I'm Sorry the Bridge is Out, You'll Have to Spend the Night, also by Pickett and Sheldon Allman. The film adaptation follows Mary and Scott, a young couple who find themselves spending Halloween night at the mansion of Dr. Victor Frankenstein. Along with housemates Igor, Count Dracula, Wolfie, Frankenstein's monster, and a reanimated Elvis Presley, Dr. Frankenstein takes a personal interest in what secret designs await the main characters.
Spoopy is the debut extended play (EP) by American drag performer Sharon Needles, released through Producer Entertainment Group on October 11, 2019. It includes six covers of songs with a Halloween theme. The music video for "Monster Mash", released on the same day, features an appearance by drag performer Alaska Thunderfuck, Sharon Needles' ex-partner. The EP received generally positive reviews from music critics, who appreciated the collection's theme and reinterpretations.
References
↑ 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"..
↑ 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. ISBN1560238771.
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