Clinging onto the Hallowe'en bandwagon, here's the second half of a month-long Twitter challenge, covering the past fortnight and up to today's final tweet.
As with Volume One, this has been done on the fly, so you will find zig zags from lo-fi indie to lush alt. country to German disco to reggae to revisionist pop history.
Once more, the 'sleevenotes'
are a direct lift from my tweets, which provide little insight other than I clearly need more caffeine in the morning!
Spider To The Fly: Isobel Campbell
From Isobel's current album Bow To Love, which is so good that she also recorded and released the entire album in French as Place à l'Amour. Fantasmagorique!
Frankenstein Conquers The World: Jad Fair & Daniel Johnston
...or Frankenstein vs. The World, if you got the expanded UK/Europe reissue in 1993, renaming the original self-titled album as - what else? - It's Spooky.
Pretty Little Graves: Baby Bird
Tucked away on the B-side of the Cornershop single, uptempo rhythms belying Stephen Jones' downbeat lyrics.
Where The Creepyboyz Sing: John Cale
This turned up as a Japan-only bonus track on the Hobo Sapiens album, less than 1k views on You Tube. Deserves to be heard!
The New Cobweb Summer (Album Version): Lambchop
Hard to believe that this song is over 20 years old. Here's a more recent, but equally lovely, live version from Pickathon 2019.
(Do Not) Stand In The Shadows (Moby Remix): Billy Idol
Moby takes Billy's 1983 album track, chews it up, spits it out 35 years later for a remix album project. Vital Idol Revitalised? Regurgitated, more like! I love it.
Spooky Rhodes: Laika
From the Sounds Of The Satellites album, which I was lucky enough to catch them touring in the UK. Here's a fan-made video, which seems to have no relation to the song...Not spooky, but odd.
Soul Dracula: Hot Blood
Ready for some German disco on Dutch TV? There was a follow up LP in 1977 called Dracula And Co, including Baby Frankie Stein, Dracula Goes Dreamy and, er, Sex Me.
Because You're Frightened (Album Version): Magazine
Magazine's reformation in 2009 for an album and tour was something I'd previously thought impossible. I was lucky enough to see them in Birmingham. An astonishing show.
My Boy Builds Coffins (Album Version): Florence + The Machine
A lovely interview & performance from 2008, when Flo' was 'one to watch'. She's done alright since, hasn't she?
As I Washed The Blood Off: The Fatima Mansions
From the much missed Cathal Coughlan. I'm endlessly fascinated by the songs that people choose to make DIY videos for and post on You Tube...
Nightmare: Bim Sherman
Nightmares? Here's the remedy.
Killer Inside Me (Killer Long Version): MC 900 Ft. Jesus
Mark Griffin deftly mixed rap, jazz and unsettling narratives in the early 90s before retiring from the biz. And his full name is supposed to be '900 foot' not 'featuring'...!
Trick Or Treat: Otis Redding
A co-write with Isaac Hayes, it's hard to believe that this remained unreleased until 1992. A monster tune!
An obvious pick, but possibly a version that some may not have heard before. Nicolas Laugier works his magic yet again.
Whether you're celebrating or battening down the hatches this evening, you could do worse than give this a spin. Though possibly not much worse ;-)
1) Spider To The Fly: Isobel Campbell (2024)
2) Frankenstein vs. The World (Video Version): Jad Fair & Daniel Johnston (1989)
3) Pretty Little Graves: Baby Bird (1997)
4) Where The Creepyboyz Sing: John Cale (2003)
5) The New Cobweb Summer (Album Version): Lambchop (2002)
6) (Do Not) Stand In The Shadows (Moby Remix): Billy Idol (2018)
7) Spooky Rhodes: Laika (1997)
8) Soul Dracula: Hot Blood (1975)
9) Because You're Frightened (Album Version): Magazine (1980)
10) My Boy Builds Coffins (Album Version): Florence + The Machine (2009)
11) As I Washed The Blood Off: The Fatima Mansions (1994)
12) Nightmare: Bim Sherman (1990)
13) Killer Inside Me (Killer Long Version): MC 900 Ft. Jesus (1991)
14) Trick Or Treat: Otis Redding (1966)
15) Thriller (The Reflex 'Halloween Disco' Edit): Michael Jackson (2013)