It’s no secret I love a good Halloween playlist. So far this season, we’ve talked about the qualities that make the perfect playlist for your Halloween party and the top five staple songs you must include. (Catch up if you’ve missed any of the posts!)
You’ve got a great start to your playlist, but I know you want a few outta-left-field tunes. Spooky Little Halloween to the rescue! I’ve spent the past six years scouring the Internet to hunt down the best of the best when it comes to Halloween tunes. I’ve been through every major music publication’s “top 10” list, worked my way through hours of music on Spotify to find songs and even traded picks with friends via Twitter that all meet my criteria for the perfect Halloween song.
Here are my favorite off-beat songs you might not have heard before – or considered – for your Halloween playlist:
“She Put a Hex on You” by Them
I’m obsessed with how this song begins. Bah bah duh duh, bah bah duh duh…gets stuck in my head. The guitar is just fantastic. And the lyrics are all about how you’ll fall under this girl’s spell – easily doubles as a love song or something a bit more sinister. It’s one of my favorite finds from my Spotify searches.
“Season of the Witch” by Donovan
Fun fact: this is the same guy that sings “Mellow Yellow.” Yes, really. And actually, I find this on about half the Halloween playlists I stumble across in my searches, but it is by far my absolute favorite song I didn’t know before I created my first Halloween playlist. Groovy little bass line, and again – I love how this one starts with the plucks and clicks of the guitar. Nice little mid-tempo tune for the evening. There are some other covers out there, but Donovan’s version remains my favorite.
“Be True to Your Ghoul” by The Ghouls
My playlist is littered with kitschy 60s pop songs like this – I can’t help it, they charm me. And while this song might be a straight rip-off of a Beach Boys song…it kind of adds to its charm for me. Other faves by The Ghouls include “Dracula’s Deuce” and “Graveyard Shift.” If you enjoy these kinds of songs too, I highly recommend checking them out.
“Every Day is Halloween” by The Postmarks (Ministry cover)
Why can’t I just go trick-or-treat? I ran across a free download of this cover a few years ago while I was looking for songs…and it has quickly become one of my favorites. Quietly creepy and the lyrics are perfection. I have the original on my master playlist as well…but I just adore this version.
“The Hearse Song” by Harley Poe
For years my mom sang this little tune about “the worms crawl in, the worms crawl out, the worms play pinochle on your snout” and I always thought it was kind of gross…but I figured it was some silly saying her mother had passed on. (When my brother and I were young and we’d ask what was for dinner while visiting, Grandma S. always answered, “ham, ram, sheep, buffalo and Oklahoma jackrabbit!”) Nope! Turns out it’s a song – and an incredibly disgusting one at that. But I’m excited to have added it to the playlist, even if it breaks my tempo rule. It’s too disgustingly perfect not to share!

Bonus track: “Thriller/Heads Will Roll” by Glee Cast
I couldn’t help adding this bonus track…and a total guilty pleasure at that. I absolutely adore this mash-up. At Halloween Roast 2011, we played this one to DEATH and had a massive dance party in the living room.
![]()
What are your fave offbeat Halloween songs?
Share ’em in the comments, or come find me on Twitter or Facebook and let me know. They just might end up on the master playlist which I’ll be revealing later this month!
Dancing ’til I’m dead,

A version of this post originally appeared on my music blog, thegoodgroupie.com.


Lola
I’m a huge fan of Season of the Witch. Did you hear the cover Donovan did with Karen Elson? That version is really cool. A favorite Halloween song of mine is Sticks and Stones by The Pierces.
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
I haven’t heard that version – looking it up now! :)
Valkyire Ziege
; Here are a few more. ;
Julie Driscoll, and Brian Auger
Season of the Witch
https://youtu.be/LGp4rTEw7z4
Roky Erickson
Two-headed-dog
https://youtu.be/F7aLXehSXAo
Puttin’ on the Ritz
Young Frankenstein
https://youtu.be/ab7NyKw0VYQ
Miranda | Spooky Little Halloween
Thanks for sharing!