Casey’s Really Scratchy Record Collection Presents: Monster Mash. Bobby"Boris" Pickett

In 1962, Bobby Pickett was an aspiring actor in Los Angeles who also sang with a local rock n roll band called the Corsairs. One night while goofing around on stage, Pickett sang a couple of songs imitating  Boris Karloff. The audience loved it and soon after Pickett  and band member, Len Capizzi wrote ba song called, the Monster Mash, which would hit #1 Halloween weekend 1962 and become a horror music standard.

The Monster Mash was recorded and released by Garpax records, a southern California label owned by the legendary, Gary S. Paxton. Paxton had earlier produced a big hit with another legendary novelty record called, Alley Oop.

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In addition to the single, Garpax released a whole album of horror rock tunes sung by Pickett called, The Original Monster Mash. Among the various studio musicians who allegedly can be heard on the record are Leon Russell and Mel Taylor, The Ventures longtime drummer.

The single not only hit #1 on the U.S Billboard Chart in 1962 but charted again in 1970 and hit #10 in 1973. Although it was banned in Britan when it was first released in '62, for being "too morbid", it went to #3 in '73 and, amazingly, charted again in 2008. To date, Monster Mash has sold over 4 million copies.

Bobby "Boris" Pickett went on to release more horror related singles to little notice. He appeared in small roles in  several tv shows and movies and wrote and produced two musicals, The Bridge Is Out, You'll Have To Spend The Night and Frankenstein Unbound. The former was made into the 1994 film, Monster Mash: The Movie.

Pickett made appearances throughout the years, sometimes performing the song live. He remembers singing the song once at an event back in the seventies backed by a then unknown rock band named, Van Halen.

He passed away in 2007 but his song lives on every Octiber. Take a listen and have some fun, it's Halloween, for crying out loud.

--Casey Redmond
   October 31, 2017
   Shangri-La, Ohio

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Casey's Musical Dustbin Podcast Presents: Halloween Party '17

Just in time for Halloween, it's the swingingest podcast around. Thirty minutes of scary surf, garage rock and instro by The Bomboras, The Ghastly Ones, Los Straitjackets, Laika & The Cosmonauts, Bobby "Boris" Pickett and more...Listen to the show HERE

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Groovy Halloween Movie #231: The Ghost & Mr. Chicken (1966)

If you are looking to watch a groovy (ie stupid) Halloween movie,  The Ghost And Mr. Chicken will definitely fill the bill. The movie stars Don Knotts and only runs about an hour and ten minutes. I streamed it the other night on Amazon and it is  a great way to waste an hour of your life. To help you enjoy your cinematic experience here are,

Eight Fun Facts About "The Ghost & Mr. Chicken

--This movie was the first Don Knotts made after he signed a lucrative contract with Universal Pictures after five seasons on The Andy Griffith Show. 

--Don Knotts stated that he  signed the movie deal only after Andy Griffith said he was discontinuing the series following the 1964-1965 season. Soon after signing the contract, Griffith changed his mind and The Andy Griffith Show ran for four more seasons.

--The movie's plot was based on an Andy Griffith episode called, "The Haunted House".

--The haunted Simmons' Mansion where Luther spends the night was located on the Universal Pictures lot.  It is also served as The Munster's House, Jimmy Stewart's home in the movie "Harvey" and was featured in the TV series, "Desperate Housewives".

--Vic Mizzy composed the music for the movie. He also wrote the theme songs for The Adams Family and Green Acres. He would go on to write the music for five additional Don Knotts movies.

--One of the most enjoyable aspects of the film is the abundance of sixties tv stars who appear on screen. In addition to Don Knotts, three other actors from The Andy Griffith Show make an appearance including, Hal Smith (Otis Campbell), Hope Summers (Clara Edwards) and Burt Mustin (who played Judd Fletcher on the first few seasons of the show). In fact the movies director, Alan Rafkin, directed 27 episodes of The Andy Griffith Show while the screenwriting team of Everette Greenbaum and Jim Fritzell wrote 29 "Andy" episodes along with The Ghost And Mr. Chicken" script.

--Other sixties television stars who make an appearance include, Dick Sargent (the second Darren in Bewitched), Sandra Gould (The second Gladys Kravitz on Bewitched), Ellen Corby (Grandma Walton) and Charles Lane and James Millhollin. (Two actors whose names you won't recognize but they appeared in dozens of sitcoms back in the day)

--Screenwriter Everette Greenbaum was the voice that yelled, "That a boy, Luther", throughout the movie.

--Enjoy the movie, folks...

The Ghost And Mr. Chicken Trailer (1966)

"My Flying Saucer & Me". Rock N Roll Casey

Written & performed by Casey ...Casey`'s Musical Dusrbin...Shangri-La, Ohio...September 13, 2017

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