Tag: Spooky Season Spin

October 24, 2025

The Crypt Keeper – The Crypt Jam (US 12″ Promo) (1992)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

🧛‍♂️ “Let’s all go to the crypt where the cool ghouls hang!”

In 1992, the wisecracking host of HBO’s Tales from the Crypt decided to take his gruesome groove to the dance floor with “The Crypt Jam.” Voiced by John Kassir in character as the delightfully demented Crypt Keeper, the single was released on Big Screen Records and both written and produced by Chuckii Booker, the multi-talented R&B artist best known for his hits “Turned Away” and “Games.”

Booker’s production gives “The Crypt Jam” a slick early-’90s new jack swing feel—thick, punchy beats, funky synth bass, and layers of spooky samples. What could have been a mere novelty track is instead surprisingly danceable and well-crafted, thanks to Booker’s polished touch.

The Crypt Keeper’s signature cackles, graveyard puns, and horror humor are all here in full force—making it a fun, campy club track that bridges the gap between horror fandom and early ’90s dance culture.

The music video, featuring the Crypt Keeper rapping, dancing, and surrounded by creepy party guests, aired on MTV and was included on various Tales from the Crypt home video releases. It’s gloriously over-the-top: part Halloween special, part hip-hop parody, and pure early-’90s entertainment.

Though “The Crypt Jam” didn’t chart, it found an afterlife as a Halloween cult favorite. Fans of Booker’s production can easily hear his rhythmic fingerprints throughout, turning the Crypt Keeper’s macabre humor into something that could have haunted any club floor in 1992.

💀 Fun Fact:
Chuckii Booker’s involvement makes this one of the rare novelty singles tied to a TV character that actually carries legitimate R&B and dance credentials. Booker handled everything from songwriting to production, giving the track a professional polish that sets it apart from most TV tie-ins of the era.

🕸️ For this post, I created custom sleeve artwork to give this undead dance floor classic the proper cover it never had. Inspired by vintage Tales from the Crypt comic art and early-’90s horror design, it captures the ghoulish fun and funky energy of The Crypt Jam.

Even after three decades, this spooky groove proves that when it comes to beats from beyond the grave, nobody does it deader than the Crypt Keeper.

SIDE A:
The Crypt Jam (Radio Edit) 4:00
The Crypt Jam (Album Version) 4:31
Scales From The Crypt (Club Mix) 7:08

SIDE B:
The Crypt Jam (TV Mix) 4:30
The Crypt Jam (A Cappella Crypt Keeper Mix) 3:46
The Crypt Jam (Fat Instrumental Mix) 3:46

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Big Screen Records – PRO-A-5577
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Promo, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1992
Genre: Hip Hop
Style: RnB/Swing, Pop Rap, Horror Rock

CREDITS:

Lacquer Cut By – M.M*
Mixed By – Rob Chiarelli
Producer, Written-By – Chuckii Booker

NOTES:
Custom artwork: DjPaulT

PROMOTION ONLY.
NOT FOR SALE.

Performed By The Crypt Keeper (John Kassir)
LP Version from the Big Screen Records album
ORIGINAL MUSIC FROM TALES FROM THE CRYPT

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon Concorde Music Black
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 25 (Recording)
Down Sampling/Dither: iZotope RX Advanced 2
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

October 14, 2025

Bobby “Boris” Pickett Featuring Bobby Paine – Monster Rap (US 12″) (1984)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

In 1984, the man behind one of the most famous novelty records of all time — Bobby “Boris” Pickett, of “Monster Mash” fame — decided to bring his graveyard smash into the MTV era. Teaming up with songwriter and producer Bobby Paine, Pickett returned with “Monster Rap,” a ghoulishly fun update that fused his original horror humor with the then-new sound of hip-hop.

Released on Easy Street Records, “Monster Rap” finds Pickett reprising his mad scientist narrator, once again trying to teach his monster a few new tricks — this time, how to rap. Instead of the classic surf-rock beat, the track features a funky electro rhythm, complete with drum machines, synth bass, and a vocoder. It’s an oddball mix of Vincent Price meets Sugarhill Gang, and it totally works in that campy, early-’80s way.

Lyrically, the song keeps the tongue-in-cheek charm of the original, with Pickett delivering lines in his signature “Boris Karloff” voice, while the monster grunts and stumbles through his attempts at rhyming. Bobby Paine adds a contemporary touch to the production, layering in those unmistakable 808s and synth flourishes that make it sound right at home among other novelty rap records of the mid-’80s.

Though it didn’t achieve the same massive success as “Monster Mash”, “Monster Rap” became a cult favorite and remains a seasonal curiosity among collectors and Halloween DJs. Over the years, it’s been rediscovered by fans of early hip-hop, horror kitsch, and everything delightfully weird about the 1980s.

Nearly two decades after his graveyard hit first topped the charts, Bobby “Boris” Pickett proved he could still raise the dead — this time on the dance floor.

SIDE A:
Monster Rap (Club Mix) 5:11
Mixed By [Special Mix] – Hammer Head, Nicky “Pork Dicky” King*

SIDE B:
Monster Rap (Dub Instrumental) 5:35

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Easy Street Records – EZS-7513
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic, Hip Hop
Style: Electro, Pop Rap, Novelty, Horror Rock

CREDITS:

Co-producer – Bobby Paine, Roger Keay
Engineer – Roger Keay
Executive-Producer – Michael Gusick*
Featuring – Bobby Paine
Mastered By – Herb Powers*
Producer – Richie Vetter
Written-By – B. Paine*, B. Pickett*, F. Heller*

NOTES:
Special 12 Inch Horror Mix
Recorded & mixed at Blank Tapes, Inc.

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

October 7, 2025

3 Speed / Maria Vidal – Once Bitten / Just One Kiss (US 7″) (1985)

Burning The Ground Exclusive

NEW 2025 Transfer
NEW Meticulous Audio Restoration

I originally posted this single back in October 2014, but for Spooky Season Spins 2025 I’m proud to share a brand-new, meticulously restored transfer — crisp, clean, and better than ever.

Spooky Season Spins Begins! 🎃💀🕸️

October is here, and that means it’s time to dust off the cobwebs, dim the lights, and turn up the volume — Spooky Season Spins officially begins today on Burning The Ground!

To kick things off, I’m featuring a rare and fascinating 7″ single pairing two tracks that perfectly capture that eerie ‘80s edge: 3 Speed – “Once Bitten” backed with Maria Vidal – “Just One Kiss.”

Released in 1985, this promo single was tied to the cult horror-comedy Once Bitten, starring a young Jim Carrey and Lauren Hutton. The A-side, “Once Bitten” by 3 Speed, brings that quintessential mid-80s movie soundtrack energy — upbeat, synthy, and a little bit dangerous. Flip it over, and Maria Vidal (best known for her hit “Body Rock”) delivers “Just One Kiss,” a sultry, atmospheric cut that’s dripping with vampiric allure.

3 Speed, a synth-rock band formed in Boston, enjoyed considerable success following the release of the Once Bitten soundtrack. At one point, they were even opening for Pat Benatar. Despite this momentum, MCA Records never petitioned the band to record a full-length LP, commissioning them instead to write songs for other soundtracks — including Rad and Savage Streets.

Both tracks on this single — “Once Bitten” and “Just One Kiss” — were written by legendary songwriting duo Billy Steinberg and Tom Kelly, who went on to craft some of the biggest hits of the 1980s and 1990s, including “Like A Virgin,” “True Colors,” “So Emotional,” and “Eternal Flame.”

“Just One Kiss” had actually been recorded earlier, in 1982, by Rick Springfield for his album Success Hasn’t Spoiled Me Yet — making the Once Bitten versions a fascinating bridge between early ‘80s pop-rock and mid-decade soundtrack synth-pop.

This record is one of those under-the-radar soundtrack gems that never got a wide release, making it a real treat for collectors and spooky-season DJs alike.

So cue the fog machine, light a few candles, and let’s sink our teeth into this one — the first Spooky Season Spin of 2025.

🩸 Stay tuned all month long for more hauntingly good 12″ and 7″ treats from the darker corners of the 1980s dancefloor.

SIDE A:
Once Bitten 3:39
Performed By – 3-Speed*

SIDE B:
Just One Kiss 4:00
Performed By – Maria Vidal

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Curb Records – MCA-52717, MCA Records – MCA-52717
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1985
Genre: Electronic, Rock
Style: New Wave, Pop Rock

CREDITS:

Engineer – Brian Reeves
Producer – Richie Zito
Written-By – B. Steinberg*, T. Kelly*

NOTES:
From the MCA/CURB LP, MCA-6154, “Music From The Motion Picture Soundtrack “Once Bitten.”

Buy the 7″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
for BURNING THE GROUND

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.

October 31, 2024

Whodini – The Haunted House Of Rock (US 12″)

Burning The Ground Exclusive 1983

Halloween is finally here! and it’s time for one last Spooky Season Spin one such standout song is Whodini’s 1983 hit, “The Haunted House of Rock.” Released as a Halloween single, this song not only showcases Whodini’s lyrical style and creativity but also helps bridge the gap between hip-hop and seasonal novelty music.

Formed in Brooklyn in the early 80s, Whodini was one of the pioneering groups in hip-hop, blending R&B, funk, and early hip-hop styles. The trio, originally consisting of Jalil Hutchins, Ecstasy (John Fletcher), and DJ Drew Carter (aka Grandmaster Dee), made a name for themselves with their catchy hooks and fresh beats, standing out in a rapidly growing hip-hop scene. With hits like “Friends,” “Freaks Come Out at Night,” and “Five Minutes of Funk,” Whodini quickly established themselves as a key player in 80s hip-hop. “The Haunted House of Rock” was one of their earliest hits and brought something unexpected—a hip-hop track made specifically for Halloween.

Released in 1983, “The Haunted House of Rock”* was produced by Larry Smith, who also worked with Run-D.M.C. and helped shape the sound of early hip-hop. The song opens with a haunting synth line that immediately sets the tone. Its eerie yet funky beat lays the groundwork for the perfect Halloween track, blending 80s electronic vibes with Whodini’s unique style of storytelling rap.

The lyrics take listeners on a tour of a fictional haunted house party, where classic monsters like Dracula, the Mummy, and the Invisible Man join forces with Whodini for a night of eerie revelry. Hutchins and Fletcher use the song to describe a spooky yet entertaining scene full of thrills and chills, making it as fun as it is fantastical.

The production on “The Haunted House of Rock” is quintessentially 80s, leaning heavily into synthesizers, drum machines, and that unmistakable hip-hop groove. The song uses creative sound effects and samples that add to its supernatural theme. From creaky door sounds to ghostly moans, the production choices enhance the atmosphere, transforming the song into a haunted audio experience that fits right in with Halloween playlists. Larry Smith’s work on this track is a testament to his ability to blend genres, and his influence can be felt in many of Whodini’s subsequent works.

Upon its release, “The Haunted House of Rock” garnered attention for its creativity and originality. At a time when hip-hop was still finding its identity, Whodini dared to bring a fun, seasonal twist to the genre. The song remains a unique piece of hip-hop history—a Halloween-themed rap that set the stage for future holiday hits. While it may not have reached the chart-topping heights of Whodini’s later songs, it remains a beloved part of their catalog and a go-to Halloween track for hip-hop enthusiasts.

The song was later included on Whodini’s debut album, “Whodini,” which featured other hits that would go on to define the group’s career. Despite being a novelty track, “The Haunted House of Rock” has endured over the decades as a Halloween staple, making it a perfect addition to any spooky-themed playlist.

In an era where Halloween music often leans heavily on horror movie soundtracks and pop hits, Whodini’s “The Haunted House of Rock” stands out as one of the rare early hip-hop songs specifically for the holiday. Its playful lyrics, spooky vibes, and retro sound capture Halloween’s essence while offering a classic hip-hop taste that still resonates with fans today.

Whether you’re a hip-hop head or just looking to add some 80s flavor to your Halloween festivities, “The Haunted House of Rock” is a must-listen.

All tracks are vinyl-only

SIDE A:
The Haunted House Of Rock (Extended Version) 6:35
The Haunted House Of Rock (Haunted Mix) 4:33

SIDE B:
The Haunted House Of Rock (Vocoder Version) 5:29
The Haunted House Of Rock (Acapella) 1:55

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Jive – JD1-9026, Arista – JD-1-9026
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 45 RPM
Country: US
Released: 1983
Genre: Hip Hop, Pop
Style: Electro, Boom Bap, Pop Rap

CREDITS:

Engineer, Mixed By – Nigel Green
Lacquer Cut By – Herbie Jr*
Producer – The Willesden Dodgers*
Written-By – J. Hutchins*, N. Green*, P. Harris*

NOTES:
From the LP “Whodini”

Buy the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL TRANSFER & AUDIO RESTORATION:
-DjPaulT
burningtheground.net

THE GEAR:
Turntable: Technics SL-1200MK7
Cartridge/Stylus: Ortofon 2M Black PnP MkII
Turntable Isolation Platform: ISO-Tone™ Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro Spin Acrylic Mat
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck
Phono Pre-amp: Pro-Jec Tube Box DS2
Tubes: Genalex Gold Lion 12AX7 ECC83/B759 Gold Pins Vacuum Tube – Matched Pair
DAC: Alpha Design Labs GT40a USB DAC
Record Cleaning: VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans: Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi

**24bit FLAC Only Available For Seven Days!

Password: burningtheground

You can help show your support for this blog by donating using PayPal. I appreciate your help.