Listen to the Sounds of Horror with These Spooky LPs

For this week’s Sunday Funday post we wanted to take a break from the sort of collectibles we usually focus on in this spot and instead take a look at spooky LPs. In case you haven’t noticed, vinyl is back in a huge way, and so this Halloween you have the opportunity to make your house not only haunted, but happening thanks to our assortment of incredible soundtracks and seasonally appropriate albums. Here’s a rundown of noteworthy recent releases that we think you’ll want spin through All Hallows’ Eve and always!

Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House

Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House was an LP album intended for “older children, teenagers, and adults”, released by Disneyland Records (now known as Walt Disney Records). The album was mainly composed of sound effects that had been collected by the sound effects department of Walt Disney Studios. The album was released in several different forms. The album was first released in 1964 in a white sleeve, with a second release in 1973 with an orange sleeve. In both versions, the first side contained 10 stories narrated by Laura Olsher, complete with sound effects. The second side contained 10 sound effects meant for others to create their own stories. Despite the title, most of the cuts had nothing to do with haunted houses or witches or ghostly spirits. Featured were such situations as an ocean liner hitting rocks, an idiotic lumberjack, a man crossing an unsafe bridge, someone lighting a stick of dynamite and a spaceship landing on Mars. Also, there are tracks with several examples of cats, dogs and birds becoming enraged for some reason, as well as a skit about Chinese water torture. In addition, some of the screams were taken directly from the scene where Miss Havisham catches fire in the 1946 David Lean film “Great Expectations.” On December 7, 1972, the album became a certified gold record by the RIAA. On April 11, 1988, the 1979 follow-up edition of the album was certified gold by the RIAA. Some of the stories on the album are better known for being sampled in rap songs such as N.W.A’s “Quiet on Tha Set, ” Ice Cube’s “Look Who’s Burnin'” and “Jackin’ for Beats”, and Jedi Mind Tricks’ “Chinese Water Torture.” In 1997, Xero, precursor to the rock band Linkin Park, sampled “The Very Long Fuse” on their demo tape.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

This is the original soundtrack album to the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, an adaptation of the musical The Rocky Horror Show that had opened in 1973. The soundtrack was released as an album in 1975 by Ode Records, produced by Richard Hartley. The album peaked at No. 49 on the Billboard 200 in 1978. It reached No. 40 on the Australian albums chart and No. 11 on the New Zealand albums chart. Following it’s initial release, the album was not successful, and was deleted everywhere but in Canada. Marty Scott, co-founder of Jem Records, obtained a licensing agreement from Ode Records owner Lou Adler, which enabled the album to be imported to the United States. Scott also obtained a production and distribution license from Adler, which resulted in renewed interest in the album. All the songs from the film are included in this collectible red vinyl LP.

From Dusk Till Dawn: Music from the Motion Picture

From Dusk till Dawn: Music From The Motion Picture is the original soundtrack album for the 1996 action-comedy-horror film, From Dusk till Dawn. Directed by Robert Rodriguez and the screenplay was written by the legendary Quentin Tarantino. The album is predominantly Texas blues, featuring such artists as The Blasters, The Mavericks, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan and his brother Jimmie Vaughan. The film’s score was composed by Graeme Revell, and two short excerpts of his work are featured on the album. There are also extracts of dialogue from the film. The Chicano rock band Tito & Tarantula, who portrayed the band in the film’s bar, also appears. Limited edition blood splattered colored vinyl LP pressing housed in a gatefold sleeve.

Hammer Horror Classic Themes: 1958-1974

Limited double green vinyl LP pressing. This album brings some of Hammer’s greatest music to vinyl for the first time. It’s an evocative and diverse collection of themes that are just as memorable as the remarkable films they accompanied. The release showcases a selection of classic themes from the film company’s varied soundtrack catalog from composers that range from the great James Bernard to David Whitaker and spans Hammer’s golden years between 1958 and 1974.

Christine (Original Score)

Limited blue colored vinyl LP pressing. This classic John Carpenter soundtrack returns fully remastered with an all-new fantastic original art design and on blue vinyl. There has been a tremendous upsurge in interest for John Carpenter’s signature score compositions following the success of Carpenter’s Lost Themes and Lost Themes II albums and subsequent tours. Christine is a 1983 American horror film directed by John Carpenter and starring Keith Gordon, John Stockwell, Alexandra Paul, and Harry Dean Stanton. Written by Bill Phillips and based on the novel of the same name by Stephen King, the plot follows a sentient and violent vintage Plymouth Fury named Christine, and it’s effects on the car’s new teenage owner.

Alfred Hitchcock: Music to Be Murdered By

Limited vinyl LP pressing. When Alfred Hitchcock was at the peak of his popularity, thanks to his TV series, “Alfred Hitchcock Presents,” someone came up with the wonderful idea of Hitch narrating an easy-listening album filled with black humor. Hitch provides his usual droll commentary while his musical director, Hollywood veteran Jeff Alexander, conducts creepy arrangements. Continuing with it’s soundtrack reissue campaign, UME reissues this classic back on standard black vinyl.

Ghostbusters

Who ya gonna call? Movies Unlimited to get this limited vinyl LP repressing of the soundtrack to the 1984 motion picture. If you’re looking for one of the coolest soundtracks of a generation, here’s the original chart-topping soundtrack album to the hit film. Featuring the Oscar and Grammy-nominated worldwide #1 hit “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr., plus tracks by The Busboys, Thompson Twins and Laura Branigan, this one is sure to scare up some fun on your turntable!

Vault of Horror: The Italian Collection

The golden era of Italian horror dated from the early ’60s to the mid ’80s. During that time directors such as Mario Bava, Dario Argento, Lucio Fulci, Antonio Margheriti, Umberto Lenzi, Joe D’Amato, Enzo. G. Castellari and more directed some of the most outrageous terror films ever. The cult following for their movies is at it’s height now in 2017. As well as depicting some of the most stylish and horrific on screen images their films included some of the most elegant and beautiful scores. Vault Of Horror – The Italian Connection presents 20 of the most amazing film themes ever. A heady mix of funk, disco, electronic and prog rock. Featuring composers such as Stelvio Cipriani, Franco Micalizzi, Roberto Donati, Carlo Rustichelli, Nico Fidenco, Enio Morricone, Fabio Frizzi, Riz Ortolani and more. Including original soundtrack themes from Zombie Flesh Eaters, Cannibal Ferox, Blood And Black Lace, The Beyond, The New York Ripper, Tentacles, City Of The Living Dead, and many more. Limited double 180gm vinyl LP pressing plus CD edition and 12 x 12 art print.

Creepshow

Waxwork Records is thrilled to announce their next LP release to the 1982 horror anthology classic, Creepshow. The film was directed by George A. Romero and written by Stephen King. The score was composed and performed by John Harrison. This definitive release of the film score has never before been released. The original master tapes of the score were lost for over 30 years, but with the efforts of composer John Harrison and Waxwork Records, the tapes were located in the attic of Jeree Recording Studios in New Brighton, PA. The tapes remained in remarkable shape over the years and were re-mixed and re-mastered for vinyl. The Creepshow score has never sounded this good.

It

Double vinyl LP pressing. Original soundtrack to the 2017 motion picture. New Line Cinema’s horror thriller It, directed by Andrés Muschietti (Mama), is based on the hugely popular Stephen King novel of the same name, which has been terrifying readers for decades. When children begin to disappear n the town of Derry, Maine, a group of young kids are faced with their biggest fears when they square off against an evil clown named Pennywise, whose history of murder and violence dates back for centuries. Score composed by Benjamin Wallfisch.

Sunday Funday is a weekly feature showcasing the latest and greatest in contemporary movie, TV and pop culture books, soundtracks and collectibles.