1962: A Song Becomes a Graveyard Smash

Though released months earlier in August, Bobby “Boris” Pickett’s song “Monster Mash” went to the #1 top spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart on this day in 1962. Apparently, the origin of the song began when Pickett was singing his band the Cordials. They played their version of The Diamond’s song, “Little Darlin’” and Pickett sang it as if Boris Karloff was singing the tune. The crowd loved it and he was encouraged to do more with the imitation. So, he and Lenny Capizzi composed “Monster Mash” and recorded it with Gary S. Paxton, Leon Russell, Johnny MacRae, Rickie Page and Terry Berg who credited themselves as “The Crypt-Kickers.” The full-length album, The Original Monster Mash followed later that year featuring 15 other songs including “Blood Bank Blues”, “Monster Minuet” and “Transylvania Twist.” While a hit in the U.S., the BBC banned “Monster Mash” from airplay because they felt that the tune was “too morbid.” That same year, Pickett also recorded a follow song, “Monster’s Holiday” for Christmas. Pickett continued to release parody songs including “Star Drek” (1975), “King Kong (You Song)” (1976), “Monster Rap” during the ‘80s and “It’s Alive” (1993).