Sounds of Darkness

We all know Alfred Hitchcock, and his contributions to the horror and suspense genres are outstanding in both quality and quantity. Few have had a greater impact, particularly in the 60’s. I do not know for sure, but it seems that Hitchcock’s involvement in this album was probably very superficial … he provides introductions and links between stories and that’s about it. The intro has clever moments, and the links are cute.

The stories themselves are pretty standard for kids. The first is a not terribly spooky story about pirates and revenge. The second is actually a pretty good story about a magician who kidnaps his apprentices. The third is the “Wait ‘til Charlie comes” story with squirrels (!), and the fourth is the classic “The Open Window”. Another vanishing hitchhiker story, and finally a decidedly kid-friendly story about a boy who befriends a ghost. There is light accompaniment, minimal sound effects, and decent narration. It is an unspectacular album, but Hitchcock’s involvement makes it worth a listen. Besides, “The Open Window” is one of my favorite ghost stories.

Alfred Hitchcock and John Allen – Ghost Stories for Young People