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Pickett and Capizzi composed "Monster Mash" and recorded it with [[Gary S. Paxton]], pianist [[Leon Russell]], Johnny MacRae, Rickie Page, and Terry Berg, credited as "The Crypt-Kickers". ([[Mel Taylor]], drummer for [[the Ventures]], is sometimes credited with playing on the record as well,<ref name="urlDrummerworld: Mel Taylor - The Ventures">{{cite web |url=http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Mel_Taylor.html |title=Drummerworld: Mel Taylor - The Ventures |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= |accessdate=2010-07-11}}</ref> while Russell, who arrived late for the session, appears on the single's B-side, "Monster Mash Party".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janalanhenderson.com/Articles/Bobby_Boris_Pickett.html |title=Bobby Boris Pickett |publisher=Janalanhenerson.com |accessdate=2013-11-07}}</ref>) The song was partially inspired by Paxton's earlier novelty hit "[[Alley Oop (song)|Alley Oop]]", as well as by the [[Mashed Potato (dance)|Mashed Potato]] dance craze of the era.<ref name="urlRead about the Song History behind “Monster Mash” | InTune">{{cite web |url=http://blog.musicnotes.com/2009/01/19/read-about-the-song-history-behind-monster-mash/ |title=Read about the Song History behind "Monster Mash" &#124; InTune |author=InTune |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= |accessdate=2010-07-11}}Monster Mash History</ref> A variation on the Mashed Potato was danced to "Monster Mash", in which the footwork was the same but [[Frankenstein's Monster|Frankenstein]]-style monster gestures were made with the arms and hands.
Pickett and Capizzi composed "Monster Mash" and recorded it with [[Gary S. Paxton]], pianist [[Leon Russell]], Johnny MacRae, Rickie Page, and Terry Berg, credited as "The Crypt-Kickers". ([[Mel Taylor]], drummer for [[the Ventures]], is sometimes credited with playing on the record as well,<ref name="urlDrummerworld: Mel Taylor - The Ventures">{{cite web |url=http://www.drummerworld.com/drummers/Mel_Taylor.html |title=Drummerworld: Mel Taylor - The Ventures |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= |accessdate=2010-07-11}}</ref> while Russell, who arrived late for the session, appears on the single's B-side, "Monster Mash Party".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.janalanhenderson.com/Articles/Bobby_Boris_Pickett.html |title=Bobby Boris Pickett |publisher=Janalanhenerson.com |accessdate=2013-11-07}}</ref>) The song was partially inspired by Paxton's earlier novelty hit "[[Alley Oop (song)|Alley Oop]]", as well as by the [[Mashed Potato (dance)|Mashed Potato]] dance craze of the era.<ref name="urlRead about the Song History behind “Monster Mash” | InTune">{{cite web |url=http://blog.musicnotes.com/2009/01/19/read-about-the-song-history-behind-monster-mash/ |title=Read about the Song History behind "Monster Mash" &#124; InTune |author=InTune |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= |accessdate=2010-07-11}}Monster Mash History</ref> A variation on the Mashed Potato was danced to "Monster Mash", in which the footwork was the same but [[Frankenstein's Monster|Frankenstein]]-style monster gestures were made with the arms and hands.


The producers came up with several low-budget but effective sound effects for the recording. For example, the sound of a coffin opening was imitated by a rusty nail being pulled out of a board. The sound of a cauldron bubbling was actually water being bubbled through a straw, and the chains rattling were simply chains being dropped on a tile floor. Pickett also impersonated [[horror film]] actor [[Bela Lugosi]] as [[Dracula]] with the lyric "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"<ref name="urlLearn more about Monster Mash -- Monster Mash song trivia and information -- All about Monster Mash">{{cite web |url=http://oldies.about.com/od/60srockers/a/monstermash.htm |title=Learn more about "Monster Mash" -- Monster Mash song trivia and information -- All about "Monster Mash" |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= |accessdate=2010-07-11}}Sound effects used on Monster Mash</ref>
The song is narrated by a [[mad scientist]] whose monster, late one evening, rises from a slab to perform a new dance. The dance becomes "the hit of the land" when the scientist throws a party for other monsters. The producers came up with several low-budget but effective sound effects for the recording. For example, the sound of a coffin opening was imitated by a rusty nail being pulled out of a board. The sound of a cauldron bubbling was actually water being bubbled through a straw, and the chains rattling were simply chains being dropped on a tile floor. Pickett also impersonated [[horror film]] actor [[Bela Lugosi]] as [[Dracula]] with the lyric "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"<ref name="urlLearn more about Monster Mash -- Monster Mash song trivia and information -- All about Monster Mash">{{cite web |url=http://oldies.about.com/od/60srockers/a/monstermash.htm |title=Learn more about "Monster Mash" -- Monster Mash song trivia and information -- All about "Monster Mash" |author= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date= |work= |publisher= |pages= |language= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= |accessdate=2010-07-11}}Sound effects used on Monster Mash</ref>

==Plot==

While working in his lab late into the evening, a scientist beholds an eerie sight. The scientist is both the narrator of the song and the story's protagonist. We know very little about the narrator, whether he is an accredited scientist or simply an enthusiast is never made clear. We also are not told what project the scientist is working on at the time of beholding the sight, but it is not unreasonable to suggest that it is similar to the 'monster' which he refers to as his own. This monster is revealed to be the eerie sight that the narrator is beholding, as it begins to rise from his 'slab'. The fact that the narrator is shocked by this, given that the act of rising from the slab was in all probability what the monster was designed to do by the narrator himself, is puzzling but never addressed. The narrator is further surprised when, having been animated into life, the monster does 'the mash'. The mash will become the central focus and recurring motif of the song, and while the steps to the dance are never described, it is not unreasonable to assume that it does not require any amount of dexterity given that it is performed initially by a walking corpse. If the narrator joins in with the monster 'mash' it is not made clear to the listener.

The timeline of what follows is never made explicit, but at some point after the initial 'mash', a number of ghouls come to the narrator's (previously unmentioned) castle in order to get a jolt from his electrodes. The electrified ghouls then do the 'mash'.

Following the performance of 'the mash' by the electrified ghouls, zombies, the Wolf Man, Dracula and the son of Dracula arrive. They also do the 'mash'. There appears to be no animosity between any of these creatures and the narrator, nor is there any inter-monster animosity, the tone of the event appears to be cordial and jubilant.

A band arrives after these characters have done the 'mash', raising the possibility that the monsters were hitherto dancing to nothing. The band is named 'The Coffin Bangers' and have a vocal group called 'The Crypt Kicker Five'. After or during this performance, Dracula (called 'Drac' by the narrator, suggesting a level of familiarity) speaks up from his coffin. This means that he has been doing the 'mash' from within a box the whole time. He speaks up and asks everyone what happened to the 'Transylvania Twist' (which is the title of another horror-themed song on the same album). The vocal chorus answers "It's now the 'Mash'" as the chorus repeats.

Possibly to placate him, Dracula is now part of the band. It's unclear whose decision this is, and if a member of the 'Crypt Kicker Five' was ejected from the band to make space for Dracula. Dracula's son is not part of the band.

The 'mash' has now by this stage become extremely popular and famous. How this happens is never made explicit, but it can be assumed it is a combination of both word of mouth and through a tour of the Crypt Kicker Five, now able to book larger venues because of the profile of Dracula, who is a very famous vampire. The narrator closes by addressing the listener directly, imploring them to come to his castle and do the 'mash'. He reveals his name to be Boris.


==Re-releases and other versions==
==Re-releases and other versions==

Revision as of 00:18, 2 April 2016

For other uses, see Monster Mash (disambiguation).
"Monster Mash"
Song
B-side"Monster Mash Party"

"Monster Mash" is a 1962 novelty song and the best-known song by Bobby "Boris" Pickett. The song was released as a single on Gary S. Paxton's Garpax Records label in August 1962 along with a full-length LP called The Original Monster Mash, which contained several other monster-themed tunes. The "Monster Mash" single was #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on October 20–27 of that year, just before Halloween. [citation needed] It has been a perennial holiday favorite ever since. It was on the top 50 in November 2014. [citation needed]

Background

Pickett was an aspiring actor who sang with a band called the Cordials at night while going to auditions during the day. One night, while performing with his band, Pickett did a monologue in imitation of horror movie actor Boris Karloff while performing the Diamonds' "Little Darlin'". The audience loved it, and fellow band member Lenny Capizzi encouraged Pickett to do more with the Karloff imitation.[2]

Pickett and Capizzi composed "Monster Mash" and recorded it with Gary S. Paxton, pianist Leon Russell, Johnny MacRae, Rickie Page, and Terry Berg, credited as "The Crypt-Kickers". (Mel Taylor, drummer for the Ventures, is sometimes credited with playing on the record as well,[3] while Russell, who arrived late for the session, appears on the single's B-side, "Monster Mash Party".[4]) The song was partially inspired by Paxton's earlier novelty hit "Alley Oop", as well as by the Mashed Potato dance craze of the era.[5] A variation on the Mashed Potato was danced to "Monster Mash", in which the footwork was the same but Frankenstein-style monster gestures were made with the arms and hands.

The song is narrated by a mad scientist whose monster, late one evening, rises from a slab to perform a new dance. The dance becomes "the hit of the land" when the scientist throws a party for other monsters. The producers came up with several low-budget but effective sound effects for the recording. For example, the sound of a coffin opening was imitated by a rusty nail being pulled out of a board. The sound of a cauldron bubbling was actually water being bubbled through a straw, and the chains rattling were simply chains being dropped on a tile floor. Pickett also impersonated horror film actor Bela Lugosi as Dracula with the lyric "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?"[6]

Re-releases and other versions

The song was re-released several times and appeared in the US Billboard charts on three occasions after the original release: December 1962, August 1970 and May 1973.[7] The BBC had banned the record from airplay in 1962 on the grounds that the song was "too morbid". It was re-released in the United Kingdom in 1973, where it peaked at #3 in early October. To celebrate this popular release, Bobby and the Crypt-Kickers toured Dallas and St. Louis around the 1973 Halloween holiday. On this tour, the Crypt-Kickers were composed of Brian Ray (now guitarist with Paul McCartney), drummer Brian Englund, keyboardist Don Chambers, singer Jean Ray, and others. The "Monster Mash" re-entered the British Charts again on November 2, 2008 at #60.

"Monsters' Holiday", a Christmas-themed follow up, was recorded by Pickett and released in December 1962, peaking at #30 on the Billboard chart. The tune was penned by the renowned novelty song composer Paul Harrison. In 1985, with American culture experiencing a growing awareness of rap music, Pickett released "Monster Rap", which describes the mad scientist's frustration at being unable to teach the dancing monster from "Monster Mash" how to talk. The problem is solved when he teaches the monster to rap. A movie musical based on the song starring Pickett was released in 1995. During the 2004 presidential election, Pickett turned the song into a campaign video and retitled it "Monster Slash," with lyrics by Jerry Altman, in which he critiqued President George W. Bush's environmental policies.

Cover versions

"Monster Mash" became a pop music standard, and many cover versions have been recorded over the years.

  • The 1996 album Test for Echo by the Canadian rock trio Rush includes an instrumental track, "Limbo", which contains several samples from "Monster Mash" including the line "Whatever happened to my Transylvania Twist?".
  • In 1997, the horror punk group The Misfits released a music video of them covering "Monster Mash" live. They also released a studio version as a single in 1999, and recorded a separate version for their 2003 album Project 1950.
  • Blair Packham wrote and performed "One Hit Wonder" in 2004, about the later years of Bobby Pickett's musical career and Pickett's relationship with his most-recognized song.

Misfits version

"Monster Mash"
Song

Horror punk band the Misfits recorded a cover version of "Monster Mash" in 1997 as part of a promotion surrounding a DVD release of the 1967 stop motion film Mad Monster Party. Their version was released as a single in 1999, and a new version was recorded for their 2003 album Project 1950.

Background

The Misfits recorded their version of "Monster Mash" in 1997 in a recording studio in Newark, New Jersey.[8] Bassist Jerry Only later stated that "The 'Monster Mash' was a no-brainer for the Misfits to cover as a timeless Halloween release. The song was always a childhood favorite of mine."[8] The recording was the first time that Only had performed lead vocals for the band, while then-Misfits lead singer Michale Graves provided backing vocals.[8] On October 18, 1997 a live performance of the song was recorded and broadcast from the studio of the New Jersey-based cable television music show "Power Play", the same studio in which the song was recorded.[8]

The Misfits' version of "Monster Mash" was used in a cross-promotion campaign arranged by Deluxo and John Cafiero, who had directed the Misfits' music videos for "American Psycho" and "Dig Up Her Bones", to create awareness of a home video release of the 1967 Rankin/Bass stop motion film Mad Monster Party. Deluxo had recently acquired the rights to the film in hopes of restoring it, but could not find a quality print. They eventually found a quality 16 mm print and the Misfits hosted a special screening of the film at Anthology Film Archives in New York City, with the "American Psycho" music video as an opening featurette.[8] Notable attendees at the screening included members of the Misfits, Cafiero, Marky Ramone, Jimmy Gestapo of Murphy's Law, and executives from both Geffen Records and Roadrunner Records.[9] Deluxo restored Mad Monster Party from the 16 mm print and re-released it on VHS in limited numbers. A music video for the Misfits' live recording of "Monster Mash" was created interspersing clips from the film with footage from their "Power Play" performance, and was intended to be included as a bonus feature on a forthcoming DVD release.[8][9] However, due to complications over distribution rights, the DVD was not released and the VHS version was discontinued.[8] A DVD version of the film was eventually released in 2003 by Anchor Bay Entertainment, restored from a different 35 mm print.

As part of the promotional campaign, an image of Boris Karloff as he appears in Mad Monster Party was used under license from his daughter Sarah Karloff in artwork for a 7" vinyl single of the Misfits' version of "Monster Mash".[8] Percepto Records used the same image of Karloff for the cover of the film's soundtrack album which was released in September 1998. The Misfits single was intended to be released the following month, but was delayed due to lack of time to properly mix the studio recording.[8] Instead the artwork was used in connection with a free MP3 download of the band's live recording of "Monster Mash", available through their website as a "virtual single".[8][9] The image was used again as cover artwork when the finished single was released physically in October 1999 as the first release of the band's new label Misfits Records.[8][9]

The Misfits' studio recording of "Monster Mash" was included on their 2001 compilation album Cuts from the Crypt. At the insistence of the band's label Roadrunner Records, the live recording was omitted from the album and only the studio version was used.[8] The Misfits recorded a new version of the song, featuring Cafiero on backing vocals, for their 2003 album Project 1950. By this time the band had a new lineup consisting of Jerry Only (bass guitar and lead vocals), Dez Cadena (guitar and backing vocals), and Marky Ramone (drums). Only called this version of the song "probably the best version we've ever done. I'm really happy with it. We've recorded it several times in the past and this is the hardest hitting version of them all."[10] Ramone commented: "'Monster Mash' always reminded me of Boris Karloff. Our version's a lot faster than the original, which was a slower 4/4 beat. I always liked the way the drums seemed to come in out of nowhere after Igor walked across the room."[10] Cadena, meanwhile, remarked that "If I didn't know any better ['Monster Mash'] could have been written for the Misfits."[10]

Pressing information

Two separate pressings of the Misfits single were released, both issued on 7" vinyl in 1999.[9] The first pressing had the studio version on both sides and consisted of 1,000 copies: 800 on green vinyl, 100 on red, and 100 on gold.[8][9] It was sold by the band while on tour and also by mail order through their "Fiend Club" fan club and official website.[9] 1,000 promotional CD copies of the studio version were also pressed and used for limited solicitation to radio stations.[8][9] A second pressing of the vinyl single had the studio version on side A and the live version on side B and consisted of 1,000 copies on glow-in-the-dark vinyl, available exclusively by mail order through the band's website.[8][9] The single sold out and is no longer in print.[8]

Personnel

References

  1. ^ "Google Nieuws". News.google.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  2. ^ "The origin of that terrible Monster Mash song - CSMonitor.com". Retrieved 2010-07-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)Pickett explains Monster Mash
  3. ^ "Drummerworld: Mel Taylor - The Ventures". Retrieved 2010-07-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)
  4. ^ "Bobby Boris Pickett". Janalanhenerson.com. Retrieved 2013-11-07.
  5. ^ InTune. "Read about the Song History behind "Monster Mash" | InTune". Retrieved 2010-07-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)Monster Mash History
  6. ^ "Learn more about "Monster Mash" -- Monster Mash song trivia and information -- All about "Monster Mash"". Retrieved 2010-07-11. {{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter: |coauthors= (help)Sound effects used on Monster Mash
  7. ^ B. Lee Cooper, Wayne S. Haney, Rock music in American popular culture II
  8. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p Cuts from the Crypt (CD liner notes). the Misfits. New York City: Roadrunner. 2001. 161 618 467-2. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |titlelink= ignored (|title-link= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i "Misfits discography". Misfits.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.
  10. ^ a b c Project 1950 (CD liner notes). the Misfits. New York City: Misfits Records. 2003. RCD 10643. {{cite AV media notes}}: Unknown parameter |titlelink= ignored (|title-link= suggested) (help)CS1 maint: others in cite AV media (notes) (link)
Preceded by Billboard Hot 100 number one single
October 20, 1962 (two weeks) 		Succeeded by
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