List of the Best Halloween Music (From Silly to Scary)

The list

1. 01

   "I Want Candy" by Bow Wow Wow

   Upbeat kids' pick; ideal while little ones suit up for trick-or-treating.

2. 02

   "Thriller" by Michael Jackson

   Video may scare young kids, but song is a Halloween classic.

3. 03

   "Monster Mash" by Bobby "Boris" Pickett

   Often covered, but Pickett's version resonates most; fun sing-along.

4. 04

   Soundtrack for A Nightmare Before Christmas

   Familiar to most kids; sets mood for a children's gathering.

5. 05

   "Time Warp" from The Rocky Horror Picture Show

   Children love it, especially the Glee cast version.

6. 06

   "Ghostbusters" by Ray Parker Jr.

   Upbeat, any-age theme with a sing-along chorus.

7. 07

   "Witch Doctor" by Alvin and the Chipmunks

   Chipmunks version most delights children.

8. 08

   The Addams Family Theme Song

   A safe bet for a children's Halloween party.

9. 09

   "Purple People Eater" by Sheb Wooley

   Goofy kids' staple; practically irresistible as a sing-along.

10. 10

    "Born of the Night" by Midnight Syndicate

    Haunting instrumental; band also known for atmospheric goth music. "Army of the Dead" and "Darkness Descends" are also good picks.

11. 11

    "Sympathy for the Devil" by The Rolling Stones

    Classic bad-boy tune; lends dark touch to any gathering.

12. 12

    "Werewolves of London" by Warren Zevon

    Not truly creepy, but werewolf theme fits the occasion.

13. 13

    "Number of the Beast" by Iron Maiden

    Popular Iron Maiden song that will rock the house.

14. 14

    "House of 1000 Corpses" by Rob Zombie

    Growling refrain and relentless beat; creepy party signal.

15. 15

    "This Corrosion" by Sisters of Mercy

    Extended gothic track, nearly eleven minutes, with a spooky choir.

16. 16

    "Sign of the Southern Cross" by Black Sabbath

    Called a masterpiece of the macabre from the heavy metal greats.

17. 17

    Hotel Transylvania soundtracks

    All films' soundtracks terrifically spooky; includes Fifth Harmony's "I'm in Love With a Monster."

18. 18

    The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack

    Next best thing to the cult film; cartoonish characters, creepy and fun.

19. 19

    Halloween soundtrack

    Written by John Carpenter; essential horror background music.

20. 20

    Christine theme

    John Carpenter instrumental; fits Stephen King's novel about an evil car.

21. 21

    Eraserhead soundtrack

    David Lynch's funky electronic sounds; a good conversation piece.

22. 22

    "Tubular Bells" by Mike Oldfield

    Used as the theme to The Exorcist, so guaranteed creepy.

23. 23

    Bram Stoker's Dracula soundtrack

    Composed by Wojciech Kilar; dark, moody orchestral strains throughout.

24. 24

    Exorcist II the Heretic theme

    Sinister symphonic theme written by Ennio Morricone.

25. 25

    Beetlejuice soundtrack

    Hilarious, ear-tingling soundtrack for Halloween fun.

26. 26

    "Toccata and Fugue in D Minor" by J.S. Bach

    Well-known Baroque organ work fused with spooky scenes in popular imagination.

27. 27

    "Requiem in D Minor" by W.A. Mozart

    Sends shivers; the Confutatis Maledictis section means "The Accursed Silence."

28. 28

    "Hungarian Dance No. 5" in G Minor by Johannes Brahms

    Evokes ghouls dancing by moonlight.

29. 29

    "Night on Bald Mountain" by Modest Mussorgsky

    Made famous by Disney's Fantasia; a quintessential Halloween favorite.

30. 30

    "Isle of the Dead" by Sergei Rachmaninoff

    Depicts Charon rowing across the river Styx.

31. 31

    "Robert Browning Overture" by Charles Ives

    Creepy minor-chord dissonance; lends an unsettled vibe.

32. 32

    "Danse Macabre" by Camille Saint-Saëns

    Name means "Dance With Death"; spine-tingling orchestral piece.

33. 33

    "Infernal Dance" from Firebird Suite by Igor Stravinsky

    Richly layered, haunting arrangement that raises goosebumps.

34. 34

    "I Put a Spell On You" by Screamin' Jay Hawkins

    Throaty, bluesy voice adds the right mood to an oldies gathering.

35. 35

    "Bo Meets the Monster" by Bo Diddley

    Gritty blues tune with a fittingly spooky theme.

36. 36

    "That Old Black Magic" by Glenn Miller and His Orchestra 1942

    Smooth, somehow spooky perennial; Sinatra rerecorded it in 1961.

37. 37

    "Ghost Riders in the Sky" by Vaughn Monroe

    Song about ghostly cowboys; Old West feel.

38. 38

    "Witchcraft" by Frank Sinatra

    One of the smoothest voices ever; perfect playlist addition.

39. 39

    "Devil Woman" by Marty Robbins

    Country tune that is folksy and freaky, yet fits.

40. 40

    "Love Potion #9" by The Searchers

    Originally by the Clovers; mixes spooky vibe with fifties bee-bop.

41. 41

    "Black Magic Woman" by Santana

    Cover of a Fleetwood Mac tune; Latin rhythms give an eerie feel.

42. 42

    "Don't Fear the Reaper" by Blue Oyster Cult

    Creepy lyrics married to a smooth, sultry beat.

43. 43

    "Walk on the Wild Side" by Lou Reed

    70s flashback that suits going out on the town.

44. 44

    "Hotel California" by the Eagles

    Must-play 70s classic rock tune for a Halloween playlist.

45. 45

    "Bat Out of Hell" by Meat Loaf

    Classic rock dance song; best choice for a gathering.

46. 46

    "Haunted" by Beyoncé

    Deserves a place on any Halloween playlist.

47. 47

    "Rock Lobster" by The B-52's

    Strange yet danceable; Halloween is all about strange.

48. 48

    "Pet Sematary" by The Ramones

    Catchy tune that gets guests singing and dancing.

49. 49

    "Hell's Bells" by AC/DC

    Heavy metal pick; perfect at the stroke of midnight.

50. 50

    "Crazy Train" by Ozzy Osbourne

    Keeps people on their feet; a fitting Halloween theme.

51. 51

    "I'm Your Boogie Man" by KC and the Sunshine Band

    Introduces fun disco dancing to guests.

52. 52

    "She Wolf" by Shakira

    Spooky vocals and minor key with eerie dance rhythms.

53. 53

    "Dead Man's Party" by Oingo Boingo

    Creepy lyrics, danceable beat, and a freaky guitar riff.

54. 54

    "Every Day Is Halloween" by Ministry

    Gruff vocals with a haunting yet upbeat beat; dance until daybreak.