Search - Various Artists :: Halloween Hootenanny

Dig those fiendishly fun sounds!

Hearse Queen | northern california, usa | 06/26/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love this CD to death! It's got surf, rockabilly, and even some macabre mambo music. This is hauntingly hip halloween party music you'll want to play all year round.It also features a spoken intro by Zacherley, the famous TV Horror Host from the fifties. He also sits in with the crazy fun Southern Culture on the Skids for some spoken word on the track, Sinister Purpose.This is one of those CD's I put in the player and hit repeat all tracks and start working at the computer, because I enjoy all of it. I just have to get up from working occassionally to dance around madly. The artwork inside and out on the CD is also very killer, very retro creature feature-esque.Fun stuff!"

One of the Finest!

K. Brown | Walnut, Ca USA | 08/06/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is one of the best rock-oriented Halloween compilations I have heard. Every band here is hep, though Zacherle & Southern Culture on the Skids absolutely steal the show with "Sinister Purpose."



"Halloween Hootenanny" is totally solid, with the strongest Halloween essence delivered by The Bomboras (my favorite of the instrumental tracks), Dead Elvi (I love that name name!), The Ghastly Ones, and "Ribcage Mambo" by Frenchy. The Amazing Crowns' take on "Little Demon" is very good, but nowhere near as hot as Screamin' Jay Hawkins' version (then again, there was only one Screamin' Jay!).



There are plenty of good contemporary Halloween compilation CDs out there, but I would easily place this high in the top 10 of the heap!"

Ghoulish fun-eral for the ghouls and boils!

Draconis Blackthorne | The Haunted Noctuary | 01/17/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can definitely visualize a tiki-laden environment, like a Halloween Luau, perhaps at the beach at night, with everyone dressed up as their favorite monsters, sipping martinis and dancing nearby a bonfire to the joyous tunes of Halloween revery...



1. Halloween Hootenanny - Zacherie



We are introduced to the Halloween festivities with a poem narrated by our Ghoulish Host Zacherie, providing a welcoming atmosphere, starting off the party...



2. Halloween (She Get So Mean) - Rob Zombie



Emerging from the blackened earth, the zombie king launches the celebrations with a bang, where you can picture Baby girating in a devil-girl a-go-go costume...



3. The Halloween Dance - Reverend Horton Heat



Stick your arms out like you're in a trance, the gang's all here! You can hear them in the background throughout the songs herein. Everyone's having fun beneath the harvest moon!



4. A Fistful Of Terror - The Bomboras



An effervescent instrumental reminiscent of 'Wipe-out' by The Ventures.



5. Werewolf - Southern Culture On The Skids



Lycanthropic fun! You really being out the beast in Me!



6. Gravewalk - Satan's Pilgrims



A nocturnal jaunt in the graveyard may yield some unexpected pleasures...



7. Ribcage Mambo - Frenchy



A dimly-lit room, smoke looming above everyone's heads, as a zombie-like Noir beauty slinks out into the spotlight in a sequence gown and pillbox hat, while the skeletal band plays a hauntingly exotic number...



8. I Drink Blood - Rocket From The Crypt



High-velocity with a very feedback / static quality.



9. Little Demon - The Amazing Crowns



A Rockabilly cover of the classic by Witch Doctor Screamin' Jay Hawkins.



10. No Costume, No Candy - Swingin' Neckbreakers



Now here's a great sign waiting to happen! A really fun song addressing a possible issue on Halloween night. Perhaps those who do not dress up but still expect candy should also be given the "trick" of fetid condoments in those little packets instead of candy. If you lack the imagination or effort to celebrate, don't dare expect a treat here! You're no mummy, you're just a dummy!



11. 'The Munsters' Theme - Los Straitjackets



An amusing spook-surf rendition of the original by Jack Marshall, from a band who dress up as masked wrestlers.



12. Sinister Purpose - Zacherie



I really enjoy this one, wherein The Devil comes knocking on the coffin door offering wondrous gifts of immortality and riches. Sort of reminds Me of L'Air Epais, wherein one is awakened unto one's carnal nature.



13. Werewolves On Wheels - The Born Losers



Lycans on motorcycles going wild into the night!



14. Psychic Voodoo Doll - Deadbolt



Somewhat of an endearing sado-masochistic romantic tune.



15. Banshee Beach - The Ghastly Ones



Another fun instrumental. This actually reminds Me of a shirt which featured The Creature, Frankenstein, The Mummy, and Wolfman carrying surfboards, heading out for some tasty waves. This from a band who look like undertakers.



16. The Creature Stole My Surfboard - Dead Elvi



A humorous diddy about a surfer relating the time when The Creature took over his board for some late-night surfing. Of course, the band are all dressed as zombie Elvi...



17. Extrasensory Deception - David Allan/Phantom Surfers



Yet another highly-energetic instrumental utilizing some echo effects to add to that haunting element.



18. Spooks Night Out - Legendary Invisible Men



The spooks are out! With vocals sounding like they emminate from a megaphone, accompanied by echoing guitar and organ. Yes, that's right, the band members are bandaged invisible men.



19. Happy Halloween - Zacherie



Our host would stop at nothing to wish all a Happy Halloween!



The booklet features Rob Zombie's artwork throughout, from Frankenstein to The Mummy, with Baby dressed up like a barbie-like sexy witch on the back.



Overall, Halloween Hootenanny is a fun collection of jaunty tunes for year-'round revery, in a "spook surf", martini-sipping sort of way. Amidst the undead 50's-style rockabilly, many of which are enhanced with sound effects, we hear from "Zacherie", a ghoulish host regailing the listener with haunted tales sure to add that certain spicy ingredient to the Witch's brew."