(The Hit Hammer is where I'm reviewing each #1 song on the Billboard Hot 100. Starting from when the chart started in 1958 and eventually working my way to the present. To see my inspiration and more information about this blog, please refer to the "Poor Little Fool" post.)
Boris Pickett & the Crypt-Kickers - "Monster Mash"
Hit Number 1: October 20, 1962
Stay at Number 1: 2 Weeks
One thing is for sure, Christmas season is coming up. That means all over the place, you're running into Christmas trees, Christmas lights and decorations, everyone seems happy for once in their lives, and of course, Christmas music is everywhere. They're not kidding when they say it's the most wonderful time of the year. Part of what makes this time of year so great are the many great Christmas songs. You have your fair share of serious Christmas songs like "Oh, Holy Night" and "Gloria in excelsis Deo", songs about the time of year in general such as "Sleigh Ride" and "Silver Bells", fun classics that have been around forever like "Jingle Bells" and "Santa Claus Is Coming to Town", and of course, there has to be novelty Christmas songs. These include ones like "Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer" and "My Two Front Teeth". All of these songs are great in their own way. (Except "Santa Baby". That one sucks) But what about Halloween songs? There certainly are some, but there isn't a lot. One was a #1 hit in 1962, however.
Boris Pickett was another one of those comedic novelty songwriter guys, and he hatched up a plan to write a novelty Halloween song. "Monster Mash" is what he came up with, and it truly is a pretty funny song. The song narrates the story of a mad scientist who was working in his lab, before the monster he has rises from his slab and performs a dance. The name "monster mash" is a play on the "Mashed Potato" dancing craze in the early 1960s. The dance becomes the "hit of the land" after the mad scientist invites several other monsters over to his party, with Wolfman, Igor, Dracula, and Dracula's son being specific ones invited. Pickett imitates the voices of Igor and Dracula, with him making Dracula ask "What ever happened to my Transylvania Twist?" Dracula is then informed that the new dance is now the "monster mash", with Dracula eventually embracing it, and joining the band they made called the "Crypt-Kicker Five". We "the living" get invited to the party at the end.
All of this came to be when Pickett, an aspiring actor, was singing with a band called the Cordials. One night when he was performing with them, he did a monologue while imitating horror movie actor Boris Karloff, while performing "Little Darlin'" by the Diamonds. The audience loved it, and his bandmate Lenny Capizzi wanted him to keep doing the imitation. That's when Pickett knew he possibly had something unique in his future. He recorded the song with Gary S. Paxton (the guy who sang lead on and wrote "Alley Oop") and the song was released on his label. "Monster Mash" is also noted for its foley art, with there being several sound effects, especially in the beginning. The sound of a coffin opening was by a rusty nail being pulled out of a board. A cauldron bubbling was by water being bubbled through a straw. The sound of rattling chains were by dropping chains on a tile floor. The whole thing was so simple, weird, and hilarious at the same time. That, guys, is why "Monster Mash" is a good song.
You aren't supposed to take this thing seriously. Everyone involved weren't trying to make some sort of masterpiece, it's very clear that the goal was to make a song that listeners would remember and find funny. Even 57 years later, you can still hear "Monster Mash" at Halloween themed events. When I hear the song, I have a good time. It's fun to listen to, it's fun to sing and imitate the voices along with Pickett, and the general feel of the song is loose and energetic. That's the beauty of novelty songs sometimes. If you're stressed out, worried, or just in a terrible mood, songs like "Monster Mash" can be a good remedy. Oh yeah, I know I'm about a month late, but if you're planning a Halloween party, this is a great song to have on the playlist for the night. Get everyone to start doing the "monster mash"!
GRADE: 8/10
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