| "Halloween" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
&sq=Envato&lang=en&file=File:Misfits_-_Halloween_cover.jpg) The single's cover photograph shows the band's lineup at the time of its release. Left to right: Jerry Only, Arthur Googy, Glenn Danzig, and Doyle. | ||||
| Single by the Misfits | ||||
| A-side | "Halloween" | |||
| B-side | "Halloween II" | |||
| Released | October 31, 1981 | |||
| Recorded | August 1980 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:06 | |||
| Label | Plan 9 | |||
| Songwriter(s) | Glenn Danzig | |||
| Producer(s) | Misfits | |||
| Misfits singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"Halloween" is the fifth single by the American punk rock band Misfits. It was released on October 31, 1981 on singer Glenn Danzig's label Plan 9 Records. 5,000 copies of the single were pressed on black 7-inch vinyl, some of which included a lyrics sheet.[3][4] This was the first Misfits release to use their Famous Monsters of Filmland-inspired logo, as well as the first to refer to the band as simply "Misfits".
The "Halloween" single was the last Misfits release to include guitarist Bobby Steele. Both songs on the single had been recorded in August 1980 for a planned album. During the sessions bassist Jerry Only was grooming his younger brother Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein to join the band, and Doyle recorded his own guitar tracks and overdubs separately in addition to Steele's. The tracks were mixed in September, but in October Steele was ejected from the band in favor of Doyle and the planned album was scrapped. Three of the songs were released as the 3 Hits from Hell EP, while "Halloween" and "Halloween II" were released as a single. In 2001 Caroline Records attempted to release the complete sessions as 12 Hits from Hell, but production was called off after Danzig and Only expressed concerns with the album's layout, packaging, liner notes, mixing, and mastering.
The lyrics to "Halloween II" are in nonstandard Latin, translating to:
Ancient formulas of exorcisms and excommunications
That witches and those made wolves believe
I maim now the demon clothed in wolfskin
Having to hide in the hollow of a tree
I say werewolves can change shapes[3]
- ^ Casalena, Em (October 28, 2024). "5 Underrated Rock Songs That Are Perfect for a Refined Halloween Playlist". American Songwriter. Retrieved October 28, 2024.
- ^ Sacher, Andrew (7 April 2020). "20 great covers of classic punk songs by '90s/'00s punk bands". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved March 13, 2023.
- ^ a b Von, Eerie (1996). The Misfits box set (Box set liner notes). The Misfits. New York City: Caroline Records. CAR 7529-2.
- ^ "Misfits discography". Misfits.com. Retrieved 2008-11-27.