Monster Mash

Bobby Pickett recorded the track as a novelty act under the name Bobby 'Boris' Pickett and the Crypt-Kickers, channeling the voice of Boris Karloff to narrate a mad scientist's discovery of a new dance craze. The lyrics describe Frankenstein's monster, the Wolf Man, Dracula, and the Mummy joining in on the floor while the scientist mixes up a potion that turns everyone into monsters. Released in August 1962 by Garpax Records, the song arrived just weeks before Halloween and capitalized on the twist dance trend popular at the time.

Commercial success was immediate and sustained. The single climbed the charts throughout September and October, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on October 27, 1962. It held the top position for two consecutive weeks before dropping down the list. In the United Kingdom, the record peaked at number three on the UK Singles Chart in November 1962. Sales figures indicate the single moved over two million copies during its initial release window alone.

The original visual accompaniment was not a modern music video but a performance film featuring Pickett and his band miming to the recording alongside clips from classic Universal horror movies. This footage remains available in high definition on YouTube. Critical reception highlighted the song's clever wordplay and timing during the Cuban Missile Crisis, offering listeners a lighthearted escape from global tensions. The track earned induction into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2008. [edit]