Most people would say Halloween music starts with “The Monster Mash”. However, years prior we had The Witch Doctor, Purple People Eater, and a host of other spooky songs. Jackie Morningstar knew a hot fad when he saw one, so went on to create his own mega-smash. Did it work???
No.
This song is… well, it’s okay. I could deal without the intro where he pretty much states his intention, which is to glom onto the success of Sheb Wooley and Dave Seville to create his own smash.
There’s also that irritating laugh… I guess it’s spooky in that it doesn’t sound like any human being would laugh. It’s also lame. The lyrics of the song are pretty on-point though. He goes to a cemetery, a ghost hits him in the head with a rock, and says “I want you!” And… well, that’s it.
Jackie didn’t set the charts alight with this tune. It’s actually the b-side to a song called “No Date“, which is pretty awful and, quite frankly, off-key. He’s trying for that Elvis Ricky Nelson thing, but it just ain’t happening.
Jackie Morningstar didn’t really do much after this. He recorded a country single and album here and there, but slid into obscurity in the 70s, then lived his life out, dying in 2006.
The irony is that his single flopped in 1959, but is now a staple on every Halloween collection released. So I guess he got his wish of sellin’ a million copies. I’m sure his ghost is happy.
