Friday the 13th: the Playlist Begins
It's Friday the 13th and that means it's time to start our multi-episode dive into a playlist of 40 spooky tunes for the Halloween season. In this episode, we explore the first 13 creepy, haunting, and superstitious songs ranging from early blues to 70s and 80s rock and roll. We pair the playlist with a bourbon called Crossroads from Blue Note Bourbon out of Memphis, Tennessee. Grab your favorite spirit, whether that be whiskey or some kind of supernatural being, and join us on this musical journey through superstition, death, and the macabre.
The Playlist:
"Cross Road Blues" by Robert Johnson - The original Delta blues tune that inspired the crossroads legend where Johnson supposedly sold his soul to the devil. It’s been covered by many rock artists - most notably, Cream.
"Dead Flowers" by The Rolling Stones - A murderous ode featuring creepy lyrics like "You can send me dead flowers every morning."
"Spooky" by The Atlanta Rhythm Section - A 1972 rock tune about being haunted by a "spooky little girl." If you take it literally, that is!
"Scary Monsters (and Super Creeps)" by David Bowie - The title track from Bowie's 1980 album, featuring the guitarwork of King Crimson's Robert Fripp.
"Psycho Killer" by Talking Heads - Is it really that creepy? Maybe not, but David Byrne popping out on a dark street would be unsettling.
"He's Back (The Man Behind the Mask)" by Alice Cooper - All about the movie villain Jason Voorhees from Friday the 13th. It also appeared in the soundtrack to Friday the 13th Part VI.
"Steven" by Alice Cooper - A song about the criminally insane character Steven from Cooper's concept album Welcome to My Nightmare.
"Killer on the Loose" by Thin Lizzy - A tune about the infamous serial killer Jack the Ripper.
"Death Walks Behind You" by Atomic Rooster - A 1970 prog rock dirge with the refrain "Death walks behind you."
"Superstition" by Stevie Wonder - The 1972 funk hit is chock full of superstitious imagery.
"Nosferatu" by Blue Oyster Cult - About the creepy 1922 German silent vampire film starring the spooky character actor (that people thought was a real vampire!) Max Schreck.
"Devil Delight" by Heart - Bluesy song from 1977's Magazine featuringg vocals from Ann Wilson and multiple "devil" and demon references. Ann Wilson’s voice will haunt your soul - in a good way.
"Children of the Grave" by Black Sabbath - The closing track from 1971's Master of Reality with its signature doom-laden riff and evocative anti-war lyrics.
Listen to the playlist:
The Whiskey:
This episode's pairing is “Crossroads” from Blue Note Bourbon out of Memphis. It's a 100 proof bourbon finished with toasted French oak staves which gives it a fragrant nose and flavors like banana bread, apple, and caramel. The staves combined with the rye content provide nice spicy notes as well. This whiskey won’t scare you too much though. It tastes really nice and it’s an easy drinker for a 100 proof bottle. Because of the themes and songs chosen for today’s show, it felt like just the right choice.