Troll Records "Scary Spooky Stories" (Troll, 50-001, 1973) "Great Ghost Stories (Troll, 50-002, 1973)
Here's a pair of my rips that I've already shared via a few other folks in internetland (you might've found them over at the fine blog Old Haunts last Oct, or via links in my very own comments section). These albums were released by Troll Records and were regularly distributed in the 1970's through things like the "Bookmobile" or Scholastic Books programs (sample offerings of books & records were presented to kids who would make their selections and have their parents pony up the cash over the next week. The goods would usually arrive a month or so later, which is when you'd scratch your head & try to figure out what you were thinking).
The stories are mostly adaptations of familiar concepts that you'll find on many spooky kids records (Edgar Allen Poe, "The Golden Arm" (a folk tale that Mark Twain delighted in telling his entire life by the way), "Wait 'til Martin Comes", etc), but the cover art was great and the mood wasn't bad either, so they weigh heavily in the nostalgia portion of the brain for a lot of folks. There were two more title in this series as well; "Thrillers and Chillers" & "Weird Tales of the Unknown" but my copies are both fully shot -- I'm working on it, trust me. UPDATE: Thanks to a fellow named Steve, both of these albums are now available for download here.
Link Removed
Link Removed
posted by Jason at 2/24/2006 05:15:00 PM
67 Comments:
One of the two records you're looking for had a scary version of "The Monkey's Paw." During the climax of the story, the music is downright terrifying. Or at least, I thought it was.
Lance
2/26/2006 2:59 PM
Jason -
Here are a couple of halfway decent (not perfect) rips of the two albums you're looking for (both in one file), the least I can repay for all the cool stuff I've been enjoying from your blog (just delete the line breaks to link).
http://rapidshare.de/files/14471691/
Thrilers_and_Chillers_and_
Weird_Tales_of_the_Unknown.zip.html
3/01/2006 6:19 PM
Wow! That's totally great -- thanks so much! I am gleefully downloading them right this very second!
3/01/2006 6:22 PM
No problem, thank YOU!
3/01/2006 6:42 PM
these were my childhood favorites!I cant believe you have these,and i was able to download them.i cant thank you enough.Its the complete set.
3/23/2006 11:13 PM
Whoa! I can't tell you how many times I listened to "Scary Spooky Stories" as a kid! I'd have worn the grooves out completely if the thing didn't break by the time I was eleven! Thanks so much... I didn't even know about the others in the set. Nostalgia and discovery, simulatneously. Again, thank you ever so much!
3/28/2006 5:42 PM
You are friggin great! I was just talking about the Golden Arm today and how it was giving me the shivers still, nearly 20 yrs later! You're awesome for taking the time to share. Thanks, Monica
4/20/2006 8:11 PM
Thank You so much for posting Great Ghost Stories! 30 years it has been since I wore out my vinyl copy. Thought I would never find it to share with my kids who are enjoying it for the first time. My favorite was always Golden Arm! You've Got It! :) Thanks Again, Rich
5/20/2006 7:50 PM
Barbara,the story you're talking about is called "The Velvet Ribbon".I don't know if you're reffering to it having been on a record,but it was one of the stories contained in "The Haunted House and other Spooky Poems and Tales" which was published in 1970 by the Schoolastic Book Services.You can get yourself a copy for a few bucks at http://www.alibris.com/
just search the title.
5/21/2006 4:32 AM
Anonymous is right, and you can find audio for it here. I think there may've been a few other (longer) adaptations of it on record, but this was the first one that sprang to my mind as well. Hope that helps!
5/21/2006 6:50 AM
You have the greatest site on the planet !!!!!!
Scary Spooky Stories --the "Golden Arm" story !!!
Good lord I never thought Id hear that or " The boy who drew Cats " again
You have given me back my childhood chills
Thank you
Thank you
THANK YOU !!!
7/20/2006 11:44 PM
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR POSTING THIS!
Just the other day, the Guitar Player story popped into my head for no particular reason. I remember listening to it on a very scratchy and poppy copy of the record 20+ years ago. I never thought I'd have the chance to hear it again. Google be praised for pointing me your way.
8/02/2006 8:27 AM
wow, add me to the list of folks grateful for your posting these. I was able to find my favorite of the bunch, Great Ghost Stories, on ebay at a reasonasble price--I'd reccomend that for anyone who wants to enjoy the creepy cover art and the scent of vinyl again. Was anyone else surprised at how well these recordings were produced? The use of music and sound effects, and the quality of the narrators/voice actors, really adds to the effectiveness of the stories. I've picked up some other "spooky" used records from the same era that are quite childish and bland. No wonder these scared the crap out of me!
8/16/2006 1:18 PM
i am so excited to hear these stories again, for some unknown reason the skinny toe popped into my head tonight and i told my 3 kids the story, i remember it almost word for word, my sister and brother still remember them also, we calle dmy mother and she is looking to see if we still have the album at her house, this is so much fun, thank you
10/01/2006 8:19 PM
the download worked perfectly, i now have the stories and i am so excited i sat on the phone with my sister and laughed so hard, this is great, thank you so much
10/01/2006 8:27 PM
This is awesome! I never thought I would be able to find the Great Ghost Stories. I couldn't even remember the name of the record but I have tried to re-tell the story of the Golden Arm to my kids several times. Now they can experience it for themselves. This will be a fun Halloween. Thank you so much!
Ryan
10/03/2006 12:09 AM
I always loved "The Golden Arm", as does my sister. I have told the story to my daughter. I've tried to imitate the sound effects in my version...."where is my goldem aaaaaarrrrrrmmmmmmm!" It just isnt the same as listening to it first hand. Thanks for the trip down memory lane!!!
10/13/2006 8:27 PM
WOW!!! i still have my vinyl copy of great ghost stories - loved the golden arm! very cool to hear it again without all of the wear that my album has, though. i memorized the golden arm and still get asked to recite it at halloween parties, on hayrides, etc...
10/16/2006 4:16 PM
Sweet stuff. Love the old time radio stuff. Thanks. :)
10/16/2006 8:51 PM
Thanks! I had told me kids about the spooky story "the Golden Arm" for years. And now they got to hear it. They loved it!
10/19/2006 8:54 AM
Thank you so much for making these available. Everyone at work thought I was crazy when I started reminiscing from my childhood on stories like "The Golden Arm" and those two women that had the same voice that told the story about "Mary Culhane"...I am so excited to have found this! Thank you! Oh, does anyone remember the story about a girl (who later turned out to be a ghost) and this boy would meet her at night near a railroad track or something and he ended up going to her house and her father or mother answered the door and told the boy that their daughter had died so there was no way he could have seen her? And another story that went something like, "Susan, I'm on the first step..." in a whispering type voice. If you know, please tell me. Thanks again! :) :)
10/20/2006 5:52 AM
I downloaded your file and it is sitting in my manager and I can't get it to open. Any suggestions on what I did wrong?
Thanks
10/22/2006 8:26 PM
anonymous looking for story about a girl (who later turned out to be a ghost): it sounds like the same story that was adapted as "the Hitchhiker" for Wade Denning's "Famous Ghost Stories With Scary Sounds" , but from your description involving the boy-courts-girl elements remind me more of "the Lavender Evening Dress" from Vincent Price's "A Graveyard of Ghost Tales". Still neither seem quite right, so perhaps it's a third adaptation. "Susan I'm on the first step" is totally mystifying me, but seems somehow familiar. Anyone?
anonymous who can't open downloaded file: are you trying to unzip them? Perhaps you don't have a "winzip" (or "stuffit" if you're on a mac) style program installed? That's all I can think of.
10/24/2006 11:54 AM
Wow! It's Halloween and I juts took my two kiddies (6 & 3 yrs) out for the festivities.
Sitting and thinking back I came across Scary Spooky Stories here. I haven't seen the vinyl in years but I came across this! You da MAN!!!
And I can still hear the narrator..."Wait till Martin comes."
Got the chills already!
10/31/2006 6:39 PM
Can't get the links to work to download the scary spooky stories, great ghost stories and thrillers and chillers. I spent many a sleepless night as a kid, covers over my head imagining the lady coming for her golden arm. I'm dieing to download these files and scare myself again.
Please send active link info to bnkhaley@yahoo.com
Thanks,
Big Daddy
11/10/2006 8:56 PM
Are these files still available for download? It appears that the links are not working... Anyone have another link that is current?
11/25/2006 9:49 PM
I can't download the files or listen to them either. I hope they are available soon. My next door neighbor used to have them. they are pretty good.
4/16/2007 6:04 PM
i heard one about a little girl who mistreated her dolly and she went :
I'm on the first step, lucy, i m on the second step, im on your pillow, im going to kill you lucy...
it really scared me! if anyone could tell me the whole story it would be much appreciated :):)
5/16/2007 11:24 AM
Yeah, links don't work. Please fix! Loved this stuff back in the late 1970s!
matthewpa@yahoo.com
5/19/2007 11:25 PM
http://dw56.250free.com/ForbiddenCryptsOfHauntedMusic.html
6/01/2007 8:16 PM
This comment has been removed by the author.
6/01/2007 8:17 PM
http://davesworld56.blogspot.com/2007/05/jason-posted-info-on-these-2-lps-here.html
Ok Try this!!
6/01/2007 8:31 PM
We would love to download spooky scary stories but the link didn't work - any suggestions?
6/08/2007 11:43 PM
HI there, I have smoe additional items I would like to share to this blog group, and I am dying to get my hands on a few of these - since scarstuff is not yet working, are some available in other places? I am wanting Barrymore and Conrad's in particular, but I only have about half of what is posted (and other stuff that is not!!) Thanks! Dana
7/23/2007 8:01 PM
hey jason, i've went to all three alubum things you have and when i go to download it says html document instead of compressed zipped file or folder any suggestions on how I can save them so they save the right way like they're supposed to?
8/13/2007 1:51 AM
Great stuff! I'm glad I was able to finally find these. I've been searching the web for these records for a couple of years now. Finally!
The reason these recording worked so well is because they were well produced with great voices and audio effects to make them even scarier. Just excellent audio productions.
The perfect escape for a young, fertile imagination.
Thanks!
10/15/2007 11:37 AM
For everyone looking for the Scholastic record from the 70's called "Selections From The Haunted House and Other Spooky Poems and Tales" go to the following website and you can download the mp3 of it. Here is the list of selections on this record -
The Haunted House (by Vic Crume)1:14
Winter Moon (by Langston Hughes) 0:18
Sir Roderic's Song (by William Schwenck Gilbert) 0:29
A Young Lady from Glitch (by Tamara Kitt) 0:10
Ruth and Johnnie (by Anon.) 0:14
A Skeleton once in Khartoum (by Anon.) 0:12
It Isn't the Cough (by Anon.) 0:08
The Bat (by Theodore Roethke) 0:46
The Velvet Ribbon (by Ann McGovern) 2:32
The Erl-King (by Johann Wolfgang von Goethe) 2:01
November Night (by Adelaide Crapsey) 0:21
Dust (by Sydney King Russell) 0:50
The Kilkenny Cats (by Anon.) 0:17
The Cradle that Rocked by Itself (by Maria Leach) 2:44
Here is the site - Enjoy! http://www.flickr.com/photos/40732566533@N01/269058818
10/17/2007 8:05 AM
I think my link was cut off short. Add this to the end of the other one.
66533@N01/269058818
10/17/2007 8:10 AM
I have three of the albums in my dusty record vault, but my copies are very well worn and, I am sure, monaural. I never knew they were ever released with stereo music and such. I was just getting ready to try and make halfway-decent CD's of the things by crackle filtering and what not. I am just absolutely thrilled to hear the excellent recordings you have posted here. Thanks ever-so-much for allowing me to share these gems with my son and pass memories of these great radio actors down to another generation.--Jerry
10/19/2007 5:56 AM
My brother, sister and I had 'Scary Spooky Stories' on an old Radio Shack Certron casette and never knew the real name of the record. I definitly never ever thought I'd hear it again. Thanks so much for making this available!
10/22/2007 2:39 PM
This is too cool! Thank You for all of these! I am looking for a story that I remember from when I was younger, I am not sure of the correct name of it, but I do remember something to do with turning inside out; any ideas? Thank YOU
10/22/2007 3:50 PM
Heya Ervetteck, I believe the record you're looking for is right here.
Enjoy!
10/22/2007 7:58 PM
I am sooo thankful for you posting these links online. I have been looking for these LP's for almost 20 years... thought I'd never hear them again! You are awesome! It's nice that there are still some Gen-Xrs that remember these little things that made growing up back then so much fun! THANKS AGAIN!!
10/29/2007 10:48 PM
Hooray, hooray! I am so excited! I got my Great Ghost Stories album when I was 7 and hid under the dining room table when it was playing! It is sooo great to see so many other people who enjoy an old time 70's style scare. Today's Halloween or 'spooky' themed CD's are so lame, I completely agree. Hail to the bare bones scares of great story classics from Troll records! You guys brought back great memories, Thanks!
11/03/2007 3:33 PM
Steve -
Thanks so much for posting this. I remember being about 5 or 6 years old (was 5 in '73) and buying "Scary Spooky Stories" and "Great Ghost Stories" at a book fair in my elementary school, Center Road School in Vernon, Connecticut. I used to listen to "The Golden Arm" back in my room and terrify myself playing it over and over. My younger sister used to get mad at me when I would mimic the voice over at the end where the ghost exclaims "DO YOU HAVE IT!?!?!". I am 39 now and living in California, and recently reconnected with my childhood best friend over the summer. No joke, we actually brought this album up when we were driving through our old neighborhood, but I had said I goodled it a couple years back and not much came up. He is stationed in France now with the State Department and I can't wait until morning to tell him to navigate to this site and listen for himself. Again, thanks so much. This really permits me to re experience one of my oldest memories as a kid. I may even get creeped out going to bed tonight if it is windy out like it is in the story. I can't believe how well I remember the audio nuances, though I suppose it makes some sense cause I listened to it almost 100 times growing up. I also got spooked looking at the ghost on the cover that was pointing at you. Check it out and see if you don't see what I mean yourself. Maybe you need to be five years old, but on a late night alone, may still give you the creeps. So cool you found it. I wish you good Karma, my man. I'm going to listen to it again.
- UConn Greg
11/14/2007 3:10 AM
Thank you so much for posting this. I remember being a little kid back in 70's listening to the golden arm story and being so scared. I looked for these a few years ago and couldn't find them, so thank you again for posting them for us.
Tredd
12/26/2007 8:57 AM
I just wanted to say Thank youfor putting this out there! My brothers and I used to listen to this all the time, and being the youngest of 3, they delighted in scaring the crap out of me!
2/04/2008 6:48 AM
Does anyone have or know where I can find the flip side of The Haunted House and Other Spooky Poems and Tales? One side had the stories and the other had a banshee howling and other chilling sound effects. Email me at delaware@runbox.com please.
Thanks! Diane
2/05/2008 4:52 PM
THANK YOU for posting this! I have been looking for the Great Ghost Stories album forever! still looking, but this is good in the meantime. My email address is ivygretta@yahoo.com if anyone knows where I can buy a copy. I had no problem downloading the Great Ghost Stories--at least four of the selections. Thank you again. The Golden Arm lives!
2/08/2008 10:29 AM
Ervetteck may also be thinking of the Arch Oboler Drop Dead LP. It has a story called "The Dark" where people get turned inside out.
dave
5/10/2008 8:28 PM
I'm trying to download "scary spooky stories" but for some reason on my screen the link says "link removed" -- can anyone help?
thanks!
Bob
6/13/2008 12:43 PM
Hey there!
Steve from HalloweenAddict.com here!
Both yours and Old Haunts links to the Troll records "Scary Spooky Stories" and "Great Ghost Stories" have been removed.
Any way of getting a zip sent of these two? I grew up on (and was terrified by) these albums as a kid and would LOVE to listen to them again.
Can anybody help please?
Steve
8/19/2008 12:45 PM
The links have been removed. Any way to get them up and running again. Or another place perhaps for a zip file to be found? Thanks.
8/23/2008 12:46 PM
How do I buy this on CD! I also listened to it many many times as a kid & loved the scary rush it gave me. I want to play it for my son but I do not have a record player anymore. I want to buy it on CD. Any ideas, anyone???
9/22/2008 1:34 PM
Hey there! The links were removed! Help!! I miss these records and have looked for them for ages!!! I want to share them with my kids!!! :) Thanks for the help!!
10/11/2008 10:41 PM
Scary Spooky stories...awesome.. I remember this record from my childhood.. "I want my big toe..."
Anyone have any idea where you can purchase this CD...?
you can reach me at docjohn6969@yahoo.com
11/05/2008 1:22 PM
To get "Scary Spooky Stories" go here:
http://childrensrecordsandmore.blogspot.com/2007/07/troll-records-scary-spooky-stories.html
And the MegaUpload link should still work for the Zip file. Therein you will find your childhood.
GO!
AllHallowSteve
HalloweenAddict.com
11/05/2008 1:30 PM
Looking for a link to the Thrillers and Chillers album, specifically the story "the boy who drew cats". Any help would be greatly appreciated, I can't believe there's others out there that remember these! It's great.
11/14/2008 1:28 PM
THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH! This was a big part of my childhood and my copy of Great Ghost Stories was lost in Hurricane Katrina. My copy was not as good as yours seems to be. I am going to listen to these for hours now.
7/06/2009 2:36 PM
Can anyone help with a link to "The Haunted House and Other Spooky Poems and Tales". All of the links are dead. I haven't heard those stories in about thirty years and I would love to hear it again. Please
9/07/2009 7:47 PM
Whos knows where i can get the old album, "Scary Spooky Stories" on cd? Thanks Randi
10/07/2009 8:06 AM
I would love to hear "The Monkey's Paw" and another story called "The Woodcutter". If anyone has it, please post up the mp3 links. Thanks for sharing.
3/26/2010 10:55 AM
This is now on YouTube in good quality!
I plan to re-post the audio on my site, The Fun Factory, soon.
This is definitely one of the best ghost story albums I've ever heard.
8/11/2010 4:40 AM
I am looking for a series of ghost stories we used to listen to in Elementary School (85-89, but I am sure the LP's were older than that). They were narrated by a lady that did all the voices and sounds when telling the stories. I remember specifically when she would talk about a door opening slowly, she would drag it out forever, like ewwwwwwww. I have no idea what they were called. Any help would be appreciated!
8/08/2011 7:35 PM
How can I record or put on a CD Scary Spooky Stories Troll Records 1973. I loved this as a kid. I would LOVE to have it on a CDn - any suggestions? Thank you!
8/12/2011 10:20 AM
I can make these LPs into CDs for you. Email me.
TerryLocklear - you might be talking about The Folktellers.
Dave
10/02/2011 5:47 PM
Does anyone remember the story in which the narrator told you to walk to your closet door, building it up amd you were terrified to open the closet door for fear of what you were going to find? I've been looking for it or years. Any help is appreciated!
8/18/2013 8:51 PM
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