Vinyl and Halloween have shared a special relationship for decades. From urban legends and bold marketing strategies to genuine sonic curiosities, the analog format has always cultivated a mysterious aura, perfect for spooky stories. Discover the fascinating history of cursed records, the best Halloween playlists, and the anecdotes that have shaped the music industry.
The “cursed” vinyl records that made history
Prince’s The Black Album (1987): the most mysterious vinyl record in pop
Prince’s “The Black Album,” withdrawn from distribution a week before its 1987 release, remains one of the most famous cases in vinyl history. Prince reportedly had an apocalyptic vision after a night out and decided the album was “evil.” The few copies that escaped destruction sold for exorbitant prices on the black market, fueling a persistent legend.
Some copies reportedly fetched up to $15,000 at auction in the 1990s. The official pressing didn’t arrive until 1994, but collectors continue to search for the original clandestine pressings. This rare vinyl has become one of the most sought-after by fans of horror music and sonic curiosities.
Coven et “Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls” (1969)
The history of the band Coven is also worth mentioning. Their first album, “Witchcraft Destroys Minds & Reaps Souls” (1969), featured a full-length black mass as its opening track and closed with “Satanic Mass.” The band used the horns sign before Black Sabbath and had a bassist named… Oz Osborne.
Several copies were reportedly destroyed during religious ceremonies in the United States, reinforcing its status as a cursed vinyl record. This pioneering record of occult rock is now considered a major collector’s item for Halloween vinyl enthusiasts.
Halloween and vinyl: a winning combination
The history of Halloween vinyl compilations
From the 1960s onwards, record labels understood the value of releasing themed compilations at the end of October. Discs of scary sound effects, such as the famous albums “Chilling, Thrilling Sounds of the Haunted House” (1964) or “Sounds to Make You Shiver” (1974), sold massively in the United States for Halloween.
These albums offered sounds of creaking doors, dragging chains, and devilish laughter, creating a festive atmosphere in homes during trick-or-treating. These ambient Halloween vinyl records have become classics of the analog format.
Halloween limited editions: a tradition since the 1980s
In the 1980s and 1990s, bands like The Misfits built their identity around this horror aesthetic, regularly releasing special pressings on orange or neon green vinyl, or with phosphorescent sleeves. Glenn Danzig, the band’s frontman, turned each release into a collector’s event.
Some limited pressings of 500 copies now fetch several hundred euros on the secondary market. These Halloween-themed colored vinyl records are particularly sought after by audiophiles and collectors of alternative music.
Labels specializing in horror vinyl
This practice has now been adopted by many independent labels, which release limited “Halloween variant” editions every autumn. Sacred Bones Records, Waxwork Records, and Mondo have made these October releases a tradition.
The soundtracks of cult horror films are particularly sought after:
- Halloweenby John Carpenter
- Friday the 13thby Harry Manfredini
- The Exorcist de Mike Oldfield
- The Witchthe Mark Korven
These soundtrack vinyls are reissued annually on colored vinyl, which sell out in a few hours on specialist sites like Discogs or directly from the labels’ shops.
Record Store Day and the Black Friday edition
Specialty record stores also organize specific events. Record Store Day even created a “Black Friday” edition at the end of November, extending the period of horror releases with exclusive limited pressings. This day has become essential for collectors of rare vinyl and limited Halloween editions.
Cursed Vinyl Records: Anecdotes and Unexplained Phenomena
The mystery of the reverse pressing of Black Sabbath (1970)
In 1970, a faulty pressing of “Black Sabbath” was reportedly distributed with a reversed engraving on the B-side. Listeners reported incomprehensible messages when played normally. The label has always denied this version, but a few copies still circulate among collectors.
The origin of this legend may stem from a genuinely defective batch, but the “satanic messages” aspect is probably more folklore than reality. Nevertheless, this story contributed to the band’s scandalous reputation and the mysterious aura surrounding the early vinyl pressings.
Led Zeppelin IV and subliminal messages
The vinyl edition of “Led Zeppelin IV” has long been the subject of rumors concerning subliminal messages in “Stairway to Heaven.” Played backwards, some hear “Here’s to my sweet Satan.” Jimmy Page, a passionate occultist and collector of Aleister Crowley’s works, never truly dispelled these rumors, merely offering enigmatic smiles during interviews.
This musical urban legend has fueled conspiracy theories for decades and remains one of the most famous examples of alleged “backmasking” in rock history.
David Lynch’s Eraserhead (2017)
More recently, the vinyl of the soundtrack to David Lynch’s “Eraserhead”, pressed in 2017, experienced a strange phenomenon: some buyers reported variations in tone depending on the time of listening, particularly after midnight.
A technical explanation likely exists (temperature variations affecting playback), but the coincidence remains unsettling and perfectly in keeping with Lynch’s style. This vinyl record of a cult horror film is sought after as much for its sound quality as for its mysterious story.
Ghost’s (2019) ritual pressing error
In 2019, a batch of pressings by the band Ghost contained a labeling error: the A and B sides were reversed on several hundred copies. The band, whose world revolves around theatrical Satanism, played along, claiming on social media that it was a “ritual gone wrong at the pressing plant.”
These defective copies are now more sought after than the correct versions, proving that pressing errors can become prized collector’s items.
How to create the perfect Halloween vinyl playlist?
Essential Halloween Vinyl Classics
For a classic atmosphere, it’s hard to overlook Michael Jackson’s “Thriller,” whose picture disc pressing remains a prized item. The title track, with its narration by Vincent Price, is still a Halloween party staple.
To be completed with:
- “Season of the Witch”Donovan – a disturbing psychedelic from the 1960s
- “I Was a Teenage Werewolf”by The Cramps – horror rockabilly
- “Goo Goo Muck”by The Cramps – featured in the series Wednesday
- Instrumental pieces by John Carpenter – cult composer and director
Rock and gothic albums for Halloween
The Doors, with “People Are Strange” and “Riders on the Storm,” create a dreamy and unsettling atmosphere. Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds, particularly with the album “Murder Ballads,” offer macabre tales against a backdrop of dark post-punk.
“The Raven” by The Alan Parsons Project, a musical adaptation of Edgar Allan Poe’s poem, remains an underrated classic perfectly suited to a Halloween vinyl party.
The essentials of gothic rock:
- Bauhaus – “Bela Lugosi’s Dead” (9 minutes of vampiric atmosphere)
- Siouxsie and the Banshees – “Spellbound” et “Halloween”
- The Cure – the album “Pornography” in its entirety
- Type O Negative – “Black No. 1” or their cover of “Summer Breeze”
These gothic vinyl records create a dark and theatrical atmosphere, ideal for a successful Halloween party.
Horror movie soundtracks on vinyl
Fans of more experimental sounds will turn to the works of Goblin, particularly the soundtrack to “Suspiria”, whose vintage synthesizers and tribal percussion create a constant tension.
Wendy Carlos’s compositions for “The Shining” and “A Clockwork Orange” play on icy electronic dissonances. Vinyl gives these recordings a depth and warmth that the digital format struggles to reproduce, especially in the bass frequencies.
The best Halloween soundtracks on vinyl:
- John Carpenter – Halloween (iconic main theme)
- Goblin – Suspiria, Deep Red
- Ennio Morricone – The Antichrist
- Bernard Herrmann – Psycho
- Krzysztof Komeda – Rosemary’s Baby
Qobuz Halloween Playlist: High-resolution chills
For those who wish to enjoy a Halloween selection without taking out their vinyl records, here is a playlist of 20 tracks available on Qobuz in high resolution:
Playlist Halloween streaming Hi-Res :
- John Carpenter – Halloween (Main Theme)
- Michael Jackson – Thriller
- Bauhaus – Bela Lugosi’s Dead
- Goblin – Suspiria
- The Cramps – I Was a Teenage Werewolf
- Siouxsie and the Banshees – Spellbound
- Black Sabbath – Black Sabbath
- The Doors – Riders on the Storm
- Screamin’ Jay Hawkins – I Put a Spell on You
- Danny Elfman – This Is Halloween
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds – Red Right Hand
- Type O Negative – Black No. 1
- The Misfits – Die, Die My Darling
- Rob Zombie – Dragula
- Donovan – Season of the Witch
- The Alan Parsons Project – The Raven
- Ghost – Year Zero
Discover the entire playlist here: Halloween by maPlatine.com
This playlist blends rock classics, cult soundtracks, and gothic gems for an approximately two-hour listening experience. On Qobuz, the Hi-Res quality lets you appreciate every detail of the productions, from John Carpenter’s analog synthesizers to Ennio Morricone’s complex orchestrations.
Where to buy Halloween vinyl records?
- Discogs – The reference for rare and used vinyl records
- Waxwork Records – A label specializing in horror film soundtracks
- Sacred Bones Records – New York independent label
- Independent record stores – During Record Store Day Black Friday
- Bandcamp – To directly support independent artists
Vinyl, the ideal medium for the Halloween atmosphere
The hunt for limited-edition Halloween records continues every year, making October a prime time for independent record stores and specialized platforms. Between folklore and marketing, vinyl remains the ideal format for celebrating this tradition where music and thrills naturally intertwine.
The very ritual of placing a record on the turntable, lowering the tonearm, and waiting for the needle to find its groove perfectly captures the spirit of Halloween. This ceremonial, almost mystical dimension enhances the immersion in dark and unsettling worlds. The characteristic crackle of vinyl adds a layer of texture that, far from being a flaw, enriches the sonic experience of horror tracks.
Collectors know that each autumn brings its share of new limited editions, colorful reissues, and discoveries in record store bins. This tradition perpetuates an age-old link between music and occult celebrations, reminding us that long before Spotify, spirits were already being invoked with a record player and a few carefully chosen black discs.