Song:Monster Mash
Album:Now That's What I Call Halloween
Monster Mash was a number one hit in 1962. Since then it has been a Halloween perennial charting many times. It's one of the most successful novelty records of all time. Bobby Pickett was born Feb. 11, 1938 in Somerville, MA. As a child, he loved horror movies and he would go around the house imitating Boris Karloff. His dad manged the local movie house. After a stint in the US Army, Pickett moved to Los Angeles in 1961 and joined The Cordials. He got a big reaction when he did the Karloff impression on stage. Pickett approached producer Gary Paxton who was behind The Hollywood Argyles hit Alley Oop about doing a novelty record. Pickett wrote Monster Mash with fellow Cordial Lenny Capizzi who really loved Pickett's Karloff impression. They decided to do a spoof of dance crazes. The song was recorded with session musicians like Leon Russell and Paxton released it on his Garpax label. Monster Mash topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1962 and then it would chart for years at Halloween. A couple of Pickett's other songs charted but Monster Mash was the only hit he would ever need. The original Monster Mash album is available on CD. But the song is on plenty of Halloween themed comps like this one from the Now series. It's a budget CD. Pickett continued to perform for decades until his death on Apr. 25, 2007 at age 69. Here's Bobby "Boris" Pickett performing Monster Mash on American Bandstand 1964.
Love the song during Halloween. I remember one night I was riding in my work van during second shift and heard this song. Made my night. Fun tune he put out.
ReplyDelete