Some of these songs aren’t “Halloween” songs per se, but they cover an eerie and cool eclectic mix of genres. There must be something on this list that will stir a party DJ’s juices and get his blood boiling to a high enough degree that he will want to search for more songs of a similar nature. (Find a link for kids' music at the bottom of the article. Many of the songs on my children's list are fab for all ages.)
Halloween Party Music
These songs are great but not quite lively enough to inspire dancing.
- Don’t Fear the Reaper by Blue Oyster Cult: This haunting song is, indeed, a cult classic. It is best when played really, really loud, but it also has a cool hypnotic undercurrent when played at a lower volume. I was obsessed with this song in the mid 70s. Needs more base. You might want to throw in Burning for You.
- Psycho Killer by the Talking Heads: This is just a great song and should be played at every party (even Christmas parties).
- Werewolves of London by Warren Zevon: Oh my God, there is just something so amazingly appealing about this talented guy. Did he leave the planet? Aaaahhhhoooo!
- I Walked With a Zombie by REM
- Pet Sematary by the Ramones
- Heroine by The Velvet Underground. Well, it's not about vampires, but he puts a spike into his vein. That's scary enough for me. Plus, I like the Velvet Underground.
- Sabbath Bloody Sabbath by Iron Maiden
- Emo Vampire Song.
- Freak on a Leash by Korn.
- Living Dead Girl by Rob Zombie.
- Running With the Devil by Van Halen.
Dance Songs for a Party
It’s usually best to signal the start of the “dance” portion of your gathering with something corny like The Monster Mash. That song always works magic and accomplishes the horrifying task of enticing reticent people onto the dance floor.