Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Ron Davies
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:59 PM

Gee, John H, first some rather intemperate remarks on the evils of blogging and now you don't like "Monster Mash"? How are you at "Bah, humbug"?

Mudcat already has one resident curmudgeon--Bill D. But he has a great sense of humor.


Why don't you tell us what you do like? (maybe in another thread)


Admittedly, I'm not an unbiased observer--I love "Monster Mash". Might be partly because I get called on to recite it every October--in the office yet.

One of the things I like best about MM is its timelessness--every Halloween--forever-- (ready for that, John?)    And at the same time it's very time-specific--deriving from the Mashed Potato dance craze of 1962.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Cool Beans
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 11:15 AM

Just yesterday Sir Graves Ghastly died. He was a TV horror movie host in Detroit in the 60s. Who's next?

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: M.Ted
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 10:42 AM

It seems so long ago that the record first came out--hard to believe that he was only 69--

As an eleven year old who loved old monster movies, I was ecstatic when I first heard this song, in the late summer of 1962. A lot of people felt then as John Hardly does now, that it was juvenile and tedious--nobody thought that, nearly fifty years later, kids would still love it--

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: SINSULL
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:25 AM

RIP

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: beardedbruce
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:04 AM

Monster Mash

words and music by Bobby Pickett and Lenny Capizzi

I was working in the lab late one night
When my eyes beheld an eerie sight
For my monster from his slab began to rise
And suddenly to my surprise

He did the mash
He did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
He did the mash
It caught on in a flash
He did the mash
He did the monster mash

From my laboratory in the castle east
To the master bedroom where the vampires feast
The ghouls all came from their humble abodes
To get a jolt from my electrodes

They did the mash
They did the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They did the mash
It caught on in a flash
They did the mash
They did the monster mash

The zombies were having fun
The party had just begun
The guests included Wolf Man
Dracula and his son

The scene was rockin', all were digging the sounds
Igor on chains, backed by his baying hounds
The coffin-bangers were about to arrive
With their vocal group, "The Crypt-Kicker Five"

They played the mash
They played the monster mash
The monster mash
It was a graveyard smash
They played the mash
It caught on in a flash
They played the mash
They played the monster mash

Out from his coffin, Drac's voice did ring
Seems he was troubled by just one thing
He opened the lid and shook his fist
And said, "Whatever happened to my Transylvania twist?"

It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash
The monster mash
And it's a graveyard smash
It's now the mash
It's caught on in a flash
It's now the mash
It's now the monster mash

Now everything's cool, Drac's a part of the band
And my monster mash is the hit of the land
For you, the living, this mash was meant too
When you get to my door, tell them Boris sent you

Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash
The monster mash
And do my graveyard smash
Then you can mash
You'll catch on in a flash
Then you can mash
Then you can monster mash

KEY C

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: John Hardly
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 09:00 AM

Could they PLEASE bury that damn recording with him? Please?

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:56 AM

It charted about 3 times I think

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:34 AM

Alright, so it charted in the 1960's .. I'm too young to remember all but the last time, May 1973.

LTS

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:31 AM

John Zacherle FB

Subject: Obit: Bobby Pickett
From: beardedbruce
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:26 AM

'Monster Mash' singer dead at 69
POSTED: 9:34 p.m. EDT, April 26, 2007

Story Highlights• Bobby "Boris" Pickett, singer of "Monster Mash," dead
• Song hit No. 1 in 1962, hit charts two other times
• Pickett retained sense of humor about song

NEW YORK (AP) -- He does the "Monster Mash" no more.

Bobby "Boris" Pickett, whose dead-on Boris Karloff impression propelled the Halloween anthem to the top of the charts in 1962, making him one of pop music's most enduring one-hit wonders, has died of leukemia. He was 69.

Pickett, dubbed "The Guy Lombardo of Halloween," died Wednesday night at the West Los Angeles Veterans Hospital, said his longtime manager, Stuart Hersh. His daughter, Nancy, and his sister, Lynda, were at Pickett's bedside.

"Monster Mash" hit the Billboard chart three times: when it debuted in 1962, reaching No. 1 the week before Halloween; again in August 1970, and for a third time in May 1973. The resurrections were appropriate for a song where Pickett gravely intoned the forever-stuck-in-your-head chorus: "He did the monster mash. ... It was a graveyard smash."

The novelty hit's fans included Bob Dylan, who played the single on his XM Satellite Radio program last October. "Our next artist is considered a one-hit wonder, but his one hit comes back year after year," Dylan noted.

The hit single ensured Pickett's place in the pantheon of pop music obscurities, said syndicated radio host Dr. Demento, whose long-running program celebrates offbeat tunes.

"It's certainly the biggest Halloween song of all time," said Demento. The DJ, who interviewed Pickett last year, said he maintained a sense of humor about his singular success: "As he loved to say at oldies shows, 'And now I'm going to do a medley of my hit.' "

Pickett's impression of Karloff (who despite his name was an Englishman, born William Henry Pratt) was forged in Somerville, Massachusetts, where the boy watched horror films in a theater managed by his father.

Pickett used the impersonation in a nightclub act and when performing with his band the Cordials. A bandmate convinced Pickett they needed to do a song to showcase the Karloff voice, and "Monster Mash" was born -- "written in about a half-hour," said Dr. Demento.

The recording, done in a couple of hours, featured a then-unknown piano player named Leon Russell and a backing band christened The Crypt-Kickers. It was rejected by four major labels before Gary Paxton, lead singer on the Hollywood Argyles' novelty hit "Alley Oop," released "Monster Mash" on his own label.

The instant smash became a sort-of Christmas carol for the pumpkin and ghoul set. In a 1996 interview with People magazine, Pickett said he never grew tired of it: "When I hear it, I hear a cash register ringing."

While Pickett never re-created its success, his "Monster's Holiday," a Christmas follow-up, reached No. 30 in December 1962. And "Graduation Day" hit No. 80 in June 1963.

He continued performing through his final gig in November. He remained in demand for Halloween performances, including a memorable 1973 show where his bus broke down outside Frankenstein, Missouri.

Beside his daughter and sister, Pickett is survived by two grandchildren.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: fat B****rd
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:06 AM

RIP Bobby. A horror film/story friend of mine had "Monster Mash" in the 60s also "Dinner With Drac" by John somebody or other.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:05 AM

He finally joined the cryptkicker five?

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:03 AM

Oh, and it was more like 1972-3 when he had the hit as Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Cryptkickers.

I'll be working late in the lab tonight...

LTS

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Liz the Squeak
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 07:02 AM

I have the LP somewhere in the house... it's brilliant!

Sad to hear this news though.

LTS

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Scooby Doo
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 04:52 AM

I can just remember that song.


Scooby

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: Rasener
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 04:32 AM

Bobby Picket RIP

Great fun song that.

Subject: RE: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: BusyBee Paul
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 03:57 AM

It caught on in a flash...

Subject: Obit: Bobby Pickett April 2007
From: JennieG
Date: 27 Apr 07 - 03:42 AM

He's now a graveyard smash - Bobby Pickett has died aged 69 after a long battle with leukaemia. "Monster Mash" was a hit in the early 60s or thereabouts, I remember it well!

It's now the monster mash.....

Cheers
JennieG