We all love a seasonal playlist, but what are the best songs for a Halloween jukebox? It’s a little trickier than some of the other holidays like Christmas and Valentine’s Day, but there are some really great options out there.
Here we’ve chosen five of the best songs for Halloween
playlists, plus five more bonus ideas for a really well-rounded pub jukebox
this October.
1. Michael Jackson – Thriller
The best-selling album in chart history, Thriller wasn’t
actually released around Halloween, but a month later on November 30th,
1982 with the video following on December 2nd, 1983 and the single on January
23rd, 1984. But it’s no surprise that it’s become the go-to track
for Halloween jukebox playlists, with its spooky themes and Vincent Price
spoken-word segment.
2. Bobby ‘Boris’ Pickett – Monster Mash
It’s hard to believe Monster Mash is almost 60 years old.
This one has always been a Halloween track – it was released in August 1962 and
reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in time for Halloween that year –
and it’s been putting a smile on revellers’ faces ever since. For a 2020 twist
on the classic, check out DJ Cummerbund’s ‘Monster WAP’ remix, which uses the
music from Monster Mash with the lyrics from Cardi B’s WAP.
3. Warren Zevon – Werewolves of London
Another classic track, Werewolves of London dates back to
1978 and has a chill but upbeat vibe to it. With dancefloors out of action for
this year, Zevon’s ‘awoo’ howls with the light piano accompaniment are a good
match for the mood of this Halloween holiday.
4. Beyonce – Haunted
This moody track from Beyonce’s self-titled 2013 album is a
bit of a slow burner, but it has a haunting melody that builds to a complex
layered final phase and it’s one of the more recent songs to really deserve a
place on your jukebox playlist for Halloween 2020.
5. The Specials – Ghost Town
The Specials’ two-tone number one hit from 1981 might be a
little on-the-nose for 2020, but it’s still a great tune with vocals and melody
that fit the season perfectly. Put it on the list and let your patrons decide
whether they want to pay to play it or not!
Honourable Mentions
To help you complete your jukebox playlist for Halloween,
here are five more honourable mentions to put in your top ten:
- Little Mix – Weird People (a 2015 Halloween
chart entry from the same album as Black Magic) - Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds – Red Right Hand
(also check out his duet with Kylie on Where the Wild Roses Grow) - Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters (1984, covered in
2016 by Fall Out Boy feat. Missy Elliott) - Rockwell – Somebody’s Watching Me (1984, remixed
in 2006 by Beatfreakz) - Various Artists – Time Warp (from 1975’s The
Rocky Horror Picture Show, covered in 1989 by Damian)
In need of a jukebox to turn up the SPOOK factor at your venue this Halloween? Call Manco Automatics on 0161 870 7777 and a member of our team will be happy to help.