Joe Neff wrote:
Another cool Halloween thread! Okay, here goes:
-Anything by the legendary Goblin. Their soundtrack work is duly revered, but standalone album ROLLER is also a favorite. As well, 4/5 of the original lineup (sans Claudio Simonetti) released a new album this year (FOUR OF A KIND) which is well worth checking out. If you like them, you should also check out Zombi, a band who is clearly in debt to the Italian masters.
-It's probably no secret 'round these parts, but The Alan Parsons Project's TALES OF MYSTERY AND IMAGINATION has become one of my all-time favorite seasonal listens. Bombastic, melancholy, and atmospheric, it's a great conjuring of Edgar Allan Poe's work and a wonderful Halloween record.
-The late Isao Tomita was a mainstay on Fritz the Nite Owl's show for years. His oeuvre is vast and varied, but the more Horror and Sci-Fi related material is well worth seeking out ("The Gnome" is a standout track that Fritz often featured.)
-It should go without saying, but John Carpenter's scores are legendary, and his two recent solo albums are also top notch. His collaborations with Alan Howarth are also great.
-There's a whole phalanx of great artists from the late 70s to 80's in the goth/doom rock field who have often populated Horror Marathon intermission playlists. You can't go wrong with The Cure, Bauhaus (guest stars in THE HUNGER!), Joy Division, and Siouxsie and the Banshees. On the more punkish side, The Damned's third and fourth album (MACHINE GUN ETIQUETTE and THE BLACK ALBUM) both feature some outstanding seasonal tracks; you'll often hear "Plan 9, Channel 7" and "Wait for the Blackout" during SHOCK AROUND THE CLOCK.
-The Cramps are quite possibly the premiere psychobilly Horror rock band to ever grace this earth. Almost all their albums are worth exploring.
-As Tim mentioned, Alice Cooper remains a legend in the field. He's so famous that it can be easy for some to discount his greatness, but the catalog really holds up.
-The classic Hammer and AIP scores are always an evocative delight, especially the work of James Bernard.
-There are a whole slew of compilations featuring one hit wonders and 45 singles of Horror-related songs that range from doo-wop to rockabilly. Most of them are great fun.
Aaaaand there are probably many more, but I'll stop there.
Great choices. I especially like Tales of Mystery and Imagination. Great stuff. Thank you.