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The Sound of Fear

TRACK #305:

The Sound of Fear by Clue in the Crew

Let’s keep the Italian horror train rolling along with this little number, straight off of Blue Heart’s turntable, Clue in the Crew’s rocking Zombie-Bird Winnebago Attack/Sweet Song, The Sound of Fear.

The Lucio Fulci/Bruno Mattei/Claudio Fragasso mega-team up Zombie 3 delivers just about everything you’d expect outta that unholy and contentious alliance: Italian weirdness, synthy goodness, nonsensical plotting , machete-wielding, decapitated-head-flying zombie madness and generous amounts flagrant intellectual theft.

I mean, let’s start with that poster art alone. It’s straight up the Force: Five fist mixed with Freddy’s eyes from Dream Warriors and the lady’s face from the Absurd poster. If Stay The Night didn’t indicate the kind of shameless theft that’s rampant in Italian cinema, or just what kind is in store from Zombie 3, then this pilfery collage passed off as “promotional material” ought to give you an idea.

What was marketed as the second sequel to Romero’s Dawn of the Dead actually plays out more like Italy’s answer to Return of the Living Dead and I honestly don’t have 1 single problem with that.

You throw in radio DJ Blue Heart, straight rockin’ the Jose Canseco shades, pushing his ecological agenda alongside the hottest Phillipino tunes 1988 had to offer, and the Shindig is in Paradiso.

Here’s Clue in the Crew’s referentially inclusive, 80’ser-than-shit hit, The Sound of Fear.

‘Cause sometimes you just wanna piss on a bush.

 

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Stay The Night

TRACK #304:

Stay The Night by Vincenzo Tempera & Lucia Demasi

Attentive Shindiggers will not doubt recognize this album cover, as we’ve long used this image from Luigi Cozzi’s Paganini Horror as a banner here on Halloween Shindig cause c’mon, look at that thing!

However, we have never taken a moment to talk about that film or add any of the songs from its soundtrack. So this year, we’re gonna change all that.

What’s most interesting about that poster image is that it existed before the story for Paganini Horror was even written. It’s almost assuredly why those two actors and that awesome skeleton man never shows up in the picture.

Looking to piggyback on the imminent success of Paganini, a biopic about the legendary Violinist being helmed by actor Klaus Kinski, our producers thought “Hey! We slap the word “horror”on that shit and I think we got a winner.”

Well, they were wrong. On both accounts.

Not only was Kinski’s Paganini not a hit, but the horror iteration became a mish mash of chefs spoiling the pot. The resulting film found little success with audiences.

Horror historian Louis Paul even noted

“Nobody likes Paganini Horror, Cozzi included.”

Well, i kinda like Paganini Horror. I don’t love it, but it looks real nice, there’s a dude with a switchblade violin, Donald Pleasence gets real weird…and then there this song: there’s Stay The Night.

Now, when it comes to blatant, shameless and completely unapologetic rip-offs, I don’t know if you can pull a bigger offender than Stay The Night.

And I mean seriously. Gangster Rock may sound like China Groove, but it’s a different song. Stay The Night, the other hand, is 100% You Give Love a Bad Name.

I have to imagine that neither John Bon Jovi nor Richie Sambora have ever heard this song. That’s conceivable. Paganini Horror wasn’t busting blocks. But I have to assume that someone…anyone…who even knew them remotely, heard this song and was like “Yo, John…you gotta hear this fuckin’ thing.”

One might then assume a lawsuit of some sort would have arisen, but nothing seems to have come from it. So, I’ll just say they’ve never heard it. Or maybe they just shrugged it off like good sports, cause much like the film, I doubt this song was padding anyone’s bank account either.

The fact still remains, that unless you’ve never once heard You Give Love a Bad Name, Stay the Night is one of the most overt rip-off’s of all time.

But maybe that’s part of the joke, as their producer certainly leans into what unoriginal, rehashed bullshit the band is pumping out these days. Boy, I’ll say.

Since Switchblade Violin Man never makes good with an actual Title Track, here’s the best song Paganini Horror…a movie specifically about a band…making a video…for their new song…called Paganini Horror…which is also spray painted on the set…sigh…is cranking out.

 

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Rock Me Dracula

TRACK #294:

Rock Me Dracula by Mokka

Speaking of bizarre skin-flicks disguised as Disco Dracula films, let’s talk about Dracula Blows His Cool, a German sex comedy with a surprisingly interesting  soundtrack.

When smut photographer and “Dracula” descendant Stan decides just shooting nudie pictures in his old family castle isn’t quite enough to keep it from being repossessed, he does what any self respecting Bavarian in 1979 would do. He opens a disco!

What ensues is a bevy of silly sex gags, tons of mistaken identity hi-jinx and some funny English dubbing. While certainly not even approaching good, there’s less amusing ways you could spend an hour and 20 minutes, if you like this sort of 70’s sex trash. I mean, check this out:

It’s at least worth a viewing.

Additionally, the film is filled with tons of fun (read: appropriately ludicrous if you have a horror-themed music blog) songs.

Most notable of course, and submitted for your approval this evening, is the 1979 hit Rock Me Dracula, performed by Mokka.

Mokka is an iteration from the brief musical career of Italian twins Nadia and Antonella Cocconcelli. Nadia and Antonella even appear in the film performing the tune. Or at least they appear dancing around with garden hoses and lip syncing to it poorly, anyway. But hey, we’ll take it!

Though played several times throughout the film, it is not included on the official Gerhard Heinz soundtrack for Dracula Blows His Cool, which has several potential Shindig inclusions like Graf Dracula and Disco Strip. Both of those songs are pretty great and may find their way into the playlist in their own right.

For now though, we’ll only indulge in the perfectly appropriate and extra referential Rock Me Dracula, from Mokka.

 

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Body Talk

TRACK #289

Body Talk by Sandy Farina

The Toxic Avenger Theme by Scott Casey is pretty damn Toxie, there’s no doubt about that. But for my money, nothing says “The Toxic Avenger” like Sandy Farnia’s leg warmin, synth-bassin, aerobicidin Body Talk.

Setting the stage for perhaps Troma’s most Tromatic and beloved film of all time – Lloyd Kaufman’s 1984 mold-breaking indie slasher, The Toxic Avenger.

While it’s certainly not out of place among the films featured on The Shindig, can The Toxic Avenger truly be considered a horror movie?

Well, being that it was Lloyd’s attempt to capitalize on the slasher craze of the early 80’s and that it started its life as The Health Club Horror, I think we definitely can. Toxie stalking his tormentors alone – one by one for his own horrific revenge – is the stuff of 80’s horror. Factor in his monstrous appearance and it’s Jaws-like slow reveal, and I think we’re looking at some genuine horror people.

All the humor and goofiness aside, Lloyd did something truly interesting and different with The Toxic Avenger. He made the slasher the hero (and a superhero at that) and simultaneously flipped both genre’s on their heads. He gave audiences a legitimate reason to root for the killer: an avenger for the common man, a slasher with a cause, a superhero that wasn’t affair to get his hands dirty.

Made a shoe-string budget and defining “reel” independence, this film gave a fledgling studio it’s mascot and craved their name into the history of cinema.

There’s just no denying the impact of The Toxic Avenger: the first superhero from New Jersey.

Now, let’s get physical!

 

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The Toxic Avenger Theme

TRACK #288:

The Toxic Avenger Theme by Scott Casey

It had been a long time since I had sat down and watched Toxie’s back-to-back shot sequels, and I had completely forgotten about this tailor made tune sung by Scott Casey.

This one slightly jukes my (admittedly somewhat rigid) definition of a Title Track by being featured in the sequel and having the word “theme” tacked on the end, but I don’t think there’s any other word for this song.

It explicitly describes, in very detailed fashion, the events of the first film. And Scott enthusiastically chants the title over and over again, making for a textbook Title Track under any other circumstances.

So we’ll overlook the fact that it’s from Toxie’s second outing, and that it has the word theme slapped on there, and simply bask in the relentless 80’s power-synth-rock awesomeness of The Toxic Avenger Theme. Just listen to those falsettos! When Lloyd decided to give Toxie his own theme, he definitely didn’t skimp.

 

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Raiders of the Living Dead

TRACK #287:

Raiders of the Living Dead by George Edward Ott

As I stated in an episode of Shindig Radio that you readers have yet to hear, most people seem to refer to our next song as “The Dead Are After Me.”

And once that chorus hits the first time, there’ll be no doubt in your mind why.

However, it is my assertion that this song, composed and performed by George Edward Ott, is actually a Title Track, despite its chorus.

See, the film itself only ever credits this tune as “Title Song” and George Edward does say the phrase “Raiders of the Living Dead.”

Says the title?

Claims it’s a title song?

Good enough for me, internet be damned.

Now, if George Edward Ott himself reaches out to me and says…

No, ya moron. Listen to that chorus! Obviously the title of the song is “The Dead Are Are After Me.” What kind of idiot are you?

…then I’ll stand down. But until that day, I’m holding fast. This is a Title Track.

Either way, it’s a great little lo-fi piece of analog rock accompaniment that definitely belongs on this playlist, under any name.

As for the film, it’s a crack up. Featuring Flick from A Christmas Story as a industrious young inventor who accidentally turns his Grandfather’s laserdisc player into a death ray. Score.

There’s this Doctor on some prison island, and he’s turning dead convicts into Zombies, as ya do. That gets a little hairy and they’re running amuck. Then a reporter and a local librarian (yeah, it’s that kinda movie) get webbed up in this zombie business, but eventually they team up with Gramps and his recurve bow and Flick with his laser ray to save the day.

Top all that off with a Title Track like this, and you got yourself a kind of a winner.

I said the dea-ea-ea-ea-ed….are af-ter meeee!

 

Audio

Teenage Exorcist


TRACK #286:

Teenage Exorcist by Tim De Nardo

If you’re a Shindig Radio fan, you’re no doubt familiar with our next tune, which we clowned around on pretty heavily during Title Tracks Part 4 last season.

It’s Teenage Exorcist, the Title Track which says the name of the film incessantly, while never really talking about the film at all. Even the title doesn’t make any sense. There’s an exorcist, but he’s hardly a teenager, played by 66 year old Count Yorga thespian, Robert Quarry.

Additionally, I’m not sure anyone appearing in the film is even in their 20’s, much less a teenager. Brinke Steven, whom the exorcism is performed on, was 37 at the time. Pizza delivery “boy” Eddie Deezen was 34. So much for that, I suppose.

Though, to clarify our “uninformed” query from that episode, this box art here to your right seems to suggest that, yes, someone (at least someone in marketing anyway) did in fact consider Deezen to be the “teenage” exorcist. Ok then.

Whomever this song is about, it’s a fun tune which, as Mikey and Graham so easily illustrated, can perfectly accommodate any 5 syllable movie title.

So try it out with your favorite 5 syllable movie title while we rock a little closer to Halloween 2021!

Sleep-A-Way Camp 2….Un-Happ-y Camp-ers!

 

Audio

Once Bitten

TRACK #285:

Once Bitten by 3 Speed

Since we’re talking about 80’s Monster comedies, and that subject is near and dear to my heart, let’s keep that theme running with our next track.

Way back in 2013, when the Halloween Shindig blog was in it’s infancy, we dropped Maria Vidal’s Hands Off from the film Once Bitten. It’s a prominent feature in the film, which plays during the very memorable 3-way dance-off between Lauren Hutton, Kim Coppins and a young Jim Carrey.

Now, why it’s taken 8 years to get that same film’s Title Track in the rotation is anyone guess, particularly since it’s been in the bullpen since before The Shindig ever made its way to the internet. For shame.

This one comes from the relatively unknown synth-pop band out of Boston called 3 Speed. They were pretty much a local act until they’re manager randomly sent a demo tape off to MGM. So impressed, the studio immediately flew the band out to do some recording for a new film.

They enjoyed some moderate success after this tune too, opening for the likes of Pat Benatar, but they were never offered a full-on record deal. Mostly, they just appeared on film soundtracks. Their song Cry can be heard in the Linda Blair’s awesome crossbow ladened revenge actioner, Savage Streets. Packed among all the tunes in bizarro 80’s sci-fi musical Voyage of the Rock Aliens is their song Back on the Streets. And Wind Me Up is featured in 1986’s BMX freakout, Rad – a movie I love that I’ll probably have to crowbar into an Action Distractions episode at some point.

But for now, let’s keep this spooky with 3 Speed and their synth pop title tracks Once Bitten.

 

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You Bring Out the Werewolf In Me


TRACK #284:

You Bring Out the Werewolf In Me by Simon Stokes

So, yesterday I talked about how Child’s Play and My Mom’s a Werewolf both contain the same song by D.B. Night. Now that’s a rather obscure track to be featured on either soundtrack, to be sure. But both? That’s even more bizarre.

On the surface, Child’s Play and My Mom’s a Werewolf don’t have much else in common. Although only 6 months separate their releases, they’re both produced, written and directed by completely different people.

However, if you dig a bit deeper, a common name appears, and it’s music supervisor David Chackler.

And Chackler’s no slouch, as he’s responsible for uniting Lindsay Buckingham and Stevie Nicks with Fleetwood Mac, bringing Queen to the United States and recording 2 Live Crew

In the early 80’s David began working as a music supervisor in Hollywood. And if you take a browse through his storied filmography, a lot of Shindiggery start making a lot more sense.

First and foremost, he was the music supervisor for Quiet Cool in 1986. Then in 1987, he provided that same duty for Dream Warriors, which draws an immediately line from the replacement of Dokken’s Into The Fire with an instrumental version of Joe Lamont’s Quiet Cool in the opening credits of its home video release. Pretty nifty.

Is it any wonder then that David was also the music supervisor for Return of the Living Dead 2, a movie which features certified banger and Shindig hit Flesh to Flesh from the same Joe Lamont?

Now flashback to 1985 and you’ll see David was the music supervisor for Tom Holland’s original horror hit, Fright Night. That film features one of the greatest title tracks of all time by the J. Geils Band. But do you know who actually wrote that song? Why it was Joe Lamont.

Sidestepping Joe Lamont for a moment, consider that David Chackler was the also supervisor on 1986’s rap classic Knights of the City. That movie, if you’re not familiar, features an awesome jail cell performance from Kurtis Blow and The Fat Boys. Well, guess what? David Chackler was also the music supervisor for A Nightmare on Elm Street Part 4 and is directly responsible for The Fat Boys doing Are You Ready for Freddy. That alone makes this guy a Shindig legend already, you ask me.

And speaking of The Dream Master, guess who also shows up on that soundtrack? Yep, it’s Joe Lamont, writing and performing a song called Pride and Joy.

And, since it’s what we’re here talking about, is Joe Lamont featured in My Mom’s a Werewolf? You bet he is, singing (as it happens) a version of his very own Fright Night! What?! And it’s playing a during a Halloween party? Get right outta town. I need to hunt down this version of that tune, pronto. Though I must say, my initial surface search proved fruitless. When (and if) I find it though, you’ll definitely be the first to know. 

Considering all of this, it perhaps comes as less of a surprise that both Child’s Play and My Mom’s a Werewolf each feature the song I’m Hangin’ by 80’s heavy-hitters D.B. Night. David Chackler makes it happen.

And then, connecting these 2 films even further is our next Shindigger, You Bring Out the Werewolf in Me, written and performed by Simon Stokes, whom some of you may know as the guy behind The Chucky Song. Yep, same the track unceremoniously axed from…Child’s Play.

Filling the same role here, Simon’s light hearted track plays over the end credits in much the same way The Chucky Song should have. I guess the producers all felt it was more appropriate at the end of something like My Mom’s a Werewolf, and I can’t say I disagree.

Here’s Simon getting straight beastly with You Bring Out the Werewolf In Me!

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I’m Hangin’

TRACK #283:

I’m Hangin’ by D.B. Night

Ah, D.B. Night.

Was there a bigger band in the 80’s than D.B. Night?

Yeah. All of them. Who the hell is D.B. Night?

I dunno, ’cause I couldn’t find fuck-all about them on the internet, but they do appear on 2 separate horror related soundtracks!

And it’s the same the tune too – a little piece of power-pop called I’m Hangin’, which shows up not only in the original Child’s Play but also in My Mom’s a Werewolf.

Apparently D.B. Night only had 1 album to their credit, the eponymous 4 track EP which thankfully contains I’m Hangin’. Here’s that EP in all its glory, hangin’ (as it were) in the Halloween Hole. 

What I can tell you (other than that this EP cost next to nothing to have shipped to my door and is 100% responsible for the following information) is that D.B. Night is the brain child of guitarist/vocalist combo of Bobby Boyle and Debbie Darnell. B.B. and D.D.? I guess that gets ya the D.B. anyway. The Night? Well, why not, it was 1983.

Back that up with the competent Bass work of Jim Bates and the impeccable timing of Dave Slap on drums and you’ve got yourself and engine room. Why Dave Slap isn’t on bass is anyone’s guess, as that might seem more appropriate. But hey, you can slap the drums too, so it’s not as out of place as it might seem.

Now, if you’re a big Child’s Play fan, you might be saying to yourself,

“Look, fellas. I’ve seen that movie 7 ways from Sunday, and I’ve never once heard no I’m Hangin’ by no D.B. whoever the fuck.”

And you wouldn’t be wrong.

Child’s Play has a fairly rare and strange soundtrack, in that it’s filled with a bunch of songs that are barely in the movie. I’m Hangin’ can be heard, if ever so slightly (and ever so briefly) as Chris Sarandon is getting choked-out by Chucky in his car. It plays for about 2 beats right as Chris is burning Chucky with the cigarette lighter. Trust me. I trawled the movie looking for this song, and it’s there, but man, it might as well not be.

As such, I’m gonna file this one under My Mom’s a Werewolf, as this song can be very clearly heard (also in a car, no less) as Suzanne Stokely is driving around town. She even sings along with it, which is always a nice bonus for this kinda thing.

So kick back in bask in some obscure 80’s power-pop courtesy of D.B. Night,  Dave Slap and all.