Spook Central Halloween Treat - Tales From The Crypt Albums

For the past two weeks, Spook Central has been running the 13 Days of Tales From The Crypt: Ghostbusters Cast Spotlight; a series of articles looking at various Ghostbusters cast members who have appeared in the iconic horror anthology series. It seems only fitting that for this year's Halloween Treat, I showcase the albums based on the show/franchise.

Although I will take a look at every Tales From The Crypt album in chronological order, only some of them will be available for download as the "Halloween Treat". Purchase links will be provided in case you want a physical copy on CD or other popular formats (I'm not listing cassettes); likely through second-hand markets. All artwork (for CDs I own) has been scanned in at 300dpi and the originals will open in a new window/tab.



This first album is primarily a "score album". It includes score medleys from 11 episodes (primarily from Seasons 2 & 3, with one from Season 1), along with an extended version of the series theme by Danny Elfman and a fun rap by John Kassir as The Crypt Keeper. A music video for "Crypt Jam" is available as an extra on the Season 3 DVD (it's also embedded below). Of the 11 episodes, only "Undertaking Palor" was detailed in a previous article. The album is available on CD, Vinyl, and MP3.

01.  2:27  Tales from the Crypt (Main Title) -- Danny Elfman
02.  3:50  Three's a Crowd -- Jan Hammer
03.  3:45  Cutting Cards -- James Horner
04.  3:19  Loved to Death -- Jimmy Webb
05.  4:03  Dead Wait -- David Mansfield
06.  3:10  Undertaking Palor -- Nicholas Pike
07.  3:31  Carrion Death -- Bruce Broughton
08.  3:33  Ventriloquist's Dummy -- Miles Goodman
09.  2:53  The Thing from the Grave -- David Newman
10.  4:22  The Man Who Was Death -- Ry Cooder
11.  3:50  Reluctant Vampire -- Cliff Eidelman
12.  3:32  Deadline -- Steve Bartek
13.  4:29  The Crypt Jam -- The Crypt Keeper (John Kassir)
(total time - 46:50)

In lieu of a sample track, below is the oh-so-'90s "Crypt Jam" music video, pulled from the Season 3 DVD. That's John Kassir, the voice of old Cryptie himself, at the 3:08 mark.


The packaging for this album features a basic plain gray motif. Nothing really fancy on the booklet's front and back.


Open it up to find an essay from The Crypt Keeper with headshots of the different composers against a bloody background.


The fold-out booklet opens up to a mini-poster of The Crypt Keeper flanked by the comic book covers drawn by Mike "Voz" Vosburg for the episodes whose music appears on the album. The TV show's covers were new illustrations drawn specifically for the program and not reprints of the classic EC comic book covers.


The back cover is, again, plain gray with a track list and a photo of The Crypt Keeper in a heart-shaped bed with his sweetie.


In keeping with the plainness, the disc is gray text on a plain white background.



SPOOK CENTRAL VIP BONUS FEATURE: All 320kbps MP3 and lossless Flac files from this album, plus the original music video DVD rip.



Who would have expected a novelty Christmas comedy album from Tales from the Crypt? Well, that's what we have here. All songs are performed by John Kassir as The Crypt Keeper. He's no Weird Al, but it's a fun macabre album with many choice cuts. The album is available on CD (no vinyl or MP3 releases).

01.  0:46  Intro To Album
02.  1:57  Deck the Halls with Parts of Charlie
03.  3:21  Juggle Bills
04.  2:21  We Wish You'd Bury the Missus
05.  2:34  Moe Teitlebaum
06.  0:55  A Christmas Card for the Cryptkeeper
07.  3:28  Christmas Rap
08.  0:34  Intro to Cryptkeeper's Family Christmas
09.  2:07  Cryptkeeper's Family Christmas
10.  3:58  'Twas the Fright Before Christmas
11.  3:47  Twelve Days of Cryptmas
12.  0:24  Intro to Revenge of the Cryptkeeper
13.  2:21  Revenge of the Cryptkeeper
14.  2:22  Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
15.  4:05  Should Old Cadavers Be Forgot
(total time - 35:00)

My favorite track is "Christmas Rap". I guess I like M.C. Cadaver's rap skills. Take a listen for yourself.


The packaging for this album is better than the score album, but not by much. There's a nice photo of The Crypt Keeper wearing a Santa hat on the cover. You better get used to it as it appears FOUR times. Here you see it on the cover of the album/booklet and again on the booklet's back cover.


Instead of liner notes, the booklet contains a black and white reprint of the original "And All Through the House" comic book story (written by Johnny Craig) and cover art (from The Vault of Horror #35 in February 1954). (A read-along video of the story was published by TheHolderOfTales on December 25, 2013.) "And All Through the House" was made into an episode of the TV series, as detailed here.





Opposite the last page of the story is that photo again, with the album credits treated as a word balloon.


The back cover is the fourth and final place where that photo appears, next to a track list.


There's a black and white photo of The Crypt Keeper's throne on the inlay under the disc.


The disc is a red and white rendition of that Santa hat photo. So, I guess it technically appears FIVE times. Could they not have taken a few different photos of him in the hat just to mix it up a bit?



SPOOK CENTRAL VIP BONUS FEATURE: All 320kbps MP3 and lossless Flac files from this album.



The television series was popular enough that two theatrical films were released by Universal Pictures. Demon Knight (1995), starring Billy Zane and Jada Pinkett, was the first of these two. The track list below is courtesy of Discogs, as I do not own this album. It does not appear to have any exclusive Crypt Keeper segments, instead being a heavy metal music-only compilation. The album is available on CD, Vinyl, and MP3.

01.  5:47  Cemetery Gates (Demon Knight Edit) -- Pantera
02.  3:56  Tonight We Murder -- Ministry
03.  4:28  My Misery (Demon Knight) -- Machine Head
04.  4:17  Diadems -- Megadeth
05.  4:06  Instant Larry -- Melvins
06.  3:53  Fall Guy -- Rollins Band
07.  3:11  Beaten -- Biohazard
08.  1:47  Policia -- Sepultura
09.  5:20  Hey Man Nice Shot -- Filter
10.  4:18  1-800-Suicide -- Gravediggaz
(total time - 41:03)



The second theatrical film from Universal Pictures was Bordello of Blood (1996), starring Dennis Miller and Angie Everhart. The track list below is courtesy of Discogs, as I do not own this album. It does not appear to have any exclusive Crypt Keeper segments, instead being a rock music-only compilation. The album is available on CD (no Vinyl or MP3 releases)

01.  4:12  Bordello of Blood -- Anthrax
02.  2:25  This is Not a Love Song -- Kerbdog
03.  5:32  All Right Now -- Free
04.  3:59  Jailbreak -- Thin Lizzy
05.  4:02  Ballroom Blitz -- Sweet
06.  3:12  Deuce -- Redd Kross
07.  6:26  Still Loving You -- Scorpions
08.  3:56  30 Days in the Hole -- Humble Pie
09.  5:16  Love's Got Me Doin' Time -- Cinderella
10.  3:16  From the Underworld -- The Herd featuring Peter Frampton
(total time - 42:16)



Bordello of Blood received a score album containing the music Chris Boardman composed for the film. The track list below is courtesy of Discogs, as I do not own this album. The album is available on CD, and MP3.

01.  7:19  Peru/Meet Lilith
02.  2:33  Lilith and Guttman
03.  1:04  Breaking the Key
04.  1:25  Lilith
05.  2:51  Guttman the Sleuth
06.  1:54  Confrontation
07.  2:38  Generator Plant
08.  0:58  Exploding Nurse
09.  1:47  Lilith Morphs
10.  2:59  Last Laster
11.  2:02  End of Lilith
12.  1:31  All's Well That Ends Well
13.  1:34  Embalming
(total time - 30:35)



Now this is unexpected. Long after the series ended, The Right Stuff, who apparently still had album rights to the "Tales from the Crypt" title, decided to release a heavy metal compilation album featuring music that has nothing to do with the series. The Pantera track comes from the Demon Knight soundtrack, and the Anthrax track comes from the Bordello of Blood soundtrack, but that's the only connection. At least, unlike those soundtrack albums, John Kassir was brought in to record some brief dialog between songs. The album is available on CD (no vinyl or MP3 releases).

01.  0:30  The Cryptkeeper Intro #1 -- John Kassir
02.  6:54  Heaven and Hell -- Black Sabbath
03.  5:21  Creepy Feelings -- Armored Saint
04.  5:41  Five Magics -- Megadeth
05.  0:14  The Cryptkeeper Intro #2 -- John Kassir
06.  5:47  Cemetery Gates (Demon Knight Edit) -- Pantera
07.  4:40  Eyes of a Stranger -- Queensryche
08.  3:40  Hallucinating -- Apartment 26
09.  0:35  The Cryptkeeper Intro #3 -- John Kassir
10.  4:11  Dead Inside -- Arch Enemy
11.  6:53  Beyond the Realms of Death -- Judas Priest
12.  4:12  Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck -- Prong
13.  0:16  The Cryptkeeper Intro #4 -- John Kassir
14.  4:52  Don't Talk to Strangers -- Dio
15.  4:12  Bordello of Blood -- Anthrax
16.  4:34  The Bell Witch -- Mercyful Fate
17.  0:21  The Cryptkeeper Intro #5 -- John Kassir
18.  2:10  Wolverine Blues (Instrumental Version) -- Entombed
19.  4:10  Hollow Ground -- The Haunted
20.  6:22  Beyond the Black -- Metal Church
21.  0:46  The Cryptkeeper Ending -- John Kassir
(total time - 76:33)

Here are all six Crypt Keeper segments (Intro #1 to #5 & Ending) edited together, voiced by John Kassir and written by Jack Wohl, with a total runtime of 2:42.


What's interesting about these Crypt Keeper segments is that many of his quips (written by Jack Wohl) are also in the intros and outros of the Seeing Ear Theatre episodes (see next album). This album, and those episodes, were originally released in 2000. I have no idea which was produced first, to know which is stealing from the other. Below is a summary of the dialog from each segment, with the related Seeing Ear episode in parenthesis. I did not do a deep comparison to see if they're the same audio recording, or if they just had John Kassir say the same dialog again.

• Intro #1 - "If you and your friends find it all too repulsive, too disgusting, and totally gross, I'll be very happy." (Fare Tonight intro - "If you should find the things we say too disgusting, too repulsive, and totally gross, it'll make me very happy.")

• Intro #2 - "I spend half my time signing autographs. The world worships the ground I rot in." (Zombie intro - worships the ground)

• Intro #3 - "More depravity to come. The morgue, the merrier. They're like my own flesh and blood, if I had flesh and blood. Mmmmm... flesh and blood. Yum. Sounds delicious." (Tight Grip outro - "The morgue, the merrier." / Zombie outro - flesh and blood)

• Intro #4 - "She'd show me hers if I'd show her mine. Just my luck, mine rotted off." (Zombie intro - show me yours, rotted off)

• Intro #5 - "Making me feel like a little kid again. Hey waiter! Bring me another little kid. It takes a sick and devious, disturbed mind to come up with the things I say. I'm so blessed." (A Little Stranger outro - "It takes a sick, twisted, demented mind to come up with the things we do around here. I'm so blessed.")

• Ending - "Those are mad dogs outside. Why don't I shoot them? I did shoot them; that's what makes them so mad. Death is nature's way of telling you you partied too hard. You're not getting older, you're getting deader. Have a nice die." (By the Fright of the Silvery Moon intro [CD outro] - shoot the mad dogs / This Trick'll Kill You outro - partied too hard, getting deader, nice die)

The packaging for this album is rather basic. There's a photo of The Crypt Keeper wearing a wig and strumming a guitar on the cover. The left side of the photo continues onto the back cover of the booklet.


Instead of liner notes, the inside of the "booklet" only contains song and album credits. The copyright information for each song shows us that some of this material dates back to the 1970s (the Black Sabbath and Judas Priest tracks). Of the 15 songs, only 4 are from 1999 and 2000, which is around the time of the album's production.


The back cover is a blue tinted close-up of the crypt from the cover image (the part that goes over onto the booklet's back cover). Over that is the track list, with a red border on the bottom that leaks onto both spines.


The inlay under the disc is a black and white close-up photo of the skulls that were under the Crypt Keeper on the cover image.


The disc is a blue rendition of the cover photo. Yeah, like the Christmas album, they only had this one photo of Mr. Keeper to work with.



SPOOK CENTRAL VIP BONUS FEATURE: All 320kbps MP3 and lossless Flac files from this album.



This four-disc collection contains seven of the eight Tales from the Crypt audio plays that were originally released on The Sci-Fi Channel's scifi.com website. As seen on the archived copy of the site, Episodes 9 through 13 were planned, but never released. The eight released episodes feature an all-star cast including Tim Curry, Gina Gershon, Luke Perry, Oliver Platt, and John Ritter. Furthermore, the Danny Elfman theme music now has lyrics sung by The Crypt Keeper. The album is available on CD (no vinyl or MP3 releases).

The episodes are split into several tracks, with two episodes on most discs. As you can see, one episode is missing (Episode 3: "This Trick'll Kill You"), and they're not in the right order! "By the Fright of the Silvery Moon" might be edited, as it runs 1:35 shorter than the original web file. The rest are either the same length or longer, so I don't think they're edited.

Disc 1 - Episode 1: Island of Death [38:11] (Tracks 1-5)
Disc 1 - Episode 2: A Little Stranger [37:09] (Tracks 6-10)
Disc 2 - Episode 4: Tight Grip [45:31] (Tracks 1-5)
Disc 2 - Episode 8: By the Fright of the Silvery Moon [34:11] (Tracks 6-9)
Disc 3 - Episode 5: Zombie [47:20] (Tracks 1-7)
Disc 4 - Episode 7: Carrion Death [41:06] (Tracks 1-7)
Disc 4 - Episode 6: Fare Tonight, Followed by Increasing Clottiness [35:45] (Tracks 8-12)

Unlike the other albums, this one isn't music and contains multiple discs (or cassettes). As such, the packaging is different. The CD release comes with a slipcover (my copy is missing it) that goes over a double-thick jewel case and has the UPC bar codes and original $26.95 price on the back. Inside that case is the four discs and a small oddly-shaped 4"x4.5" booklet. It's almost square-ish instead of being the size of a standard CD booklet. (Image courtesy of an online seller.)


The reason the booklet is oddly-shaped is because it is also used in the four-tape cassette release, which has the tapes sitting in a vertical tray that slips inside a box with the booklet. (Image courtesy of an online seller.)


As previously stated, the CD release has the four discs in one of those thick jewel cases that is, essentially, two jewel cases put together. As such, the front cover has spine flaps...


...as does the back cover.


There's not much to say about the booklet. The front duplicates the comic book-style album cover, while the back lists the audio plays and their runtimes, both individually and per disc/cassette. Yes, the booklet mentions "disc" and "cassette" because it's used for both releases.


The inside pages are as plain and basic as can be: black text on white. First, there's an essay from executive producer Brian Smith.


This is followed by the series credits, and the individual episode credits.





Continuing the basic-ness of it all are the four discs, which are just plain black text on the silver disc face.


Over two decades ago, I saved all eight episodes in their original Real Audio format from Sci-Fi's site (their so-called "Hi-Fi Version" at 32k). They have been converted to MP3 and are presented to you below. I also saved all of the original credits text - and I do mean ALL of it - so that's included below, too.


The term "man-eater" takes on a whole new meaning when a dot-com millionaire crash lands on an isolated tropical island.

Cast:
Gina Gershon as Galatea Hapsburg
Luke Perry as Quinn Dillon
Anne Bobby as Doris
Todd Cummings as Jeeves
Ramon de OCampo as Baily
Rafael Ferrer as Lothar
John Kassir as the Crypt Keeper
Nick Wyman as the Rich Man

Written by Tony Daniel
Produced and Directed by Brian Smith
Associate Producer: Laurissa James

Sound Design by John Colucci

"Tales From The Crypt" series theme composed by Danny Elfman
Lyrics by Jack Wohl

Arrangement of series theme and originals score of "Island of Death" by Ohad Talmor

Executive Producers: Jack Wohl, Brian Smith,Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis



What do you get when monster marries monster? Something...a little stranger.

Written by Greg Cox, adapted from the EC Comic Haunt of Fear, originally published by William M. Gaines.

Cast:
Randy Maggiore as Zorgo
Lisa Nicole as Elicia
Martin Carey as Reverend Whitman
Mark Evans as Viktor Malvin
Alice Barden as Diane Walters
Sarah Provost as Stephanie
Rob Pedini as Billy
John Kassir as the Crypt Keeper
Alissa Hunnicutt as the series announcer

Produced and Directed by Tony Daniel
Associate Producer: Laurissa James

Sound Design by John Colucci

"Tales From The Crypt" series theme composed by Danny Elfman
Lyrics by Jack Wohl

Arrangement of series theme by Ohad Talmor

Series Story Editor: Tony Daniel

Executive Producers: Jack Wohl, Brian Smith,Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis

A Production of SCIFI.COM'S Seeing Ear Theatre.
Executive Producer: Brian Smith



Jealousy, ambition and murder bring a trio of performers to the end of their rope... and beyond.

Written, composed, and directed by George Zarr,
Adapted from the EC Comic Tales From The Crypt, originally published by William M. Gaines.

Cast:
Rebecca Nice as Inez Markini
Todd Cummings as Herb Markini
Simon Jones as Jeffrey Mudgely
Andrew Joffe as Otto Der Clown
Francesca Rizzo as Wahdi
John Kassir as the Crypt Keeper
Alissa Hunnicutt as the series announcer

Produced by Brian Smith and George Zarr
Associate Producer: Laurissa James

Sound Design by John Colucci
Live Foley SFX by Sue Zizza and David Shinn
Sound Engineers: Jane Pipik and Miles B. Smith

"Tales From The Crypt" series theme composed by Danny Elfman
Lyrics by Jack Wohl

Arrangement of series theme by Ohad Talmor

Series Story Editor: Tony Daniel

Musicians:
Ed Iglewski - Bass
Rick Knutson - Keyboards
Billy Masters - Guitar

Executive Producers: Jack Wohl, Brian Smith,Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis

A Production of SCIFI.COM'S Seeing Ear Theatre.
Executive Producer: Brian Smith



A young concert violinist is boxed in by a terrible secret.

Written by Tony Daniel and Brian Smith,
Adapted from the EC Comic Tales From the Crypt, originally published by William M. Gaines.
Directed by Brian Smith

Cast:
Tim Curry as Narrator
Randy Maggiore as Richard Ashton
Anne Bobby as Catherine Ashton
Kate Simses as Kitty Ashton
Rafael Ferrer as Dr. Molloy
Mort Banks as Detective
John Kassir as the Crypt Keeper
Alissa Hunnicutt as the series announcer

Produced by Brian Smith
Associate Producer: Laurissa James

Sound Design by John Colucci
Live Foley SFX by Sue Zizza and David Shinn
Sound Engineers: Jane Pipik and Miles B. Smith

"Tales From The Crypt" series theme composed by Danny Elfman
Lyrics by Jack Wohl
Arrangement of series theme and original score by Ohad Talmor

Series Story Editor: Tony Daniel

Musicians:
Jim Hershman - Guitar
Rob Thomas - Violin

Executive Producers: Jack Wohl, Brian Smith,Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis

A Production of SCIFI.COM'S Seeing Ear Theatre.
Executive Producer: Brian Smith



In mysterious Haiti, can a woman's love overcome a powerful zombie curse?

Written by Tish Benson and Tony Daniel,
Adapted from the EC Comic Tales From the Crypt, originally published by William M. Gaines.
Directed by Brian Smith

Cast:
Oliver Platt as David Goodson
Kenya Brome as Vamiel
Venida A. Evans as Mambo Delaruse
with
Tom Detrik as Jasha Godschilde
Ezra Knight as Margorie St. Juste
Jacqueline Cuscuna as Rika Daniel
John Kassir as the Crypt Keeper
Alissa Hunnicutt as the series announcer

Produced by Brian Smith
Associate Producer: Laurissa James

Sound Design by John Colucci

"Tales From The Crypt" series theme composed by Danny Elfman
Lyrics by Jack Wohl

Arrangement of series theme and original score by Ohad Talmor

Series Story Editor: Tony Daniel

Executive Producers: Jack Wohl, Brian Smith,Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis

A Production of SCIFI.COM'S Seeing Ear Theatre.
Executive Producer: Brian Smith



A vampire hunter takes cab ride to bloody peril during a city-wide vampire outbreak.

Written by Andrew Joffe,
Adapted from the EC Comic Tales From the Crypt, originally published by William M. Gaines.
Directed by George Zarr

Cast:
Keith David as Dr. Egbert Fleagle
Aasif Mandvi as Bhaya Baniswati
Glenn Zarr as Wiper
Ahmed Andrew Joffe Sapirstein as the Vampire Union Leader
George Zarr as Vito
Leah Applebaum as Matilda the Waitress
John Kassir as the Crypt Keeper
Alissa Hunnicutt as the series announcer

Produced by George Zarr
Associate Producer: Laurissa James

Sound Engineering by Leonard Hospidor
Sound Design by David Shinn and Paul Goodrich

"Tales From The Crypt" series theme composed by Danny Elfman
Lyrics by Jack Wohl
Arrangement of series theme and original score by Ohad Talmor

Series Story Editor: Tony Daniel

Executive Producers: Jack Wohl, Brian Smith,Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis

A Production of SCIFI.COM'S Seeing Ear Theatre.
Executive Producer: Brian Smith



A bookish murderer finds that breaking free from mind-forged manacles may require him to break free from his own sanity as well.

Written by James Patrick Kelly
Adapted from the EC Comic Tales From the Crypt, originally published by William M. Gaines
Directed by Brian Smith

Cast:
Campbell Scott as Wall
Rafael Ferrer as Warden/Coyote
Kevin Townley as Elbert/Vulture
John Kolvenbach Jerry/Vulture
Todd Cummings as Gooley Devore
Sarah Provost as Doris/Ant
Peter Francis James as Miguel/Coyote
John Kassir as the Crypt Keeper
Alissa Hunnicutt as the series announcer

Produced by Brian Smith
Associate Producer: Laurissa James

Sound Design by John Colucci
Foley SFX by Sue Zizza and David Shinn

"Tales From The Crypt" series theme composed by Danny Elfman
Lyrics by Jack Wohl
Arrangement of series theme Ohad Talmor

Series Story Editor: Tony Daniel

Executive Producers: Jack Wohl, Brian Smith,Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis

A Production of SCIFI.COM'S Seeing Ear Theatre.
Executive Producer: Brian Smith



Sheriff Jim Thorton finds that, for a modern day sheriff, the Great American West holds new and deadly perils that our pioneers forebearers never suspected in their wildest dreams!

Written by Raquel Starace
Adapted from the EC Comic Tales From the Crypt, originally published by William M. Gaines
Directed by George Zarr

Cast:
John Ritter as Sheriff Jim Thorton
Robbert Pruitt as Deputy Frank Phile
Peter Waldren as Alec, the Poppa Alien, and the Creature
Anne Bobby as Sarah and the Momma Alien
Beng Spies as Steven
Kate Simses as Linda
Allissa Hunnicutt as the News Woman and Baby Alien
Leah Applebaum as Terry
Laurissa James as Paula
John Kassir as the Crypt Keeper
Alissa Hunnicutt as the series announcer

Produced by George Zarr
Associate Producer: Laurissa James

Sound Engineering by Hospidor
Sound Design by David Shinn
and Paul Goodrich

"Tales From The Crypt" series theme composed by Danny Elfman

Lyrics by Jack Wohl

Arrangement of series theme Ohad Talmor

Series Story Editor: Tony Daniel

Executive Producers: Jack Wohl, Brian Smith,Richard Donner, David Giler, Walter Hill, Joel Silver, Robert Zemeckis

A Production of SCIFI.COM'S Seeing Ear Theatre.
Executive Producer: Brian Smith


Well, that's it for this year's Halloween Treat. Let's see what corpses I'm able to dig up for next year...

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For the complete list of Spook Central's Halloween Treat posts from years past, click here. Thanks to Miss Kate for the "Halloween Treat" title banner that appears at the top of this post.