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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2013 13:13:28 GMT -5
For anyone who was around then, 40 years ago this week "Monster Mash" came roaring back on the chart at #31. Is this because of rekindled interest due to the recent #1 "Frankenstein" by Edgar Winters Group or some other reason?
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Post by matt on Jul 2, 2013 13:52:16 GMT -5
What is strange about "Monster Mash" re-charting in 1973 more than anything was the time of year. You would think the song would have re-charted in the fall, around Halloween maybe? But instead it was back out during the middle of the summer.
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Post by pizzzzza on Jul 2, 2013 15:51:57 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on Jul 2, 2013 15:52:58 GMT -5
Yeah that is what made me think it had something to do with the success of Frankenstein. But seeing as I was 4 years away from being born I don't know if it was featured in some episode of the Groovy Ghoulies or something that rekindled interest in the song.
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Post by alann on Jul 2, 2013 15:57:59 GMT -5
In the UK The Monster Mash hit the Top 40 for the first time in 1973, hitting a high of #3 week ending October 6.
I guess it was released in the UK after it's success in the US, that meant we got it at a more suitable time.
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Post by blackbowl68 on Jul 3, 2013 9:16:07 GMT -5
I was too young to understand this phenomenon, (plus I was living in England when this happened) but I do have own theories about it.
This track was first reissued around this time of the year in 1970 and flopped. It was likely due to the Beatles breakup, the rock opera, the bubblegum style of teen music, songs of spiritual nature, and protests related to Vietnam.
But by 1973, the rock n roll revival was in full swing, which this track could be associated with. I also suspect two other factors may have come into play. The popularity of TV shows like "The Munsters" and "The Addams Family" that were rerun in certain markets. Drive-in movies still existed in abundance all around the country that were likely showing old horror movies from the 50s & 60s. All of this would likely contribute to the recharting of "The Monster Mash."
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Post by tarobe on Jul 3, 2013 13:24:42 GMT -5
I remember it very well. Here "Monster Mash" went into heavy rotation around the end of June and was on the radio all through July and August. I believe its popularity had to do with "Frankenstein" being such a hit. Monsters were everywhere and still cool. As noted above, The Munsters and Addams Family were shown in syndication on many TV stations. Many stations frequently showed the Universal and Hammer monster movies on their "late, late" shows. I believe the Groovy Ghoulies were off the air by then, but it was fairly recent. [And no, "Monster Mash" was never on it.] Also monster kits and Warren Publishing's magazines (Eerie, Creepy, Vampirella, and Famous Monsters of Filmland) were very popular. So the time was right. I believe these things were what made the song popular.
A much diiferent picture when the song was originally released in 1962. Then it was a smash due to the tremendous popularity of Boris Karloff (not only a famous film actor but a TV personality) and the Mashed Potato dance. And the season - it was Halloween. None of this was relevant nine years later. Karloff was dead. The Mashed Potatao was forgotten. And it wasn't Halloween.
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Post by tarobe on Jul 3, 2013 13:28:45 GMT -5
Intereresting bit of trivia. Leon Russell plays piano on "Monster Mash" and the Blossoms did the background vocals. Russell and the Blossoms are also on the record that suceeded it at #1, "He's a Rebel" by the Crystals.
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Post by quatermass on Jul 3, 2013 14:47:13 GMT -5
I remember it very well. Here "Monster Mash" went into heavy rotation around the end of June and was on the radio all through July and August. I believe its popularity had to do with "Frankenstein" being such a hit. Monsters were everywhere and still cool. As noted above, The Munsters and Addams Family were shown in syndication on many TV stations. Many stations frequently showed the Universal and Hammer monster movies on their "late, late" shows. I believe the Groovy Ghoulies were off the air by then, but it was fairly recent. [And no, "Monster Mash" was never on it.] Also monster kits and Warren Publishing's magazines ( Eerie, Creepy, Vampirella, and Famous Monsters of Filmland) were very popular. So the time was right. I believe these things were what made the song popular. A much diiferent picture when the song was originally released in 1962. Then it was a smash due to the tremendous popularity of Boris Karloff (not only a famous film actor but a TV personality) and the Mashed Potato dance. And the season - it was Halloween. None of this was relevant nine years later. Karloff was dead. The Mashed Potatao was forgotten. And it wasn't Halloween. I remember it well myself/ Good times back then
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Post by mga707 on Jul 3, 2013 18:21:53 GMT -5
I remember it very well. Here "Monster Mash" went into heavy rotation around the end of June and was on the radio all through July and August. My local market (Tucson) was totally the opposite. None of the three Top 40 stations at the time (KTKT/KIKX/KHYT--all AM) ever played it, so the only times I heard it was on AT40. I remember thinking that it was so stupid that the song had been re-released, especially in the summer. Similar situation that same year with "Little Willy": No local airplay, yet a #3 national hit.
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Post by skuncle on Jul 3, 2013 19:27:26 GMT -5
1973 Top 40 was a very interesting time, Perry Como, Jeannie Pruett, Pink Floyd, Charlie Rich, Deep Purple and others all on the chart at the same time. Truly a golden time for Top 40 radio when genres meant nothing. This would pretty much be the case for the next few years. So great to be exposed to so many different styles.
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Post by bigal on Jul 3, 2013 21:52:56 GMT -5
tarobe is correct. MUNSTERS and ADDAMS FAMILY were is reruns in all major markets all across America, there was a boom of nostalgia over classic monsters with lots of plastic model kits being popular and being sold all over department stores, as well as make up kits, I was only 7, but remember monsters everywhere, on TV and in stores, i think even on commercials and cerials, foods, candy, etc. The timing was just right, and you didnt have to wait till Halloween to know and "see" monsters whereever your parents took you when they went shopping.
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Post by mga707 on Jul 3, 2013 22:33:05 GMT -5
tarobe is correct. MUNSTERS and ADDAMS FAMILY were is reruns in all major markets all across America, there was a boom of nostalgia over classic monsters with lots of plastic model kits being popular and being sold all over department stores, as well as make up kits, I was only 7, but remember monsters everywhere, on TV and in stores, i think even on commercials and cerials, foods, candy, etc. The timing was just right, and you didnt have to wait till Halloween to know and "see" monsters whereever your parents took you when they went shopping. Probably about the time that General Mills introduced Count Chocula and Frankenberry. Are they still around? I was a Quake and Quisp kid myself...
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Post by mrjukebox on Jul 3, 2013 23:15:56 GMT -5
The background singers on "Monster Mash" are saying "tennis shoe"-Does anyone else detect this too?
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Post by Deleted on Jul 4, 2013 3:47:10 GMT -5
tarobe is correct. MUNSTERS and ADDAMS FAMILY were is reruns in all major markets all across America, there was a boom of nostalgia over classic monsters with lots of plastic model kits being popular and being sold all over department stores, as well as make up kits, I was only 7, but remember monsters everywhere, on TV and in stores, i think even on commercials and cerials, foods, candy, etc. The timing was just right, and you didnt have to wait till Halloween to know and "see" monsters whereever your parents took you when they went shopping. Probably about the time that General Mills introduced Count Chocula and Frankenberry. Are they still around? I was a Quake and Quisp kid myself... Believe so. We've purchased them for our son in the last few years.
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