Spooky 50s/60s instrumentals that AREN'T big band, surf rock, or jazz?
October 6, 2022 10:44 AM Subscribe
Trying to find any spooky instrumental tracks from the 50s and 60s that actual sound eerie, and especially not surf rock or big band music -- I'm looking for moody tunes that aren't just songs with a horror-ish title slapped on it.
Definitely movie scores. Ennio Morricone's score for Nightmare Castle (1965) has some pretty classic eerie moments.
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:28 AM on October 6, 2022
posted by mandolin conspiracy at 11:28 AM on October 6, 2022
Santo & Johnny
Duane Eddy
Link Wray
posted by SystematicAbuse at 12:01 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Duane Eddy
Link Wray
posted by SystematicAbuse at 12:01 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
This may not bee eerie enough, but Mr Ghost Goes to Town is pretty great.
posted by furnace.heart at 12:14 PM on October 6, 2022
posted by furnace.heart at 12:14 PM on October 6, 2022
Poppies - Buffy Sainte-Marie (1969)
Acid - Stu Mitchell (with Wes Dakus' Rebels) (1967)
posted by prinado at 12:55 PM on October 6, 2022
Acid - Stu Mitchell (with Wes Dakus' Rebels) (1967)
posted by prinado at 12:55 PM on October 6, 2022
You might want to look specifically for theremin music
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:39 PM on October 6, 2022
posted by chesty_a_arthur at 1:39 PM on October 6, 2022
Forbidden Planet : Original Motion Picture Soundtrack By Louis & Bebe Barron (1956).
posted by Jairus at 1:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by Jairus at 1:56 PM on October 6, 2022 [3 favorites]
Queen St. Gang — Arzachel
Careful With That Axe, Eugene — Pink Floyd
posted by panama joe at 2:50 PM on October 6, 2022
Careful With That Axe, Eugene — Pink Floyd
posted by panama joe at 2:50 PM on October 6, 2022
I think there's something wonderfully eerie about Korla Pandit's performance of Misirlou in this Snader Telescription from the 50s. It's a world away from the Dick Dale surf guitar version most of us know, and watching Pandit play it is a trip. That man could do crazy things with his fingers!
Bernard Herrmann's Vertigo theme is pretty head-spinning and Henry Mancini's Background for Murder (from the soundtrack of Orson Welles' Touch of Evil) has some sinister charm. There's also the Ramrods' instrumental version of (Ghost) Riders in the Sky, and The Twilight Zone theme would seem to qualify.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:10 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
Bernard Herrmann's Vertigo theme is pretty head-spinning and Henry Mancini's Background for Murder (from the soundtrack of Orson Welles' Touch of Evil) has some sinister charm. There's also the Ramrods' instrumental version of (Ghost) Riders in the Sky, and The Twilight Zone theme would seem to qualify.
posted by Ursula Hitler at 3:10 PM on October 6, 2022 [1 favorite]
I was gonna recommend the title track of John Zorn/Bill Frisell's 'Spillaine' as an awesome modern pastiche of 1950's noir soundtrack music, but hey it's not on YT. Take my word for it, it's so cool.
There's a lot of soundtrack composers that I could recommend but I wouldn't know where to start...
John Barry The Ipcress File
There's also lots of Lounge/Exotica tracks that go for minor keys...
Francis Lai Vivre pour Vivre
Okay here's another modern pastiche but I think you'll like it:
Bohren and der Club of Gore Prowler
posted by ovvl at 3:31 PM on October 7, 2022
There's a lot of soundtrack composers that I could recommend but I wouldn't know where to start...
John Barry The Ipcress File
There's also lots of Lounge/Exotica tracks that go for minor keys...
Francis Lai Vivre pour Vivre
Okay here's another modern pastiche but I think you'll like it:
Bohren and der Club of Gore Prowler
posted by ovvl at 3:31 PM on October 7, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by fake at 10:52 AM on October 6, 2022 [2 favorites]