1920's - 40's Halloween music, input please

[$ally]

Sign me up. I'll buy it and spread the word.

 

[$ally]

P.S. We just checked out your myspace stuff too. We especially liked the "Ghastly Love of Johnny X". That gals vocals are perfect. Very well done.

 

[Blackjack]

Well all right! If you buy one $ally that will tie the sales on our last release!

 

[Spatterdash]

I found a blogspot by a guy called Scarstuff who collects old Halloween albums. This guy has over a hundred, but one was called Ghost Ballads. The singer recorded a minstrel song from the 20's that still gets my hair up when I hear it called the Reaper's Song...

"Do not cross the hayfield, the hayfield, the hayfield,
do not cross the hayfield as sets the blood-red sun.
For ghosts glide from the hayrick on the hayfield, the hayfield,
ghosts glide from the hayrick in the eerie gloom.

The reaper crossed the hayfield, the hayfield, the hayfield,
the reaper crossed the hayfield as set the blood-red sun.
He passed behind the hayrick on the hayfield, the hayfield,
he passed behind the hayrick in the eerie gloom.

The sun went down and the moon rose on the hayfield, the hayfield.
The sun went down and the moon rose on the bleak hayfield.
A cry rose from the hayrick on the hayfield, the hayfield,
a cry rose from the hayrick and the reaper was see no more.

So do not cross the hayfield, the hayfield, the hayfield,
do not cross the hayfield as sets the blood-red sun."

On that note, BTW, there are huge halloween communities out there, the trend setters, who would leap at the oppurtunity to purchase and hear tracks from a jazz album themed to Halloween. Halloweenforum is one such place to start looking at getting the word out without being too heavy-handed in the marketing. There are also some halloween internet radio sites that would likely play a track or two of offered the chance, like Musique Macabre and 13th Track.

 

[Blackjack]

Yep, Halloween 's only second to Christmas in commercialism now and the great thing about doing holiday albums is they come back every year with a new audience.

 

[Blackjack]

On that note, BTW, there are huge halloween communities out there, the trend setters, who would leap at the oppurtunity to purchase and hear tracks from a jazz album themed to Halloween. Halloweenforum is one such place to start looking at getting the word out without being too heavy-handed in the marketing. There are also some halloween internet radio sites that would likely play a track or two of offered the chance, like Musique Macabre and 13th Track.[/QUOTE]

Anyone interested in Halloween music, take a look at this site. Nightmare City has an unbelievable selection of old album covers. Take a look.

http://nch01.fortunecity.com/albums.html

 

[Blackjack]

starting the shamless promo machine

This is funny...but weird
Ein Gespenst geht um bei myspace

 

[Blackjack]

I am THRILLED to announce that we are lucky enough to have added vocals on this album by the incredibly talented Vince Clark and Dixie Villec!!! Both are among Chicagos best of the best when it comes to this and Vince's version of You've Got me Voodoo'd is going to Just Kill Ya!!!!!!!!

 

[Blackjack]

Recording and mixing is DONE! This has come out better than I had ever hoped. I'm going to try and throw some teaser Mp3's up on the Moon-Rays MySpace page www.myspace/moonrays.com Stop on over if you get the chance and give me some feedback. With the help of some of the best musicians I've ever worked with we have some really great arrangements of some tunes like Artie Shaws Nightmare, Mr. Ghost Goes to Town, and Skeletons in the Closet. Hopefully a few of you will want to add this to your Halloween music library this year!!!
Cheers...Blackjack

 

[blacklagoon]

Cheers Blackjack.great music,i will add you when myspace finishes their tinkering ( another day where noone can upload music,add people etc today ).I thought i added you last year,but i added you to my favourites and forgot i didn't add you as a friend:eusa_doh:

 

[Paisley]

I missed this thread--I wish I'd suggested "The Walls Keep Talking" by Gene Krupa and Roy Eldridge.

 

[Blackjack]

I just threw up a few song clips off the CD on the Moon-Rays MySpace page. Stop by and take a listen if you like!!! www.myspace.com/moonrays

 

[Blackjack]

If anyone is interested Amazon has Swingin at the Seance up for preorder at this time. Thanks for the input and
Cheers!!!!

 

[Fancy That]

The Moon Rays albums are great. I've heard some tracks and plan on picking them up asap. The recordings are much better than a lot of covers by others bands, it's clear that The Moon Rays have the soul of the era in mind when recording.

For that reason, I will buy both remakes and originals. It's part of loving classic standards anyway.. you always hear the same songs done over and over through the years, and find your favorites. It holds true for Halloween/spooky standards also. I have five versions of Ghost Riders in the Sky, for instance, from the 40s- now. I like them all. Having originals sure doesn't discourage me from buying new covers when they're good!

As an FYI, it isn't hard to find 20s-40s Halloweenish music if you know what to look for. Two albums are on CD with lots of great spooky jazz- The Haunted House and Halloween Stomp- and you can find them around... BlackJack is right, HalloweenForum is a great place to find such music. I have a vintage Halloween blog there, and recently posted some music and OTR links, along with my usual stuff- Halloween pinups, glamour gals and ads.

I think posting the music and OTR links here would violate the TOS, but if you follow my sig you can find some links in my blog there. Hopefully that does not violate anything.....

And while I did just sign on here, I promise I didn't do so just to mention my blog! I prefer to lurk, am not very social... but saw this thread, and thought... well I have to share!