"Horror Sounds Of Terror" Record

Yikes, here we are already at the last Friday of October, so it's the last chance for a Freebie Friday grab! Overall it has been a pretty solid list of cassette offerings, but we are going to finish the month off with a real classic served up on a vinyl platter!

Horror Sounds Of Terror is a 1978 release from HRB Music, and is actually part of a double-LP collection called Goofy Gold (it's more familiar name). The collection is split up on two separate records, the first (Goofy Gold) being a collection of fairly popular "novelty" Halloween-ish songs including Monster Mash, Purple People Eater, Alley Oop, Chantilly Lace, etc. And while I'm going to completely skip this half of the compilation, I DO want to show the insanely cool TV spot that was made for it. Enjoy this!

Now the part we ARE going to focus on is the second record of the compilation, called Horror Sounds Of Terror. This one is a mandatory addition, based simply on the incredible illustration on the cover. A green vampire face with some really cool hand painted horror fonts. I was totally sold!

The record itself is actually pretty great, too. There is no doubt that this is from the 70s with its standard "spooky sounds" cuts interspersed with small bits of dialog on both sides. And while some of the sounds have been heard on a handful of other releases produced around the same time, the dialog really stands out this time. Some goofy, some attempting to be more serious, but all are of a higher production quality making this entire record a lot of fun!

The only negative is that each side only clocks in at just over twelve minutes, making for a short offering. But even with that, Horror Sounds Of Terror is a wonderful slice of nostalgia and a quality release that still holds up today. And it makes for a really great way to close out the final Freebie Friday segment for this October...

DOWNLOAD "HORROR SOUNDS OF TERROR" HERE.

  

"Chamber Of Horrors" Cassette

So this Freebie Friday offering is bit of a cheat because I had posted it before, but: a) I wanted to show off my new original copy that is still sealed, and b) out of all the novelty Halloween records, cassettes and CDs in my collection, this one is still the best!

I had written way back in 2014 about how I had found this old cassette in a tape player that had been in my garage. Before rediscovering it, it had sat for about 10 years after being used as the haunt soundtrack during the earliest days of Highbury Cemetery (before it even had a name!)

Luckily, I popped the old cassette into a deck and it still played perfectly! Instant warm fuzzies as those old sounds brought back all those great memories from my haunt's beginnings. In fact, this became one of the first Freebie Friday segments, and it kicked my vintage novelty Halloween record, cassette, and CD collecting into high gear.

And after all these years of collecting and sharing the gems and the stinkers from my ever-growing stash, I still haven't found a release that tops this one. High-quality "spooky sounds" that are actually creepy. An absolutely solid release and the centerpiece to my collection.

If you haven't heard this, do yourself a favor and hit play on the link above. If you like it, grab a copy at the link below. 

It's Halloween. Let the Chamber of Horrors' thoroughly-terrifying, spine-tingling sounds get you in the mood to do what you do!

DOWNLOAD CHAMBER OF HORRORS HERE.

 

"Halloween" Record

We have reached the end of another week, so that means it's time for another Freebie Friday offering! Time to share another forgotten gem from the murky depths of my Halloween "spooky sounds" collection.

This week, we're diving into another classic release from 1969, simply titled, "Halloween" on D Records, a country and western label out of Houston, Texas.

If you have ever sampled any of my other Freebie Friday offerings, you already know that the "spooky sounds" cassette industry of the 80s and 90s was an unregulated free-for-all, repackaging older titles quickly and cheaply as new releases. I don't know how many times I have picked up a cassette, excited by the "spooky" title and art, only to find another cheap reproduction of a 70s classic.

Well, with this release we have just the opposite. This one is the original source material for many of the later knockoffs!

Side one starts off a little slowly, with a poorly thrown-together string of random, not-really-Halloween individual sound clips. Weird dog barks, a recording of possibly a Chinese New Year parade with drums and firecrackers, clanking pots and pans, odd springy "boings," and warbling circus organ music...

It isn't until about one-third of the way through this side that things suddenly switch and get interesting. And it's also when I knew I recognized the classic "spooky sounds" from some of those later knock-off tapes! Classic beast howls, creaking doors, howling winds, rattling chains, bubbling cauldrons and sinister laughs... THIS is the stuff!!

Side two continues to deliver the spooky sounds greatness. The harpsichord (I think?) and shrieks, more creaking doors, ghostly moans, werewolf howls, giggling goblins, a weird off-key horn, and whipping winds. It's all here and it's PERFECT! All the classics from the start of the "spooky sounds" craze.

And can you believe we've gotten this far and I still haven't mentioned the incredible cover art? A bold yellow cover with handprinted witch and bats shadows behind a creepy jack-o-lantern, cloaked skeleton, and whipsy ghosts. All under a wonderfully hand-painted "HALLOWEEN" font. It's the whole reason I bought this record in the first place! Still a definite eye-catcher in an ever-growing collection of Halloween records.

This one is a TON of fun and a sure classic that needs a prominent spot in your collection. Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD "HALLOWEEN" HERE.

  

"Famous Ghost Stories With Scary Sounds" Soundtrack

It's hard to believe that we have already reached the third week of October, but the Freebie Friday segments just keep chugging along!

Up next is a classic from Pickwick Records, released in 1975.

Famous Ghost Stories With Scary Sounds features the incredible narration talents of Wade Denning. 

Denning, who was famous for composing radio and tv advertising jingles, also had a wonderful career in children's novelty holiday soundtracks. His infamous Halloween offerings, Sounds To Make You Shiver! and Monster Mash Sounds of Terror! have both been featured in previous Freebie Friday segments.

Though this one is a bit different than the other two. Instead of straightforward scary sound effects or songs, Famous Ghost Stories... features 10 solid spoken stories with accompanying sound effects, including retellings of classics by Washington Irving (The Headless Horseman), Edgar Allan Poe (The Tell-Tale Heart), and Charles Dickens (The Railroad Signal-Man).

Each story captivates and highlights Denning's incredible range of vocal talent, and most of the stories are really fun and entertaining. The entire record is really well produced and makes this a very solid release that everyone should have in their collection!


DOWNLOAD "FAMOUS GHOST STORIES WITH SCARY SOUNDS" HERE!

  

National Haunted House Day 2014

Today is the second Friday of October, which means that today is National Haunted House Day! A day to get out and visit a haunted attraction near you!



At least it was last year... I checked their site and it hasn't been updated since last October. Not sure if this is still a thing.

But hey, regardless, why not get out and visit a haunted house in your area today!? Take a break from the grind of your Halloween work for one night and go out and have some fun! Let's support those who support the season.

Also, no Freebie Friday this week, as I've been spending long hours in the garage on some killer new props and I didn't have a chance to get anything together (you should check back tomorrow to see what I've been working on). Sorry group, but stop back next Friday for something cool. And free.

Three weeks until Halloween and a long list still in front of me. Time to get back to the garage. Are you ready for the big night??

 

"Halloween Horror - Scary Sounds From The Hex Files" Cassette

Well, here we are. Somehow, we have already come to the final Friday in October. Time for one last Freebie Friday, where I comb the depths of my vintage novelty Halloween record and tape collection and then share it with all of you. Luckily, we are finishing with a bang!

An array of screams, howls and spooky sound effects to greet trick-or-treaters or put chills down party goers' spines!

More than 73 minutes of continuous scary sounds.

And how! This tape is a monster (giggle, giggle) clocking in at a walloping 71 actual minutes of Halloween greatness. I was completely surprised when after flipping the tape to side two, I was rewarded with another side of sound effects! Usually I get the same exact recording on both sides, but K-Tel International's Halloween Horror - Scary Sounds From The Hex Files from 1997 really delivers the goods.

It's a great mix of new and old sound effects, flowing nicely through each effect throughout both sides of the cassette. Lots of monster growls and upchucks (listen for it, I'm not joking), howling winds, howling dogs, a few "borrowed" screams and moans, another pissed off cat, rattling chains, creaking doors, and racing heartbeats. But the best effect is the organ that shows up almost half way through side two (which now that I look at it, may actually be side one - I mislabelled the sides, although it doesn't REALLY matter, right??). A really great creepy sound that intensifies the other sound effects going on at the same time.

Overall, it's a great, high quality addition to anyone's Halloween soundtrack collection and one that I would seriously consider playing at my home haunt display. And it's a great way to cap off another October of Freebie Fridays! Enjoy, and Happy Halloween, 'ya creeps!!

DOWNLOAD "HALLOWEEN HORROR - SCARY SOUNDS FROM THE HEX FILES" HERE.

  

Night Of The Living Dead Soundtrack

Welcome to Highbury Cemetery's first Freebie Friday of 2013! No tricks, just treats every Friday in October. Be sure to stop by and receive a different goodie in your candy bag every week.

Today, we're starting off with a complete classic. I just scored a nice, clean vinyl copy of the out-of-print, original soundtrack to the film that started it all for the modern zombie revolution - from 1968, George A. Romero's Night Of The Living Dead.

Released in 1982 on Varese Sarabande Records, the score features a mix of "stock library" music (some originally written back in the 1950s) and soundbites from the film.

From the back of the record sleeve:

A Note From The Director
All of us who were involved in the production of NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD thought of ourselves, then and now, as total filmmakers. We all took turns loading magazines, gaffing, gathering and making props, shooting, recording, editing. We were all involved in the total process. Frustrating for us all was that none among us could write or play music, not that our budget would have allowed for a recording session, but I'm sure we would have tried had any of us the talents to make the try worthwhile.

So, Karl Hardman and the Capitol Hi-Q Library to the rescue. Karl's production company had the library discs in house and he began to make preliminary picks. We listened and were delighted with the music. This was the real article. The scoring heard in nightmares conjured by yesterday's matinees. If the boogie man had a ghetto-blaster, this was the stuff he'd boogie to.

Karl gets the credit for picking the takes and I got the fun of gluing them onto the film. And for a non-musician, the closest thing to composing a score is working a good set of library tracks into your picture.

I have a real fondness for the music in NIGHT, and I'm flattered and grateful that the music has come to be so identified with the film. My thanks go out to the people at Varese Sarabande, and especially to Scot Holton, whose energy and endurance made the research and compilation of the tracks possible.

Look Ma, a sound-track album! And ain't none of us musicians!

Stay scared!
George A. Romero


Enjoy the soundtrack to Night Of The Living Dead!

"Night Of Terror!" CD

It's National Haunted House Day, it's Friday the 13th, AND it's Freebie Friday! It doesn't get much better than this, so let's dive right in!

This week's offering was another blind purchase, based on nothing more than the ridiculous/totally awesome cover art.

Night Of Terror! A Continuous Tale Of Horror Told In Sound. Well, I'm not sure I'd go THAT far, but I did luck out and picked up another Halloween gem.

What really grabbed my attention with this one was, in fact, that crazy cover. It instantly reminded me of those crazy Ghanaian hand-painted movie posters. So much storytelling in a freeform, non-realistic, totally sensationalized rendering. On this cover, I guess the cowboy in black is rounding up the dead girls for some kind of swamp ritual? Amazing.

WARNING: YOU MAY NOT WANT TO BE ALONE WHEN YOU LISTEN TO THIS TAPE BECAUSE...

The inside cover (which I have scanned and included in the folder) is the story that corresponds to the list of sounds as the track plays (it's all one continuous track, clocking in at just over an hour). And it's pretty good. Full of the classic "spooky sounds" tropes, it somehow links all of the disparate sounds into one ghoulish tale.

The track itself contains a collection of the usual sounds (collected from other sources because I have definitely heard them all on other releases) all laid over a continuous thunderstorm. And even though there is nothing groundbreaking here, the less-than-perfect production (was this dubbed straight from a cassette?) lends to that wonderful, nostalgic, creepy feel. Its perfection really lies in its imperfection. And I haven't even mentioned the "Lion Growls" and "Mad Ape" sounds thrown in just for fun!

"Night Of Terror!" really hits that old "spooky sounds" sweet spot and I'm glad I took the chance on it. This is a fun one you can spin all night long.

DOWNLOAD "NIGHT OF TERROR!" HERE.

  

"Haunted Horror - Terror On Tape" Cassette

Welcome to the final Friday in October, and the last Freebie Friday of the year! It was well worth the wait, because I have definitely saved the best for last!

1980's Haunted Horror - Terror On Tape is an absolute classic from the golden age of the novelty Halloween "spooky sounds" releases. One of the first to be put out on cassette, this one really packs a punch at 30 minutes PER SIDE, offering a hefty hour of spookiness with only one flip of the tape.

And it is packed with all of the standard shrieks, screams, howls, clanks, clinks, moans, wails, cackles, meows, organs, and any and all other noises. 30 straight minutes of even terror, without any annoying callouts to ruin the flow.

Image courtesy of the Sweet Skulls blog/via Secret Fun Spot.

Since acquiring this gem, it has been at the top of the list for really great Halloween releases, and each time I hit play I'm instantly transported back to the trick-or-treat fun I had as a kid. Haunted Horror - Terror On Tape is a mandatory release for anyone in need of some Halloween nostalgia!

DOWNLOAD HAUNTED HORROR - TERROR ON TAPE HERE.

  

"Horrific Halloween Spooktacular! Scary Scores & Sounds!!" Record

Halloween!

Iciest night of the year (colder than Christmas!), when "undead" totter on legs unsteady from graves unready to keep their eternal sleep. "All hallows eve," when ghosts soar through moonlit skies, beasties feast on some poor prize, and other things go "bump!" in the night! (good lord deliver us!!)

Here you will hear the fear that you fear, geared for the weird, to vampires endeared (can you withstand the frantic antics of closet skeletons, belfry bats, demon cats, wolves and rats, ape men and wolf men and mad men and monsters galore?)!! Monsters galore and more! The score! Forever gore fills the score, spills the gore on the score to the core of monster lore! Eerie-played by ghostly maid on an organ made for Death's Arcade!!! (Hail the haunted organ! Purge the dirge!) Yes, Halloween! In "undead" vernacular, the devil's spectacular... A Halloween spooktacular!!! Come, if you care... come if you dare!!!

We have come to the final Friday of October, which means the last Freebie Friday for another year. But please do not be sad, because I'm finishing the season off with an absolute classic!

When I hear the words "spooky sounds," a few classic releases come to mind. The ones that have insanely cool illustrated covers with monsters, skeletons, haunted houses, jack-o-lanterns, and ghosts. The ones that have a continuous flow of the standard creepy sound effects essential to any great release. Howling winds, howling wolves, cackling witches, cracking thunder, mad laboratories and the monsters that they create, wailing organs, tolling bells, cats, bats, and bloodcurdling screams. And Verne Langdon's Horrific Halloween Spooktacular! Scary Scores & Sounds has it all!

Side one is a straight collection of standard spooky sounds, flowing smoothly between each, making a nice, even 15 minute track. Howling wolves, a tolling bell, and thunder are always a classic segway into any good "spooky sounds" record! The guy getting whipped is an interesting sound clip, as well...

Side two is equally as good, with a creepy gothic organ track as the main sound throughout. It differentiates itself from the first side nicely, giving you two completely different tracks to choose from!

And I haven't even mentioned Ron Cobb's insanely cool cover art. The one-eyed green zombie face looks like it's emerging from the darkened pages of an old EC Comics cover. A real eye-grabber (see what I did there?), that looks great in any record collection!

This one is definitely a must-have in your spooky sounds stockpile, as it absolutely nails the old nostalgic Halloween vibe. Enjoy!

Download Horrific Halloween Spooktacular! Scary Scores & Sounds!! here.

  

Halloween Sound Effects - "Scary Sounds" CD

It's finally Friday!! Time to dive into another Freebie Friday, where I share the gems of my ever-growing collection of vintage novelty Halloween records, cassettes, and CDs!

This week's offering was a gift from long-time Cemetery friend Jim, who snagged this one straight from the Drug Mart 99-cent sale rack!

Devilish demons creep through the dead of night, slowly opening the door to a horror-filled evening filled with black cats and fluttering bats. Have you been transported to a dimension of scary sounds or are you just listening to a frightfully authentic CD packed with the ghoulish sounds of Halloween? Either way, it's great for scaring party guests or terrifying a porch full of tremulous Trick-or-Treaters!

For having paid only a buck, this one was quite a find! 30 minutes of high-quality "spooky sounds." Lots of screams and wails, werewolf howls and laboratory noises, which leads to classic organ and clock chimes that toll midnight. It then moves into more of a distorted, warbling string of effects including pieces that are played backwards for a convincing effect.

And then about half way through, it takes random effects and mixes them over what seems like "borrowed" old horror film tracks. The results are pretty cool. It makes this one a bit unique and it stands out from the usual "spooky sounds" releases.

Big thanks to Jim for grabbing this and then also donating it to the cause!! Scary Sounds was a pleasant surprise and worth 30 minutes of your time.

DOWNLOAD HALLOWEEN SOUND EFFECTS "SCARY SOUNDS" HERE.

 

Winchell's Donut House - "Hear The Monsters - Spooky Sounds & A Scary Tale"

Welcome to the first Freebie Friday of the new season, where I rummage through and share my ever-expanding collection of old novelty Halloween records, cassettes and CDs! 

This segment has become my absolute favorite. There's just something so fun and nostalgic about listening to the old gems (and the stinkers!) that populated store shelves each Halloween. And getting to share these old classics every Friday brings back so many great Halloween memories.

So let's dive in!!

Whooooo, oooooowheeeeeeeee! Ghosts and the wicked witch. A rattling skeleton. A scary swooping bat. And more! What a way to liven up a Halloween party.

So listen to the stories and shiver with fright. Then play the sounds of Halloween at the end of the record. And turn your party house into a haunted castle. Hahahahahahahaha!

I had seen this particular novelty record quite a few times and finally added it to my collection earlier this year. The Winchell's Donut House "Hear The Monsters" Halloween record from 1976 is a 45 flexi mounted directly to a cardboard backing, so sound quality and shelf life were traded in for cheaper mass production. But in this case, the pops and clicks only add to it's greatness.

The record itself is a 7-minute story about a talking jack-o-lantern (he could talk after eating a Winchell's donut) sprinkled with a few trick-or-treat safety tips, a silly Winchell's jingle, and a few random "scary sounds" at the end.

But about half way through the story, it takes a rather creepy turn when the jack-o-lantern convinces the children to take him trick-or-treating. He then makes scary sounds and tells them a story of a haunted house. And it gets pretty intense for a children's story!

"You take the seventh step..."

I was surprised at how much I liked this one. It really checks all the boxes of a great novelty Halloween record. It's silly, it's spooky, and it's fun.

"Winchell's donuts do magic things to your mouth."

Enjoy!

DOWNLOAD WINCHELL'S DONUT HOUSE "HEAR THE MONSTERS" HERE.

  

"Sounds of Halloween" Cassette

Somehow we are already into our third weekend in October, and we're starting it off with another Freebie Friday! As with every Friday throughout October, I scour my collection of vintage novelty Halloween records and cassettes and then share them with all of you.

This time around, we have Distribution Madacy Inc's Canadian novelty gem from 1998, Sounds of Halloween.

Warning: This Cassette Is Not To Be Listened To In The Dark. Listen To This Cassette At Your Own Risk!

Sounds That Will Keep You And Your Children On The Edge Of Your Seat During Parties Or On Dark Stormy Nights.

"Spine Chilling" / "Hair Raising" / "Heart Pounding" Sound Effects

Instantly, with warnings like these, Sounds of Halloween completely hits the mark for me. Another in a long line of novelty releases with crazy, over-the-top warning labels, coupled with some really great cover illustration work. In researching this release, I actually found out that they put some effort into this, releasing at least three different covers: the cat & pumpkin (this one), a skull pumpkin & deranged hospital worker, and a really great pumpkin & haunted house.

They also had another similar release called Halloween Tricks & Treats, although it looks like it has slightly different tracks including a full-length Halloween story. And if it has anywhere near the quality that this release has, it is going on my want list right now!

Sounds of Halloween has your standard collection of Halloween sounds including thunder and rain, howling winds, snarling wolves, church bells, a pissed off cat, rattling chains, a few "borrowed" screams and laughter, creaking floors and doors, some weird and random space noises, a REALLY cool organ, and a few other odd sounds thrown in for good measure. But the production quality is higher than average and has a surprisingly full sound to it.

It's a fun, continuous 18-minute mix that hits the sweet spot for the nostalgic sounds of Halloween. The only drawback is that the same track is repeated on side two, robbing the listener of another potential 18 minutes of ghastly greatness!

DOWNLOAD "SOUNDS OF HALLOWEEN" HERE.

Walt Disney Studios - "Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House (1979)" Record

The days of October are absolutely flying by and we have already reached another Friday... time for the next Freebie Friday post, where I share forgotten gems from the murky depths of my Halloween "spooky sounds" collection.

WARNING: This album will scare your socks off. Parental guidance suggested.

For the third week in a row, I'm serving up an absolute Halloween classic. This time around, it's Walt Disney Studios' Chilling, Thrilling Sounds Of The Haunted House - the second version!

That's right! After the initial success of the original Chilling, Thrilling Sounds... in 1964 (and 1973), Walt Disney Studios went back and re-released a totally new version in 1979, with completely different cover art AND audio tracks.

Gone were the original's individual story/audio tracks utilizing special effects sounds from the Walt Disney Studios collection, and replaced with a more traditional "spooky sounds" collection of sounds.

I have done a bit or searching to find out why this was done, but I haven't been able to find anything definitive. Either way, I find this version to be the superior one. The original, while groundbreaking for its time, lacks any real spookiness to it and is plagued with silliness in most of the tracks. And let's not even get started on that "Chinese Water Torture" track...

This re-released version fits well into the traditional "spooky sounds" genre with more mature Halloween sounds. Two sides of continuous audio with side one containing "Frightening Situations" and side two containing "Eerie Sound Effects." Both sides are equally great and have all of the classic sound effects within.

And I haven't even mentioned the new cover art yet. A fantastic, full-cover haunted house illustration with a skeleton rising from a grave and colorful, traditional creepy fonts make this one an absolute winner! I would expect nothing less from the talented artists of Disney.

Overall, this release is an absolute classic (even if it is still overshadowed by the original). It's campy and fun, but still has just enough nostalgic creepiness to make it an essential piece for your collection.

(And on a side note, this was just re-released in 2023 on a cool translucent smoke-colored vinyl and is still available here.)

DOWNLOAD CHILLING, THRILLING SOUNDS OF THE HAUNTED HOUSE (1979) HERE.
  

"Ghostly Sounds" Soundtrack

Night falls...

The forest holds its breath...

Everything is still...

The blood red moon stares through the trees...

Welcome to the first Freebie Friday of 2017! Every Friday during the month of October, I share another gem from my ever-growing collection of old novelty Halloween records and cassettes. And today, I'm kicking it off with an absolute classic!

Peter Pan Records' 1975 release, Ghostly Sounds, is the complete package. The vibrant sleeve art was wonderfully illustrated by George Peed (giggle, giggle), who was well-known for his array of Holiday-themed covers done for the label. On this sleeve, he managed to strike a perfect balance between Halloween creepiness and child-friendly character illustration.

Side one of this record is the standout track. Twelve glorious minutes of nostalgic, standard studio "creepy" and "weird" sound effects with an incredible, off-time narrative "story/poem" delivered by Peter Waldron. I could listen to his line, "It is Halloween." over and over. The forceful and somewhat overacted manor in which the story is spoken makes this a really interesting, fun track well worth a listen.

Side two again relies on Waldron's off-time, forced narration, this time telling the most bizarre and random story I may have ever heard. Aliens from another world come to our planet to discover ghosts and Halloween. A meandering storyline and the silliest sound effects can't be taken seriously, but is still a hilariously fun track. Listen to this one for the ridiculous sound effects, for sure.

Enjoy!!


DOWNLOAD "GHOSTLY SOUNDS" RIGHT HERE.

 

"Graveyard Terror" CD

A clock strikes midnight as you enter the graveyard of terror. Do you dare face the horror that awaits? Complete with ghosts, werewolves, demonic laughter and of course, blood curdling screams. Enter at your own risk!

-X X X-

Happy Friday, fiends! We've made it through another week, so here's your reward... another Freebie Friday!

This week's offering is another one that I picked up on a whim, simply based on the cover art. I thought I was in for some silliness, but this one actually delivers the goods.

Graveyard Terror contains two tracks: "Graveyard Terror" and "Graveyard Horror." Both run about 15 minutes and contain some high quality, well-produced "spooky sounds" effects, albeit with a more modern feel. Which isn't a bad thing.

And while I really like the fun vocal cuts of "Graveyard Terror," my pick goes to the second track, "Graveyard Horror." It has a more classic feel and it really hits the nostalgia of the original "spooky sounds" releases that came out decades before.

As an added bonus, this CD comes with an activity booklet in pdf format. It has some word searches, mazes, connect-the-dots, and masks to color and cut out. Definitely aimed at the littler ones, but a fun add-on that you don't get with vinyl or cassette releases.

Another release that I was pleasantly surprised with, and I'm glad I took the chance on this one. High quality release that's a lot of Halloween fun.

Download Graveyard Terror here.

  

"Halloween Sound Effects" Soundtrack

This is an absolutely horrible record album that no collection should be without!

This collage of gruesome sounds is perfect for Trick or Treaters who need (or deserve?) a little terror in their lives, and can set the mood or be the life of your Hallowe'en party. Many of you have bought this ghoulish collection for the sheer pleasure of it all, however, a word of caution: Use headphones to avoid disturbing the squeamish!

Wait, what!?

Welcome to the first Freebie Friday of 2018! Every Friday during the month of October, I share another gem from my ever-growing collection of old novelty Halloween records and cassettes. And today, I'm kicking it off with an infamous classic!

Halloween Sound Effects Vol. 1: Music and Effects of a Terrifying Nature is a well-known entry in the novelty Halloween sounds market. And that first sentence from the record sleeve pretty much tells it all...

Released in 1982 on Canadian label, Total Records, this novelty soundtrack must have taken all of one afternoon to record and produce. Side one, simply entitled "Hallowe'en," is your run-of-the-mill spooky sound effects collection that sounds like it was recorded in someone's basement with a cassette deck. 17 bizarre and goofy tracks that clock in at under 11 minutes. 

The standout track on this side is definitely "Gluttony and Belching From Satisfied Monsters." And yes, there are actual, somewhat-awesome belching sounds and laughter included. There is no way that the artists who recorded this were taking it seriously.

And while side one is pretty much a throw away, the saving grace for this record is side two.

I'm not sure how the audio on side two can be considered "Hallowe'en In Space," but there are actually some cool ambient sound effects here. And with incredible track names like, "Cosmic Lunacy," "Plutonian Ice Caves," and "Honing The Light Sabre" (no copyright laws in Canada??), it makes the release all worth it.

Yes, it's another goofy novelty release overall, but the oddness of side two makes it a keeper in the collection. It's just too bad that the artists never created a Volume 2!


DOWNLOAD "HALLOWEEN SOUND EFFECTS VOL. 1" HERE.

  

"Halloween Sound Effects" Cassette

Here we are at the fourth Friday in October, which means it's time for one last Freebie Friday for the year! We've had three absolute classics served up from my "spooky sounds" collection this year, so let's see what's on tap for this week's offering.

I grabbed a sealed copy of Halloween Sound Effects strictly based on the incredible card art. Spooky, gothic fonts and totally awesome clip art, including that sweet, evil bat! And still encased in the shell was a wonderfully cheesy cassette with nothing but the same title art on a blank orange label. All the signs of another cheap knock-off classic!

And my initial instinct was correct. Because as soon as I put this cassette in, pressed "play" and heard the very first note, I knew this was yet another Taiwanese knock-off. It was a poorly dubbed recording of the Topstone Halloween classic, Horror Sounds Of The Night. 

I swear, every cassette factory in Asia must have had one copy of it to use for dubbing, because this is at least the third different Halloween cassette I have picked up only to hear that same organ music starting off...

And as great as Horror Sounds Of The Night is, this one is just another cheap knock-off in a really great package. Still worth it for the art, but the sounds themselves are only for the die-hard "spooky sounds" collectors or those that might not have Horror Sounds Of The Night.

Three out of four still ain't bad!

DOWNLOAD 'HALLOWEEN SOUND EFFECTS' HERE.

  

"Halloween Eerie Sounds" Cassette

It's time for our last Freebie Friday of 2017! One last, great novelty soundtrack to bring back all those fun seasonal memories from Halloweens long since past.

I have been doing the Freebie Fridays segments for a few years now, and one thing that I have quickly discovered is that the novelty Halloween cassette industry was a completely lawless wasteland during it's heyday of the 80s and 90s. Cheap cassettes with similar titles and labels filled store shelves. My collection of these cassettes has grown yearly and even I can't keep them all straight...

And so is the case of this week's offering, Planet Halloween's "Halloween Eerie Sounds." I acquired this cassette recently in a bulk buy, and it was the last one to be played and posted. The cartoony label with the standard jack-o-lanterns, bats, wrought iron fencing and tombstone held great promise for some serious nostalgic fun. And then I dropped it into the player and pressed play...

Ten seconds in and I knew I had been had. That instantly recognizable heart beat followed by the old witch's screams. I had heard it before. Repeatedly. The standard soundtrack, repackaged for the umpteenth time with a different label art and only slightly different name.

Dammit.

Halloween Eerie Sounds. The same as Halloween Sounds of Horror. Which is also the same as Halloween Spook Sounds. And which is only a slightly different mix to Horrible Sounds of Halloween. Were you able to keep up?

The standard soundtrack must have been licensed out to a whole slew of different companies, all of which released it with their own "Halloween Horrible Horror Spooky Eerie Haunted" names and label art.

It's a letdown to get a new cassette, only to find that it is just another variant of the old standby soundtrack.

Regardless, the 16-minute soundtrack itself isn't all too bad, with some nice echoing screams, barking wolf dogs and unidentifiable grinding sounds. And there's still that heartbeat that runs below the other sounds throughout the track.

It's still a worthwhile pickup if you don't already have it in one of the versions above or you are an absolute completist.

DOWNLOAD "HALLOWEEN EERIE SOUNDS" HERE.

  

"Chamber of Horrors" Cassette (1988 Version)

"Haaaaaapy Halloweeeeeeen!" Just stop. Stop it. Quit it! How many times are you going to say that!?!?

Time for another Freebie Friday, and this one is actually another absolute winner. But before we begin, let's take a step back in time...

When I first started doing a small, crude yard haunt in the early, early 2000s, I used a classic novelty cassette for my haunt soundtrack. It was just something that I had laying around. A throwback cassette that reminded me of my youth and the classic old Halloween soundtracks from when I used to go out trick-or-treating (late 70s through the late 80s, for anyone keeping score). It was a cassette that I had picked up somewhere during the early to mid-1990s. And that cassette was Chamber of Horrors.

Classic screams, moans, howls, thunder and synthesizer notes made for a perfectly spooky soundtrack to my little display. Fast forward ten years when, by chance, I rediscovered that cassette in an old tape deck, half buried in my garage. I was so excited when I had found it again! I immediately took it inside, ensured that it still played, and recorded it to mp3 format (little did I know that this cassette and the nostalgic feelings that it evoked would be the start of my Freebie Fridays segments!).

Upon researching my cassette, I quickly noticed something strange. Lots of photos and YouTube clips of a Chamber of Horrors cassette that looked and sounded NOTHING like mine. This fascination triggered my complete freefall down the rabbit hole of vintage novelty Halloween records and cassettes... 

Fast forward to 2017 and it looks like I have now gone full circle. I finally picked up a copy of that OTHER Chamber of Horrors cassette. The one that I had seen and heard everywhere all those years ago.

THIS Chamber of Horrors cassette is actually the original version, released in 1988 by Tony U.S.A. And while it's still available everywhere, I still wanted to add it to my ever-growing collection, and give it a quick review. 

This cassette is so odd. It seems like there were two separate tracks slapped together - a "Halloween sounds" track smashed over a random music track. I actually had to double-check that songs weren't playing from somewhere else on my system while I was recording it. The two really didn't fit together at all. And to top it all off, the segments just kept repeating and repeating and repeating. This is the only way the cassette made it to 23 minutes in length.

It starts off with the now-infamous, "Haaaaaaaapy Halloweeeeeeeen!" vocal clip immediately followed by a cheap instrumental version of Thriller. I'm guessing Michael Jackson had no knowledge of this?

But things get even stranger from there. Thunder claps, the standard generic witch cackle, a police siren and a few other overused "Halloween" sounds are interspersed with another six or seven "Haaaaaaaapy Halloweeeeeeen" clips. And then the music changes. It goes into some weird beatnik flute-and-trumpet jazz segment. It actually sounds like something lifted from the Manos: The Hands of Fate film soundtrack. Completely out of place in its surroundings.

And then the whole segment repeats. And then repeats again. And then again. And then again.

In fact, this cassette would probably be best served as background noise at a late night Halloween party. Definitely not usable in any sort of haunt setting.

But even with all that, I have to admit that I LOVE this cassette. That chilled out flute and trumpet audio is so cool, especially juxtaposed with monster roars, deep gurgling and howling clips placed over it. This is another classic example of a quickly and cheaply executed cassette release that flooded retail stores in the 80s and 90s and has now gone on to achieve cult-like status with collectors and enthusiasts like myself.

Like the second version of this cassette released some 2 or 3 years later, this Chamber of Horrors is a fun slice of novelty Halloween history that everyone needs to hear. And enjoy.

"Haaaaaaaaaapy Halloweeeeeeeeeeeen!"


DOWNLOAD "CHAMBER OF HORRORS (1988)" HERE!