First we have Warren Zevon. This song, late 1970's, established this former session musician as a major talent in his own right, even though it was a pretty off-kilter song. Actually, I think almost all his songs were off-kilter, whether he was singing about excitable boys or werewolves of London.
The next artist might be weirder than the song. Screamin' Jay Hawkins was an oddity of the 1950's. Originally the song I Put A Spell On You, which he wrote, was going to be recorded as a ballad. But he could not resist adding those weird Hawkin's touches -- grunts, groans, voodoo images, costumes. He was one of the early rock n' rollers and popular with Alan Freed, who introduced R&B music to the white kids. While this version is heavy on weird, with a capital W, the song is now classic and has been recorded, in a serious manner, by many performers.
If there is a classic of Halloween, and there is -- then it is this next song. Bobby Boris Pickett was not into being a singer. He wanted to act. However, he was able to do an impression of famous actor Boris Karloff, so he was the lucky stiff who got to record the true Halloween classic. Bobby Boris Pickett and the Crypt Kickers took the Monster Mash to #1 in 1962.
For more "Stories Behind the Music" click on the guitar 
Steven L. Smith
Bellingham WA Home Inspections
Check out "This Day In History" -- music and vintage television from the 1950's through the 1980's. I enjoy writing these articles because they take me back to my days in radio broadcasting. Click on Elvis' gold record, below, to revisit those golden hits of yesteryear.
