Halloween Countdown 2015: Manhattan Transfer in the Twilight Zone

It's Friday. Ready to party?

The Manhattan, including the late Tim Hauser, its founder, bring their distinctive harmonies to bear on this disco classic from 1979.

Here, on this year's Halloween Countdown, there is a dimension beyond that which is known to man....

Halloween Countdown 2015: The Devil's Gun

This song from C.J. & Co. is, perhaps, perfect for Halloween parties.

"The Devil's Gun" was a club and radio hit. It topped the Billboard charts and was a huge hit, in 1977, at Studio 54 and other venues.

There was some controversy at the time because the song was released during the Summer of Sam. Scary! Of course, that might have been a complete coincidence as the song was probably recorded beforehand.

Still, kind of creepy when you think about it!

Halloween Countdown 2015: Hot Blood ~ Soul Dracula

Here's a wacky little disco ditty from the "70s.

This song's been on my Halloween Countdown every year. This is the first year, I believe, that I included the music video.

For your enjoyment; another great one for your Halloween party this year!

Halloween Countdown Gets Spooky with The Puppini Sisters

My Halloween Countdown continues with three of my favorite ladies: The Puppini Sisters!

This jazz tune has always been hep and feelin' kind of groovy. It's been covered by many great recording artists, perhaps most notably Dusty Springfield.

The Puppini Sisters make this song their own in their '40s-styled jazz/big band style. Wonderful harmonies!

The ladies are especially cute in the music-video version of this song.

Spooky!

Halloween Countdown 2015: Gothica with Lene Lovich

Lene Lovich was Goth before it was trendy! It was only natural she'd bring her unique voice to sing "Gothica" on her last (2005) album.

Lovich is of Serbian descent, born and raised in Detroit, but long based in England now. She and husband, Les Chappell, have long had a creative relationship together as well, starting with her first hit, "Lucky Number."

So, here it is, on this year's Halloween Countdown: "Gothica"!

Halloween Countdown 2015: Cher Zombie Mix

Cher has certainly been revived from the dead enough times to make this song on my Halloween Countdown just perfect for the season. Stevers62 does another expert remix for Halloween time!

We've all heard it said that, after an atomic blast, there would be nothing left but cockroaches and Cher!

She is indestructible. Almost inhuman. Here she is in all her fabulousness with soundbites from George Romero's Night of the Living Dead, for your latest Halloween Countdown entertainment.

Do you believe in life after... death? You haven't seen the last of Cher!

Halloween Countdown 2015: Disco Down to Friday the 13th!

In 1982, the Friday the13th film franchise went 3-D! And, like, totally disco!

As it's Friday, I say it's time to party to my Halloween Countdown!

Enjoy! This is perfect for Halloween  celebrations this year. Party like there's no tomorrow -- because it could be true!

Halloween Countdown 2015: The Dark, Radio Horror

Be afraid of The Dark, be very afraid!

More radio-styled horror and it's very intense, so listen if you dare!

Perfect spooky stuff for Halloween. My brother and I had Arch Oboler's Drop Dead album on vinyl, and this track was our absolute favorite. Yeah, we were pretty ghoulish kids, especially around Halloween time. Oboler had a radio show, Lights Out, that featured tales of terror and the macabre.

Never have latex gloves being turned inside-out been put to better use.

Halloween Countdown 2015: The Little Blue Man

In light of posting Judy Garland singing "The Purple People Eater" yesterday on my Halloween Countdown, here's another sci-fi-based novelty tune from the same era.

"Little Blue Man" (1958) was a cute, little diddy sung by Betty Johnson, best known for her 1957 version of "Little White Lies." I guess colors and the word "little" were her lucky charms.

Johnson's voice is very Doris Day-cum-Patti Page. This single was a radio and commercial hit in its day.

As a kid, I loved it. My Mom bought the 45 to play at home. She liked the song herself and would sing me to sleep at bedtime with this as she gently ran her fingers through my hair.

The scariest thing about this record is what the singer does to the Little Blue Man in the end. "I don't wub you any more!" Schizophrenic delusion or close encounter of the third kind?



The song was later covered by Petula Clark:

Halloween Countdown 2015: Judy Garland Meets the Purple People Eater

Here is a unique cover song performed by Judy as part of her act at the Coconut Grove. It's presented and arranged as a satire of the then emerging sci-fi genre of movies.

"The Purple People Eater" was originally written and performed by Sheb Wooley. It was a pop novelty hit in 1958, both on the radio and in stores. I was six at the time of its release. My Mom bought me the 45 and I think I wore it out.

Ironic are Judy's lyrics about "red people, blue people" as we've now identified states and people that way demographically and for political purposes.

Hear how Ms Garland makes this song her own and in her inimitable style on my Halloween Countdown!

Halloween Countdown 2015 with Eartha Kitt

This is, simply, a terrific song done by Eartha Kitt in the Fifties. The lyrics are brilliantly playful and Ms Kitt sounds like she truly enjoys singing this, attacking it with great, growling relish.

It's already tailor-made for the Season of the Witch, but the video here adds an extra kick!

I met the late Ms Kitt briefly once after a show at the Cafe Carlyle in Manhattan. She was indeed a bewitching presence. http://djbuddybeaverhausen.blogspot.com/2013/10/move-over-darlings-vintage-beaverhausen.html

Here, then, is Eartha Kitt singing "I'd Rather Be Burned as a Witch" on my Halloween Countdown!

Halloween Countdown: Mondo Elvis!

Here's a Halloween bonus for your Sunday night.

What's truly scary about this documentary short (1/2 hour long) is how dumb and crazy people in this country can be. The film focuses on the weird and wacky folk who are Elvis devotees. They're obviously clinically insane, and obsessed. Sadly, these guys sometimes even go to the polls and vote!

So many favorite moments of the interviews with delusional morons who are Elvis fanatics, impersonators and other freaks of nature giving their lives up to "the King of Rock & Roll." You just have to see it to believe it.

This film's full of testimonies as hilarious and absurd as they are heartbreaking. Watch and be afraid... be VERY afraid. Mondo Elvis was made in 1984 by Tom Corboy. The people seen in this film are probably, if still alive, packing serious heat in these open-carry days.

Elvis died seven years before this film was made. This is the true American horror story! Definitely the dark side of the United States.

I have this on VHS.

Below is the entire 30-minute video in all its jumpsuit glory.

Halloween Countdown 2015 Goes to Grey Gardens!

Let's head to East Hampton and revisit the two Edies on today's Halloween Countdown!

This is a Grey Gardens dance remix with sound bites from the film smartly edited into a camp delight you can shake your groove thing to. Another tune perfect for Halloween parties.

The mix is by Stevers62. He does lots of fun stuff on Youtube you should check out. No doubt there will be more from him on this Halloween Countdown.

So here they are -- Big & Little Edie -- from the Maysles Brothers documentary Grey Gardens. Happy Halloween!

For my friend, The Marble Faun, Jerry Torre!

Halloween Countdown 2015: Scary Mary Poppins Trailer

Here's an added little tidbit for Halloween Countdown!

Clever and funny, it's a spot-on trailer spoof of Walt Disney's Mary Poppins, edited as a horror film of the witchcraft variety.

Supercalifragilisticexpiali-scary!

Check out this Scary Mary with Julie Andrews and cast. Enjoy!

Halloween Countdown 2015: Psycho Theme a'la Disco

Get your wigs on, pick up those butcher knives... and dance as my Halloween Countdown continues!

Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho theme (by Bernard Hermann) goes disco with this fun dance mix perfect for your Halloween dance parties.

The sound bites of Anthony Perkins help put this over.

Enjoy & Happy Halloween!

Halloween Countdown 2015: I Put a Spell on You to Dance!

Here's a tasty treat to get everyone on their feet at your Halloween party this year. Sonique's electro-dance version of "I'll Put a Spell on You."

The song was, of course, originally done by Screamin' Jay Hawkins in the 1950s. It has been famously covered by many. Bette Midler made the song her own in the Disney film Hocus Pocus.

Remember, the British-born Sonique originally came to international attention with the dance smash "It Feels So Good," released the same year as this song.

So dance in the privacy of your home where nobody can see you. Or can someone... out there in the dark?!

Crazy in the Night w/ Kim Carnes & Vincent Price

Can you dig it?

Kim Carnes and Vincent Price (vocals from Thriller) in this incredible Matt Pop remix of Crazy in the Night.

Ever feel you're going crazy in the night? Losing your mind is a very scary thing. Enjoy this mix and embrace your craziness.

Halloween Countdown 2015 with Betty Boop!

Why this cartoon ended up banned is beyond my comprehension. It's a fabulous and beautifully animated Max Fleischer cartoon that deserves to be seen by all.

Surrealistic and funny, it just had to help kick off my Halloween Countdown this year. It certainly is a cute embrace of the holiday.

It's impossible for me to see the Boop character or hear Mae Questel's voice and not think of Cyndi Lauper. Let me know what you think.

Enjoy this cartoon classic and Happy Halloween!

My 2015 Halloween Countdown Begins with Dracula's Tango!

Buddy Beaverhausen's Halloween Countdown kicks off this year with this lavishly and impressively produced dance-music single from the girl group Toto Coelo (a/k/a Total Coelo). They're best known for their break-out hit "I Eat Cannibal."

Halloween Countdown will include music videos, film clips and audio clips in the Halloween spirit. It will conclude on Halloween, Oct. 31.

"The moon was shining in the night. The hounds were baying under simple stars. And as you storm under the lights, I knew my heart would be at stake." Great lyrics, underrated song.

Produced by Barry Blue. Hope this helps you get your Halloween on!

Walk Softly & Carry a Big Gun Today on My 2014 Halloween Countdown

The Tom Moulton extended mix of "Devil's Gun" (1977) by C.J. & Co. Start your week with a Halloween twirl with this funky disco classic! Only 5 more days, as my Halloween Countdown continues....