Best Halloween Music CDs

Halloween music always leaves room for the imagination - the creaking doors, unexplained rustling noises, curdling screams and apprehensive staccato rhythm with gothic sounding synthesizers. We've put together the Best Halloween Music CDs (a compilation of music albums and movie soundtracks) rated by AOL Radio listeners. You can also listen to Halloween themed music on our Halloween radio station; just don't listen to it alone. At home. In the dark...

'House of 1000 Corpses' Soundtrack

Various Artists

Did You Know? The Soundtrack includes a compilation of artists: The Ramones, Lionel Richie, and Scott Humphrey as well as work by the film director -- Rob Zombie. The featured Zombie-written song (also fittingly named 'House of 1000 Corpses') is played in the opening credits of the movie. Originally featured on Zombie's second solo album 'The Sinister Urge,' this song is paired with a bonus track on the soundtrack called 'Unholy Three.'

iTunes

'Horror Movie Madness'

Various Artists

Did You Know? Released in 1995, The two-disc CD features covers from well-known horror movie themes and a bonus disc titled 'Music of The Vampires' (written by Matt Fink). A highlight on the disc is the cover from 'The Exorcist' called 'Tubular Bells.' Click on the video below for the original themed version.

iTunes

'Born of the Night'

Midnight Syndicate

Did You Know? A precursor to 'Realm of Shadows' (also on this list), 'Born of the Night' showcases rich, gothic orchestrations and horrific sound-effects with collaborations by Gavin Goszka and Joseph Vargo (who also directed and produced this album). The album tells of a musical journey through a haunted castle; The introduction of the song 'Haunted Nursery' begins with the audio of a faint crying baby, followed by a synthesized, disturbing, lullaby rhyme.

iTunes

'Saw' Soundtrack

Various Artists

Did You Know? Most of the songs are composed by ex-Nine Inch Nails band member Charlie Clouser, as well as Page Hamilton, Danny Lohner, and Chas Smith. The featured song, 'Zepp Overture,' was composed by Clouser and appears at the very end of the film.

iTunes

'Halloween'

Manheim Steamroller

Did You Know? Primarily known for their modern Christmas recordings, Mannheim Steamroller have also done several Halloween albums. For their first Halloween album -- simply titled 'Halloween' -- features 'Toccata in de Mole,' which is a rendition of Bach's 'Toccata & Fugue in D minor.'

iTunes

'Hellbilly Deluxe'

Rob Zombie

Did You Know? The music video for "Living Dead Girl" was based on the 1920 silent German-Impressionist film, 'The Cabinet of Dr. Caligari.' Check out the music video below -- with Rob Zombie as the lead role -- which tells the story of Dr. Caligari and the sleepwalking Cesare who are accused of the murders in a small German town.

iTunes

'Realm of Shadows'

Midnight Syndicate

Did You Know? 'Realm of Shadows' was Midnight Syndicate's third studio album. This album -- along with their precursor 'Born of the Night' -- were both featured soundtracks for Universal Studios' 'Halloween Horror Nights.' Be sure to listen to their track, 'Soliloquy' below.

iTunes

'Vampyre'

Midnight Syndicate

Did You Know? Keith Parkinson, a fantasy artist and illustrator known for his game artwork designed the packaging for this album, released in 2002.

iTunes

'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Soundtrack

Danny Elfman

Did You Know? Composed by Danny Elfman, the soundtrack peaked at No. 98 on the Billboard 200 and was up for Best Original Score for the 1993 Golden Globe nominations. The film's featured song, 'This Is Halloween' was also covered by Marilyn Manson for the re-release of 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Soundtrack in 2006.

iTunes

'Halloween (20th Anniversary Edition)'

John Carpenter

Did You Know? Director John Carpenter decided to compose the music himself for the horror classic to save a few bucks. Throughout the album you can hear some of the staccato rhythmic devices from 'The Exorcist' score 'Tubular Bells,' overlapped with synth chords as well as Carpenter's inspiration from the '70s Italian progressive rock band, Goblin. Click the video below to hear a track from the album titled 'Halloween 1963.'

iTunes

What's Your Favorite Halloween Music CDs?

Tell us what would make your list of the top Halloween music albums in the comments. Then don't miss our list of the 10 Best Halloween Songs.

Listen to Halloween Radio

Filed under: Best Songs, Top 10 Lists

Reader Comments

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1. I agree with most all these selections. There is however a Album I just got that's great. It was called " Halloween Music Movie Scores ". It's a full Orchestra compilation of all the scary movie greats. Halloween, Friday the 13th, Hellraiser really cool stuff.

Posted at 1:38AM on Sep 27th 2009 by Jake Weatherson

2. How we love Midnight Syndicate! I also want to add KUDOS to Edward Douglas who is one of the TWO composers of Midnight Syndicate!

Posted at 5:52PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Nathan

3. Congratulations to Midnight Syndicate Edward Douglas & Gavin Goszka. I know how hard you both worked on these albums and sorry to see them credit Vargo instead of Ed Douglas. Ed Douglas also wrote, directed, produced and scored The Dead Matter movie/.

Posted at 5:44PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Nancy Allen

4. Great list!!

Posted at 4:22PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Keri

5. Kudos to Midnight Syndicate! I run a home Haunt every year and have always used the Midnight Syndicate soundtracks for atmosphere. After years of only having Halloween Music with clanking chains or cats howling, it is exciting to finally have Halloween music that makes you feel like you are part of a horror movie.

Posted at 4:37PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Riley Cavalier

6. Very cool list, just the stuff to play to freak out the kiddos begging for candy!

Posted at 4:38PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Beck E

7. Midnight Syndicate does for Halloween Music what Bella Lugosi did for Horror films. A new level of awesomeness.

Posted at 4:40PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Ruby

8. I loves me some ROB ZOMBIE!!!! Hellbilly deluxe rox my Mullett!!

Posted at 5:28PM on Oct 13th 2009 by halloweenking

9. Midnight Syndicate rocks! Their albums truly are the ultimate creepy halloween music of all time.

Posted at 6:38PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Mike B

10. Midnight Syndicate is great at setting the mood for my Halloween parties and scaring the little kids as they come up to my house to get candy! I hope they keep coming up with great new innovative music like they have been.

Posted at 6:42PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Gretchen

11. Rob Zombie AND Syndicate... now that would be one HELL of a Halloween CD!

Posted at 11:15PM on Oct 13th 2009 by Jayson Stevens

12. This list makes a lot more sense then the other halloween lists out there. These albums are entirely halloween not just one song (i.e.Thiller)
I am loving the fact that Midnight Syndicate is here. To quote Rue Morgue magazine " If we didn't have Midnight Syndicate around this time of year, I think we might just have to cancel Halloween"

Posted at 8:54AM on Oct 14th 2009 by Ray

13. This is an awesome list and its great to see three Midnight Syndicate CDs on it

Posted at 9:43AM on Oct 14th 2009 by Adam

14. As a professional composer of Classical Music, may I say that Midight Syndicate offeres some of the most brilliant musical scores in the world.

Posted at 9:32PM on Oct 14th 2009 by Lugaru Girl

15. Congratulations to Midnight Syndicate. Three in the top ten!!! Outstanding. We love you guys and are looking forward to your next CD - Haley Comet - Dead Air - WBGU-FM 88.1

Posted at 12:47PM on Oct 15th 2009 by Haley Comet

16. Kudos and thank goodness that MS has FINALLY recognized Vargo for all his work on Born and Realm. It's about time they stopped trying to take all the credit! Oh, and for the record, this is a BLOG not the official Top 10. If you really want the AOL Top 10, just click the link on the menu to the left, "Halloween Songs." That's the official Top 10 of all time.

Posted at 7:42PM on Oct 15th 2009 by Roger

17. Interesting that there are no NOX ARCANA cd's listed they are far superior to Midnight Syndicates in quality and sound and theme. Joseph Vargo clearly was the driving force behind Midnight Syndicate ever producing and cd and his influence is obviously missing after Realm of Shadows!

Posted at 12:41PM on Oct 16th 2009 by Tritan

18. Actually this Top 10 is "Best Halloween Music CDs" the other one is "Best Halloween songs" (single tracks). There is a third one called Top 10 "Horror Movie + TV Instrumental Songs" which is also very good. All of these can be found on the AOL Radio Blog.

Posted at 1:13PM on Oct 16th 2009 by HalloweenKook

19. For Tritan: Nox Arcana don't subscribe to AOL radio. I think the band must have to approve to have their music played or maybe the bands have to pay to sign up. Also MS only has those 3 CDs on AOL radio, so the choices are limited as to what songs or albums are actually on AOL radio. I noticed most links on both band's albums just take you to iTunes or some other place to buy the music. I don't think that's part of AOL radio. This list is not an "all time" best like MS advertises on their site (in fact it doesn't even say that here) it's only what's available on AOL and it seems to be a list from 2001 or maybe 2002, whenever Vampyre came out. The other albums are kind of older too.

Posted at 1:33PM on Oct 18th 2009 by Roger

20. Good Job Sara!!! Another "out of this world" Halloween compilation you should check out, and that I came across is Halloween Horror Music Vol. 1 by Krystof. I found this at www.Halloween-Thriller.com.

Check it out and tell us what you think?
I love it!!!!

Posted at 3:32PM on Oct 21st 2009 by messinatv

21. You just need Oculus Infernum by Van Helsing's Curse, sort of a Trans-Siberian Orchestra for Halloween.

Posted at 3:07PM on Oct 23rd 2009 by Cracker

22. How about "It's Only Halloween" featuring Butch Patrick {Eddie Munster}

Posted at 2:54PM on Feb 14th 2010 by parklanedr1

23. Love Zombie's House of 100 corpses for sure. Manheim is cheesy but I understand the appeal...their Christmas album is timeless. try and take a listen to Halloween Horrorscapes this season...another good one!

Posted at 8:27PM on Aug 16th 2010 by Kent

24. thanks for share the view

Posted at 11:22AM on Oct 8th 2010 by couponsforzipcodes

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