William Conrad "Spirits and Spooks For Hallowe'en Summoned Up by William Conrad" (Caedmon, TC1344, 1973)

Another fantastically spooky Caedmon Halloween LP from the early '70's, this time with the narrative duties ably handled by William Conrad, then in the thick of his popularity as the private eye "Cannon". This was another public library childhood favorite of mine, and I can recall being quite frightened by the music in "The Secret Commonwealth" for some reason. I'll just quote copiously from Paul Kresh's evocative liner notes and then get along to the downloading:

"Hallowe'en -- All Hallow's Eve -- the eve of All Saint's Day -- a night for mischief, when the goblins all are out playing pranks, when witches and warlocks cavort through autumn air, when dark clouds scud across the moon's scared white face and the wanton October wind strip the branches of trees bare leaf by leaf...

Just listen, as William Conrad, that master spieler of spooky tales, inhabits the grooves of this disc for a spine-tingling session of storm-tossed rhymes and tales. Children, especially, will love to be frightened by him: 'After all, it's only a story.' Or is it?

Bolt the doors, dim the lights, place the record warily on your turntable, lower the needle softly -- but take care! Be you big or little, old or young, huddle close and sit quite, quite still -- never a wriggle nor a murmur now. Sh-shsh! These witches, goblins and ghosts mean business. As Mr. Herrick warned three hundred years ago:

This night, and more for the wonder,
The ghost from the tomb affrighted shall
come,
Called out by the clap of the thunder.

With this record in your collection, mischief need know no season, Any night can be Hallowe'en. Spin it at your risk."



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