Ten Halloween "hits" from film and television
Lawrance M. Bernabo | The Zenith City, Duluth, Minnesota | 03/09/2003
(4 out of 5 stars)
""Billboard Presents: Family Scarytime Classics" is an unusual collection of Halloween songs in that they are come from films and television. So you are not going to get "Monster Mash," or, surprisingly enough, the theme from "Ghostbusters." What you will find are television theme songs from "The Addams Family," "The Munsters," and "Dark Shadows," along with "The Twilight Zone." But do not be surprised if the only song your kids recognize is Danny Elfman's "This is Halloween" from "The Nightmare Before Christmas." Besides, what are the chances they have stumbled across "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" unless you, their responsible and loving parent, have introduced them to such fare? But once they hear that immortal line "I know I'm going to miss her, a tomato ate my sister" be prepared to hear them singing it over and over again (especially if they have a sister). Oh, and if you do make them watch "The Blob," please go for the Steve McQueen original. As always, the main complaint is that Billboard (actually, Rhino) can only count to ten when it comes to putting tracks on a CD."
Mostly Kiddie Tunes-But Still Alot of Fun For Everyone
Kim K. | Bayonne, New Jersey | 09/25/2002
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Alright, let me start off by saying there are a few songs that are NOT the original versions most of us have grown up hearing. These tunes are Billy Strange's version of The Munsters Theme(although very well done, I might add) as well as The Twilight Zone Theme as performed by John Williams & The Boston Pops-still a fine piece, but face it-you cannot beat the original & best versions(you can find both on the Television's Greatest Hits series). This is worth owning just for great stuff such as The Headless Horseman by Kay Starr(which quickly became a favorite of mine as soon as I first heard it), plus from The Nightmare Before Christmas Soundtrack-the ultra-cool This Is Halloween. The rest of the songs are cute stuff like Casper The Friendly Ghost(which I confess to actually singing along with!), Peggy Lee's version of Bewitched(from the classic sitcom) and Attack Of The Killer Tomatoes(from the really strange but hilarious film)and The Blob. Definitely fun for the whole family come trick or treat time."