Vampiric Vintage Vinyl: Best Halloween Oldies

It’s that time of year again — fall aesthetics have descended down on campus as fast as the drop in temperature. Whether it be the taste of hot apple cider and spiced pumpkin pies, the bitter smell of petrichor or the feel of scratchy woolen sweaters, autumn is nothing short of a first-class sensory experience. Take your auditory experience of fall to the next level with these ageless autumnal hits.

“Ladyfingers” – Herb Alpert & The Tijuana Brass

With its warm brass and bright strings, “Ladyfingers” invites the listener to wander back and forth through a quintessentially fall melody. Although it lacks lyrics, the instruments sing a song of longing and nostalgia. Descending chords draw the listener down into the present and carry a bittersweet sentiment that pairs perfectly with any seasonal drink. 

“Love Potion No. 9” – The Clovers

A fun addition to any Halloween playlist, “Love Potion No. 9” recounts the story of a man whose bad luck with dating has left him to resort to the devices of a gold-toothed fortune teller. After being offered a repugnant love potion, the man experiences the unforeseen consequences of the concoction, running into trouble with the cops. Its jazzy atmosphere and vivid language make it a staple piece for any fall sing-along.

“‘Murder’, He Says” – Dinah Shore

Shore’s old Hollywood voice is a classic and the song’s frivolous subject and playful rhythms cut through any seasonal depression due about this time of year. After having found a man almost completely perfect for her, the singer reflects on her lover’s odd, old-timey expressions, including “murder” and “solid” — compliments of a bygone time. Her lover truly “digs” her, eventually devolving into senseless language — “woof…woof,” “tsk…tsk” — illustrative of their silly puppy love.

“The Little Man Who Wasn’t There” – Glenn Miller

With a clean brassy feel slick as a razor, Miller recounts his encounters with a ghostly “little man” he spots on his way home from work early in the morning. Bemoaning his bad luck with the ghastly spook to saxophonist Tex Beneke, Miller urges his unwanted guest to “go away, don’t come back any more,” in vain.

“Headless Horseman” – Kay Starr 

A vintage piano rhythm paired with Starr’s immaculate voice create an intimate mood fit for a stroll through campus in the brisk breeze. The song paints a portrait of the infamous “headless horseman,” who seeks the head of any poor victim who crosses his path. Starr urges the audience to shut him out by closing all the windows and locking all the doors. This Halloween, make a concrete plan like Starr — after all, “you can’t reason with a headless man.”