Sounds of Darkness

Troll Records – Weird Tales of the Unknown – 1973
GHOST STORIES
I finally got to the last of the Troll Records 1973 set of ghost story albums, and I’m glad I made it. These albums just don’t see to do much for me.

This one opens with Poe’s “The Black Cat”, another staple of weird-tale albums. “A Diagnosis of Death” and “John Bartine’s Watch”, ...

Troll Records – Great Ghost Stories – 1973
GHOST STORIES

Figured I may as well complete the cycle here. “Great Ghost Stories” is the 3rd Troll Records ghost story releases from 1973 … at least the 3rd that I’m reviewing.

“The Mysterious Shipwreck” is a bit long, and I doubt many young children could follow it. “The Golden Arm” is, of course, ...

Troll Records – Thrillers and Chillers – 1973
GHOST STORIES
Another of Troll Records four-album Halloween releases from 1973. This one is maybe not geared towards children as much as the first one I reviewed, “Scary Spooky Stories”, but the ghost stories are classics.

The first is a “The Tell-Tale Heart” … a staple of ghost story albums. “The Monkey’s ...

Al Zanino - The Vampire Speaks (1957)

I wish I could find more information on Al Zanino … there isn’t much out there. This single was recorded by Zanino and Cliff Juranis in 1957. It looks like they collaborated on a Christmas single in 1950 as well … A Message From Santa … but that’s about all I can find. This single features some dialogue between Dracula ...

Pickwick Records - Sounds of Terror! (1974)
Sound Effects

I’m not sure I remember this one from my childhood – it might have been too scary for our local small-town library. It opens with an out-of-place and Picket-less re-recording of “The Monster Mash”. I suppose they were hoping it would help sell the record. (It doesn’t.)

The rest of the album is a nice little set ...