Halloween Songs (Part Two)

There are lots of songs that relate to the Halloween holiday. In these posts I’ll write about some of my favorites. This will include low hanging fruit as well as some you may have not heard. No matter the situation I hope some of these songs will get you into the Halloween spirit (get it?). Do I even have a ghost of a chance listing some you like…..ok I’ll stop.

“Tarot Woman” is the opening track from Rainbow’s 1976 album Rising. Written by guitarist Ritchie Blackmore and vocalist Ronnie James Dio, the song features mystical and fantastical lyrics that reflect Dio’s signature storytelling style, with the woman in question appearing as a mystical fortune teller or sorceress.

The song begins with an iconic synth intro by keyboardist Tony Carey, building into a hard-hitting, fast-paced rock track with a prominent guitar riff. The theme of supernatural elements runs throughout the song, common in much of Rainbow’s work during the Dio era, giving it a dark, epic feel that has resonated with fans for decades .

The Theme from The Exorcist, also known as Tubular Bells, was composed by Mike Oldfield and originally released as part of his 1973 debut album Tubular Bells. The track gained immense popularity when it was used in the 1973 horror film The Exorcist, despite Oldfield not composing it specifically for the movie.

Its haunting, minimalist opening, featuring a repeating piano motif followed by layered instruments, became iconic in association with the film’s eerie atmosphere. The piece showcases Oldfield’s multi-instrumental prowess and innovative blending of progressive rock, classical, and folk elements. The success of both the film and the song catapulted Oldfield to international fame, with Tubular Bells becoming a landmark in progressive rock music.

“Cold Ethyl” is a track from Alice Cooper’s 1975 album Welcome to My Nightmare. Written by Cooper and guitarist Dick Wagner, the song combines Cooper’s signature shock rock style with macabre humor, exploring themes of necrophilia through dark, theatrical lyrics. “Cold Ethyl” refers to a corpse with whom the narrator has an unsettling obsession.

The song’s energetic, hard rock rhythm and catchy guitar riffs, along with Cooper’s theatrical delivery, make it both disturbing and captivating. The track fits well within the concept album’s overall theme of nightmares and the grotesque, blending horror elements with rock in a way that became a hallmark of Cooper’s persona.

“Frankenstein” is an instrumental rock track by The Edgar Winter Group, released in 1972 on their album They Only Come Out at Night. Written by Edgar Winter, the song became one of the most iconic instrumental hits of the 1970s. Its title reflects the “monster” nature of the track,

as it was stitched together from various musical pieces during its recording. “Frankenstein” features a blend of heavy rock, jazz fusion, and experimental electronic music, with Winter showcasing his multi-instrumental skills on the synthesizer and saxophone. The song’s standout feature is its innovative use of the synthesizer,

“Season of the Witch” is a song by Scottish singer-songwriter Donovan, released in 1966 on his album Sunshine Superman. The track is considered one of the first psychedelic rock songs, blending folk, rock, and eerie, mystical themes. Written by Donovan and featuring haunting guitar riffs by session musician Jimmy Page,

the song explores a sense of paranoia and change, reflecting the cultural upheaval of the 1960s. Its slow, hypnotic rhythm and cryptic lyrics have made it an enduring classic, influencing later artists in both rock and alternative music. “Season of the Witch” has been widely covered and featured in numerous films and TV shows, further cementing its place in pop culture.