Now that August has arrived, summer is winding down. But that doesn’t mean you can’t sneak in a final trip or two before autumn descends. For those of you still planning to hit the road, here are six songs perfect for your spooky summer travels.
“Surfin’ Dead” by the Cramps
Surf music has always sported a truly offbeat style. Add some monsters to the mix, and you’ve got yourself a summer tune with a healthy dose of the spooky. Retro and kitschy, “Surfin’ Dead” doesn’t want to be philosophical or intellectual; it just wants to be fun. The always subversive Cramps employ beach bum slang and zombie allusions to craft a tune equal parts scary and sassy. If nothing else, this melody proves that even after death, you can still catch a wave.
“The Little Old Lady from Transylvania” by the Ghouls
Novelty to the max, this ditty from the Ghouls takes inspiration from its Beach Boys’ Pasadena counterpart. With references to everything from vampires and crypts to witches and werewolves, “Transylvania” singer “Natasha” even name-checks Boris Karloff and Bela Lugosi as she speeds across the world in her poison apple red racecar. A wacky little tune, this one can’t help but get your toe tapping. After all, nothing says summer like cruising around in a ghoulish ride that would make Herman Munster jealous.
“Highway to Hell” by AC/DC
No matter where you travel–this summer or otherwise–try to avoid this particular route. Although one version of the single features a devilish face on its cover, this song is not so much about literal brimstone. Instead, AC/DC refers to the agonizing life on a rock tour. And if you’ve ever been in a car for a twelve-hour-plus trip, then you probably know exactly how they feel.
“Ghost Town” by the Specials
As you explore off-the-beaten path destinations this summer, you might come across a town or two that just seems a little… strange. The Specials sure found one with “Ghost Town”. From 1981, this ska song eschews spectral energy in favor of a tome about life–and happiness–vacating a once thriving town. Lack of supernatural elements notwithstanding, this tune’s powerful vocals and strong reggae inspiration manages to transform it into something both upbeat and creepy, an ideal combination for your roadtrip needs.
“Sweet Sixteen” by Billy Idol
A bewitching ballad of love lost, Billy Idol’s “Sweet Sixteen” is based on the real-life story of Edward Leedskalnin, the architect of Florida’s Coral Castle. Written from Leedskalnin’s perspective, the lyrics track the dejected longings of a man who is jilted the day before his wedding and then devotes his entire life to building an eccentric mansion in the memory of his “Sweet Sixteen”. For the music video, Idol even traveled to the storied property, giving him major weird wanderer street cred in the process.
“Werewolves of London” by Warren Zevon
Every Weird Wanderer playlist so far has featured one of this songwriting icon’s macabre tunes. Keeping with the Zevon theme, here is his signature anthem, the synergy of clever storytelling and a campy sense of humor. Boasting lyrics about England’s free-range werewolves, this is the type of song that could fill a stadium.. and then some. Plus, knowing that Top 40 radio can embrace a well-coiffed, Pina Colada-chugging lycanthrope makes weird wanderers everywhere feel a little less alone.
Happy haunting!