Friday, October 30, 2020

A Halloween Playlist (SNS Week of 10/25/2020)

 As I write this Halloween 2020 is tomorrow.   Being that this is, indeed 2020, it'll probably be unusual this year. thanks to COVID-19, which now seems to be escalating once again.   As we already wear masks, it kind of blends in with any costume that you can come up with.   I'm not sure if the gang of young ghosts, goblins and the like will be patrolling the neighborhoods this year, or if there will be any big Halloween parties this year as they'll most likely be inside,  which would make it hard to social distance.  I know I didn't get invited to any this year.



Anyway, I've seen people look for playlists for Halloween.  In years past, I've had my iPod going as a backdrop to the trick-or-treaters making the rounds, and have concocted and added songs to a playlist.   Aside from the usual pop entries like "Ghostbusters", "Thriller", "Monster Mash", "Season of the Witch", as well as mood instrumentals from the likes of Mannheim Steamroller and Midnight Syndicate, I've thrown more songs together that perhaps may be missing from your playlist.  Therefore, here are thirteen songs that perhaps you might have overlooked. 

1. "The Legend of Wooley Swamp" - Charlie Daniels Band.

Of course the late, great fiddler's biggest hit,  "The Devil Went Down to Georgia" is a must on anyone's playlist, but this 1980 song from his Full Moon set, which hit #31 that year, is an eerie tale,, based on an actual place in Daniels' childhood, where things mysteriously disappear.    While his big "Devil" hit is an up-tempo hoedown, this one sets the scary mood of the subject matter.

2."Don't Fear the Reaper", Blue Oyster Cult

This popular 1976 track, which concocted the catchphrase "more cowbell!" is a must.    Sort of a dreamy, psychedelic, slightly retro throwback can get you into that spirit, rather easily.

3. "Elvira", Oak Ridge Boys

I'm probably the only one who includes this song on a Halloween playlist, but, based on the title alone, it fits.  What you probably didn't know was that (1) this 1981 version is a remake of a Dallas Frazier song from of 1966, and (2) It's not about a woman, but a street in East Nashville.    Before the Oak Ridge Boys covered it, it had been remade several times by artists such as Rodney Cromwell, and Kenny Rogers & the First Edition.   But the "Elvira" connected to this holiday is that of a dark, shady woman, most notably played by Cassandra Peterson in the movie Elvira: Mistress of the Dark, a 1988 comedy, horror film.   It is also a popular costume.   Therefore, the song, in its own way, fits.

4. "Haunted House", Jumpin' Gene Simmons

This 1964 hit by this artist, who is no relation to the KISS front man of the same name, is in the same mode as a "Monster Mash" or "Ghostbusters", played for fun, but with a macabre slant to it.    

5. "Revolution #9", The Beatles

You probably would never equate the Fab Four to anything Halloween, and perhaps nobody ever thought to link this avant-garde trip from The White Album to it, but think about it.    Turn out the  lights, put on the strobe and the glow in the dark objects, and loop this song ad infinitum.   And if all this psych-trip doesn't to the trick, then the line "turn me on, dead man" should.

6. "Spooky", Classics IV / Atlanta Rhythm Section

Take your pick which version...either the 1968 hit by the Classics, or the 1979 one by its spin-off ARS, the title should be sufficient.   I would prefer the original if I had to pick as it fits the mood somewhat....plus the line..."I propose....on Halloween" clinches it.  


7. "Pet Sematary", The Ramones

From the movie of the same name based on a Stephen King novel, its this punk band in its later period performing the title track.   A bit more slowed down and melodic than their classic material, the 1989  song where the protagonist doesn't "want to live my life again" makes its point, and thus worth inclusion.

8. "Werewolf", Five Man Electrical Band

This Canadian band  is noted mostly for their 1971 hit "Signs", but they had a few other gems as well.  This one definitely fits the season.   This 1974 song was last of their five chart songs, and does have that scary aura to it. 

9. 'Witch Queen of New Orleans", Redbone

We have our share of "witch songs":  Donovan's "Season of the Witch", and Eagles' "Witchy Woman" come to mind, but there's this one from this Mexican-American/Native American band best known for their #5 "Come and Get Your Love".  This #21 song from early 1972, their second of three chart songs (1971's "Maggie" was the first), has a pulsating yet eerie beat to it, claim that "she'll put a spell on you", and the song does exactly that.

10. "Nightmare on My Street", DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince

The Fresh Prince, of course is Will Smith, and the song based on the classic A Nightmare on Elm Street.  Back in rap's "fun period", this one glares with mystery and a bit of comedy thrown in for good measure.   My favorite part is when Will phones Jeff to make sure he doesn't fall asleep, but Jeff does anyway, as which Freddy takes over and exclaims, "I'm your deejay now, Princie"...  love it!

11. "Do They Know It's Halloween", Beck, Feist, Rilo Kiley, Arcade Fire, Devendra Banhart, Wolf Parade & Thurston Moore

This 2005 song by alternative artists of the period is sort of a cross between "Time Warp" (from Rocky Horror Picture Show) and "This is Halloween" (from The Nightmare Before Christmas).   Should definitely be a hit at any party.  The title, of course suggests the "Do They Know It's Christmas" song, but doesn't sound anything like it.   The band, consisting of these mentioned above, is collectively called "North American Halloween Prevention, Inc".

12.  "Cellophane Symphony", Tommy James & the Shondells

This is the great lost Pink Floyd trek, that would feel at home on one of that Brit band's albums.   Then again, you could probably add any of Floyd's albums to the list, but this one stands out in a way.   First, the band, up to that poin,t was noted for its top 40 "bubblegum" style hits like "I Think We're Alone Now" and "Mony Mony", but by 1969 changed direction to a more psychedelic direction, which started earlier that year with "Crimson & Clover".   This lead-off title track from that follow-up album is pretty much spaced-out and perhaps played back to back with either Pink Floyd or the aforementioned "Revolution  #9"

13.  "Devil Woman", Cliff Richard

There are a lot of "devil" songs that could make the list:  Aside from "The Devil Went Down to Georgia", we have "Sympathy for the Devil" and many others.  This one is definitely in the pop vein for this British singer, his first hit on these shores after being around for almost twenty years at that point.  Definitely fits the fun mode.


Of course, there are countless others:   "Somebody's Watching Me" (Rockwell), "Black Cat", Janet Jackson, "Love Potion No. 9", The Searchers, "In the Hall of the Mountain King" various, but my favorite is by Electric Light Orchestra; "Time Warp", "This is Halloween", and countless others.

Are there any others that I missed that might be linked to Halloween?

.  

THE CURRENT PLAYLIST:   Back to the SNS 100, David F. Porfirio's "Driving At Dusk" remains at the top for  a second week.   And to be honest, I can see this song on Halloween playlists.  Though it's not "scary" per se, isn't it dusk when all the ghouls come out on Halloween night?    Up to the runner up spot is Miley Cyrus' "Midnight Sky".   With all the serious contenders well back, it's a toss up, which of these will top the list next week.   


As for the adds this week:  It took the Avalanches 16 years to follow-up their awesome Since I Left You featuring the title track and "Frontier Psychiatrist", both of which reached my year-end top 10 for 2002, with 2016's Wildflower., which featured the track "Frankie Sinatra", which hit the #9 spot on my blog that year.  Only four years later, the Australian contingent releases their third set We Will Always Love You, due in December.  The group, which relays on samples to make up most of their music, works its magic once more on their Top Debut this week, as "Wherever You Go" leads the newbies at #66.   The track features the likes of Jamie XX (of The XX), Neneh Cherry (of "Buffalo Stance" and "Trout" fame) and dance artist CLPYSO.   It's a mishmash of electronic, techno and other EDM pretty much wrapped up into one.   Maybe not as quirky as "Frontier" or "Frankie" but it works.

Close behind is "Where the River Flows", by Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors.  It's their second single release this month, following "Whatever Gets You Through".   While that track is pretty much country-rock flavored, the new one is more rawer and more of a rock song, and is my favorite of the two.

Next is Cage the Elephant's "Skin and Bones", the fourth single from 2019's Social Cues.    There is a new remix of the song, as the album has been out since early 2019.    Another good track for the band.  New Jersey's Sharon Van Etten is featured on Deep Sea Diver's "Impossible Weight".  The Belleville artist gives another awesome performance on this.  Also added is Dermot Kennedy's "Giants", Royal Blood's "Trouble's Coming", and AJR's follow-up to "Bang", titled "Bummerland".   


Whatever you do, please have a safe and Happy Halloween!


Scenes ‘n’ Soundwaves 100 Playlist

October 25, 2020


This Week

Last Week

ARTIST-Title

Weeks on List

1

1

NUMBER ONE: 



DAVID F. PORFIRIO

"Driving at Dusk"

Album: Overactive Imagination

(2 weeks at  #1)

11

2

5

Miley Cyrus - Midnight Sky

7

3

2

Michael Kiwanuka - You Ain't The Problem

11

4

3

The Mystery Lights - 21 & Counting

11

5

4

Winnetka Bowling League - Come to the Beach

12

6

9

Harry Styles - Watermelon Sugar

10

7

13

Devon Gilfillan - The Good Life

7

8

12

Real Estate - The Main Thing

8

9

11

Elle King - The Let Go

8

10

14

Surfer Blood - Karen

8

11

6

Shannon Marsyada - A Love That Doesn't Hurt

13

12

16

Animal Island - Tonight

9

13

8

Guards - So It Goes

16

14

7

My Morning Jacket - Feel You

14

15

18

Pickwick - Never Gonna Be Enough

8

16

10

Screen Age - Blue Eyed Addiction

24

17

20

Dan Croll - Away From Today

8

18

27

TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:

FLEET FOXES

"Can I Believe You"

Album: Shore

4

19

15

Karen Wallo - Rain Away My Sorrow

11

20

17

Elise Farnsworth - In the Morning Light

15

21

24

The Backseat Lovers - Kilby Girl

15

22

23

Iration - Right Here Right Now

9

23

19

The Regrettes - What Am I Gonna Do Today

17

24

21

The Jayhawks - This Forgotten Town

14

25

30

Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors - Whatever Gets You Through

4

26

29

Sea Wolf - Blood Pact

12

27

22

Delta Spirit - How About It

15

28

32

Morgan Wallen - 7 Summers

6

29

36

Mabel - Mad Love

5

30

39

Black Pumas - Black Moon Rising

6

31

26

James Bay - Chew  On My Heart

9

32

28

Eliza and the Delusionals - Pull Apart Heart

22

33

25

Bakar - Hell N Back

17

34

33

Pretenders - Didn't Want to Be This Lonely

6

35

31

Donna Missal - Let You Let Me Down

23

36

47

Tennis - Superstar

3

37

56

MOVER OF THE WEEK:



THE BLUE STONES

"Let It Ride"

(Single Only)

2

38

34

Delacey  - Chapel

27

39

43

Tame Impala - Is It True

9

40

52

Bright Eyes - Mariana Trench

4

41

44

The Rolling Stones ft. Jimmy Page- Scarlet

6

42

58

Phoebe Ryan - Ring

5

43

46

The Beths - I'm Not Getting Excited

5

44

35

Gary Clark Jr -Feelin' Like a Million

10

45

38

Pepper - Change

26

46

45

The Go-Go's - Club Zero

5

47

48

Saint Motel  - Preach

6

48

67

New Order - Be A Rebel

2

49

53

The Strokes - Brooklyn Bridge to Chorus

4

50

37

Christina Alessi - So In Love With You

16

51

65

Black Pumas - I'm Ready

2

52

40

Chicano Batman - Blank State

11

53

63

Phoebe Ryan - Try It Sober

3

54

64

Bebadoobee - Care

3

55

41

Tennis - How To Forgive

13

56

60

Nothing But Thieves - Real Love Song

6

57

55

Milky Chance and Jack Johnson - Don't Let Me Down

18

58

61

Django Django - Spirals

3

59

49

Donna Missal - How Does It Feel

18

60

66

Ava Max - Kings and Queens

3

61

76

Of Monsters and Men - Visitor

2

62

50

Colony House - Original Material

21

63

71

All Time Low ft. Black Bear - Monsters

4

64

70

Machine Gun Kelly - Bloody Valentine

6

65

73

Eliza and the Delusionals - Sentimental

2

66

 ---

TOP DEBUT:


THE AVALANCHES

"Wherever You Go"

Album: We Will Always Love You

1

67

75

The Regrettes - I Love Us

3

68

--- 

Christina Alessi & the Toll Collectors -  Where the River Flows

1

69

59

Dreamers - Heat Seeker

15

70

--- 

Cage the Elephant - Skin and Bones

1

71

51

Billie Eilish - My Future

7

72

69

Walk Off the Earth - Further We Go

4

73

57

Best Coast - Everything Has Changed

28

74

78

Bon Jovi -ft. Jennifer Nettles - Do What You Can

2

75

--- 

Deep Sea Diver ft. Sharon Van Etten - Impossible Weight

1

76

54

Ray LaMontagne - Strong Enough

20

77

83

Kathleen Edwards - Hard on Everyone

2

78

42

Bruce Springsteen - Letter To You

5

79

--- 

Dermot Kennedy - Giants

1

80

62

Real Estate ft Sylvan Esso - Paper Cup

19

81

---- 

AJR -Bummerland

1

82

74

AJR - Bang!

27

83

--- 

Royal Blood - Trouble's Coming

1

84

68

Foster the People - The Things We Do

7

85

72

Neon Trees - New Best Friend

13

86

77

Elise Farnsworth - Safety Net

24

87

79

Black Pumas - Colors

19

88

81

The Outcrops - Lost Days

31

89

80

Norah Jones - I'm Alive

21

90

82

MyKey ft. Cavetown -Was It Something I Said?

21

91

84

The Rolling Stones - Living in a Ghost Town

26

92

85

Moon Taxi - Hometown Heroes

9

93

86

Arkells - Years In the Making

10

94

87

Michael Franti and Spearhead - I Got You

9

95

88

Semisonic - You're Not Alone

12

96

89

Weezer - Hero

19

97

90

Avett Brothers - Victory

8

98

91

Finneas - Let's Fall in Love For the Night

21

99

92

Amy Shark - Everybody Rise

12

100

RE ENTRY 

Gary Clark Jr - Pearl Cadillac

25

 

 

 

Songs with the greatest increase in favorite points over the prior week.   Songs with 25 or more plays on iTunes/iPods ▲   Songs with 50 or more plays.







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