Album review: BOBBY ‘BORIS’ PICKETT – The Monster Mash

Decca [Release date 11.10.24]

Bobby Pickett, a comedian and singer/songwriter, recorded this track after fronting a band called the Cordials by night, while attending auditions by day. Part of his act would include a monologue imitating Boris Karloff (probably best known as the most famous Frankenstein’s Monster).

The imitation was so successful that this song ensued. With The Crypt Kickers (featuring a young Leon Russell), “The Original Monster Mash” LP appeared in 1962 and the single was a huge hit, topping the charts.

And here, in time for Halloween (although Christmas would also do), we get a reissue (15 rather than 16 tracks), on a nicely evil luminous slime-green vinyl.

The title track is a multi faceted spoof, first of dance trends of the time (The Mash Potato, The Twist), and with its Frankenstein and Dracula and monster references, Karloff and Bella Lugosi imitations, of the horror genre too.

It’s been very widely covered, including by The Misfits and Bad Manners. It’s been rerecorded, rereleased, in fact a 7” 45 on a similar green vinyl appeared about this time last year. And a classic the song will always be. For behind the parody is a catchy blend of period dance, bubblegum pop, and a rough brashness of rock’n’roll.

With tracks like Blood Bank Blues, Transylvania Twist, Irresistable Igor, you know what you’re going to get. Not to be taken too seriously, but definitely to be enjoyed. Want a retro Halloween party, this is a perfect start. Sounds good, looks good, well presented with the original notes on the rear. A mash of monstering indeed. ****

Review by Joe Geesin

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Power Plays w/c 11 November 2024

ARCANE MOON Hello Sun (indie)
S8NT ELEKTRIC XTC (Long Branch Records)
RIOGHAN Hands (Inverse Records)
ARCANA KINGS Here We Go (Curtain Call Records)
KLOGR face The Unknown (Zeta Factory)
BEYOND UNBROKEN Dance With The Dead (FiXT)
REVENGIN Decadent Feeling (Wormholedeath)

Featured Albums w/c 11 November 2024

09:00-12:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Rock)
12:00-13:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Melodic Hard Rock)
14:00-16:00 The Best of 2003-2023 (Singer Songwriter)