24 songs for your Halloween playlist

Give the night a shape

A Halloween playlist can move from theatrical arrival music to familiar choruses, dancing and a quieter finish. Treat these 24 songs as a starter selection, arranged around the people coming to your party. You do not have to play every group in full.

Edits, remixes and soundtrack versions can have different durations and moods. Check the actual recordings and total playing time before deciding how much more music you need. Twenty-four songs do not automatically fill two hours.

1. Monster Mash — Bobby “Boris” Pickett and the Crypt-KickersTheatrical novelty while guests arrive.
2. The Addams Family – Main Theme (Vocal) — Vic MizzyUse the short vocal track on The Addams Family (Original Music From the T.V. Show) for the familiar television theme.
3. Season of the Witch — DonovanA slower, hazier atmosphere.
4. I Put a Spell on You — Screamin’ Jay HawkinsDramatic vocals for guests who enjoy the theatrical side.
5. Werewolves of London — Warren ZevonA playful rhythm with a darker story.
6. Ghost Town — The SpecialsMoody and spacious before the more familiar party block.

7. Thriller — Michael JacksonChoose the audio version deliberately: the full music video has a different running time.
8. Ghostbusters — Ray Parker Jr.A familiar chorus for a room that has filled up.
9. Somebody’s Watching Me — RockwellA clear theme without losing the pop momentum.
10. Time Warp — Little Nell, Patricia Quinn and Richard O’BrienUse the 1975 The Rocky Horror Picture Show soundtrack recording rather than an unspecified stage cast or remake.
11. Superstition — Stevie WonderA groove that bridges listening and dancing.
12. Psycho Killer — Talking HeadsA darker, more angular close to this group.

Check the 1975 soundtrack listing when choosing your Time Warp recording.

13. Dead Man’s Party — Oingo BoingoA lively way into the dancing block.
14. Disturbia — RihannaDark pop that works beyond the seasonal theme.
15. Scream — Michael Jackson and Janet JacksonA forceful change of gear; check the edit for your audience.
16. Heads Will Roll — Yeah Yeah YeahsChoose the original or a specific remix deliberately; they are different listening experiences.
17. Spooky Scary Skeletons — Andrew GoldA novelty break. A remix may be substantially different from the original.
18. (Everyday Is) Halloween — MinistryChoose the early synth track, rather than unintentionally substituting the later acoustic version.

Ministry’s official discography identifies the early recording. Select the version you intend in your player.

19. Creep — RadioheadA moody shift; check the explicit or radio edit.
20. The Killing Moon — Echo and the BunnymenAtmospheric rather than novelty horror.
21. Witchcraft — Frank SinatraA lighter, swinging change of scene.
22. Spooky — Dusty SpringfieldA relaxed groove for slower conversation.
23. Harvest Moon — Neil YoungAutumn atmosphere as the costumes and dancing settle.
24. Rhiannon — Fleetwood MacKeep some mystery in the final stretch.

Make the sequence fit the room

Begin at a volume that leaves space for conversation. Move to familiar choruses once people have arrived, use the dance group when the room wants it, then lower the volume for the final stretch.

Keep ordinary party favorites ready so the night can move away from Halloween if the theme wears thin. A supernatural title does not make a song or video suitable for children: check the exact audio, lyrics and screen content for your guests.

Leave room for your guests’ picks

Invite everyone to bring a small Halloween selection: “Pick up to three spooky, silly or danceable songs. Add the artist, the version and a line about why you picked each one.”

Create a Link Tapes tape on the homepage and open Extra settings. Set Who can add tracks to Everyone, choose Take turns, and set Maximum tracks per turn to 3. Guests open the link with a display name and add supported individual song links, with optional notes, when their turn comes around.

Three tracks is a maximum, not a target. A guest can add fewer and finish their turn early. Choose one arrival song, one dance-floor pick and one wildcard, or set a new theme for the next round. The pass-the-aux guide has more ideas for sharing the speaker.

Keep the turn timer short for a live party. It controls when a stalled contribution can be skipped, not how long each person listens. Test important recordings before the party and let the host choose what fits the room.

Test before the doorbell

Use one tested host device on the speaker. Each phone plays independently, so guests can contribute without starting competing audio. Spotify and Deezer may provide previews; full playback depends on provider support, account or Premium access, browser, recording and region. YouTube videos must be available and permit embedding.

• Play the beginning and a later section of each important recording on the actual party device.
• Check volume, power, connection and any screen-lock or background restrictions.
• Keep five to ten extra choices ready in a player that works on your setup.
• Know where to jump if the party wants dancing sooner or a quieter ending.