Vinyl Review: "Frankie Stein and His Ghouls" and "Vincent Price Witchcraft-Magic—An Adventure in Demonology" from Real Gone Music

Vinyl Review:  "Frankie Stein and His Ghouls"  and "Vincent Price Witchcraft-Magic—An Adventure in Demonology" from Real Gone Music

Distributed by:  Real Gone Music

While I mainly focus on Horror movies on this blog, I love to branch out and cover other horror related items when I can.  Books, clothing, or in this case, Vinyl records!   As most of you probably know, Vinyl has made a huge comeback in the last few years with collectors.  With that resurgance of interest in Vinyl, comes some amazing new releases and re-releases.   I was recently given the opportunity to check out a couple of Horror related vinyl re-releases from an amazing online retailer I found called, REAL GONE MUSIC.  According to their website, REAL GONE MUSIC is "a reissue label dedicated to serving both the collector community and the casual music fan with a robust release schedule combining big-name artists with esoteric cult favorites,"

 The first vinyl for review is INTRODUCING FRANKIE STEIN AND HIS GHOULS!   Originally released in 1964, this was a fun album of a fictional group of monsters that played scary, but fun songs for kids.  The songs sound like they are from the 60's, with lots of surf tunes and twists, but with sound effects of monsters, ghosts, and other creepy sounds!  It's all upbeat and fast paced, though, so not scary at all and great for kids!   This is such a fun album, and would be great to play if you were having a Halloween party. You can't beat that cover art as well!   Here is the track list for INTRODUCING FRANKIE STEIN AND HIS GHOULS:

Side One
1. WEERDO THE WOLF (Twist)
2. GOON RIVER (Swim)
3. A HEARSE IS NOT A HOME (Frug)
4. LITTLE WEIRDS (Monkey, Lindy)
5. LULLABY OF GHOST LAND (Fox Trot)

Side Two
1. KNIVES AND LOVERS (Swim)
2. LITTLE GHOUL BLUE (Mashed Potato, Shimmy)
3. GHOUL DAYS (Watusi)
4. LITTLE BROWN BUG (Hully Gully)
5. THE NECK TWIST (Twist)

INTRODUCING FRANKIE STEIN AND HIS GHOULS is released on opaque orange pumpkin vinyl inside the classic orange cover art, and is limited to just 500 copies, so get yours soon before they are gone!

 The next vinyl I got for review, and one of my favorite new additions to my collection, is Vincent Price's WITCHCRAFT & MAGIC:  AN ADVENTURE IN DEMONOLOGY.  This is a spoken-word album by Vincent Price, and if you are like me, you would pay for an album of just him reading a phone book!   This man's voice was so unique, and perfect for the horror genre.   Mix his voice with text about witchcraft and demons, and you have a hit record on your hands!   

 This album is so interesting, as  you get a history lesson of witchcraft throughout history, from the Middle Ages, the Spanish Inquisition, and even Nazi Germany.   Along with the history lessons, you get stories of witches and possessions as well as instructions and directions on how to cast your own spells!   Obviously meant for entertainment purposes only, it's a lot of fun to listen to. Vincent's words are backed by some creepy music and sound effects creating the perfect blend of the macabre!

 WITCHCRAFT & MAGIC:  AN ADVENTURE IN DEMONOLOGY was first released in 1969, and Real Gone Music has reissued it as a double LP release complete with the gatefold jacket and the full size 8 page booklet that accompanied some original copies.  The vinyl themselves are clear with orange pumpkin pigment and look amazing!  This is a must have release for any horror fan, specifically fans of the great Vincent Price.    

 Here is the track list for WITCHCRAFT & MAGIC:  AN ADVENTURE IN DEMONOLOGY:

Side One

1.        Prologue/The Tale of Master Seth

2.        Hitler and Witchcraft/Witchcraft in History

3.        Women as Witches/Witch Burning

4.        Witch Tortures

 

Side Two

1.        Witch Tortures (Cont.)/The World of Spirits and Demons

2.        Preparation for Magic/Instruments of Magic

3.        How to Invoke Spirits, Demons, Unseen Forces/The Magic Bloodstone

4.        The Witches Cauldron/How to Communicate with the Spirits

 

Side Three

1.        How to Communicate with the Spirits (cont.)/Gerald Yorke and Necromancy

2.        How to Make a Pact with the Devil/How to Become a Witch

3.        Curses, Spells, Charms

 

Side Four

1.        Curses, Spells, Charms (Cont.)/Potions

2.        The Hand of Glory/The Witches Sabbat

3.        Witchcraft Today/Epilogue

 REAL GONE MUSIC has some amazing releases in addition to these two that I highly suggest you check out.  They spare no expense in creating some great re-issues with some beautiful colored vinyl, all at a remarkably affordable price!   Definitely check out this site if you a fan or collector of vinyl records!

CLICK HERE to purchase the Frankie Stein and his Ghouls vinyl

CLICK HERE to purchase the Vincent Price Witchcraft & Magic vinyl

CLICK HERE to check out the rest of the HALLOWEEN (Horror) section of Vinyl records at Real Gone Music

4K UHD Review: MAXXXINE (2024)

MAXXXINE

Written & Directed by:  Ti West

Distributed by:  Second Sight Films

 The final installment in Ti West's X Trilogy, MAXXXINE is once again a very different style of film as the first two films.  X was a dark and grimy 70's style horror film, while PEARL was a vibrant and colorful nod to old Hollywood, disguised as a horror film.   MAXXXINE is set in 1980's Hollywood and was very reminiscent of Hollywood slashers of the 80's.  

 Here is the basic plot synopsis, courtesy of Second Sight Films:

An adult film star in 80s Los Angeles tries to cross over to the mainstream by starring in a new horror film, but her past soon catches up with her and friends and colleagues start turning up dead.

  This film immediately made me think of Robert Vincent O'Neil's 1984 film, ANGEL.   While that film focused on a serial killer targeting prostitutes,  the killer in MAXXXINE was targeting female adult film actresses.  West did an amazing job of making this film feel like you were watching something straight from the 80's.  The wardrobes and hair styles were spot on.  Also worth noting was the amazing soundtrack featuring tons of 1980's hit songs.  

  Mia Goth again stars as Maxine Minx, the character she portrayed in the original film, X.   If you'll remember from my review of PEARL, she also plays the character of Pearl, the woman that owned the farm Maxine shot the adult film at in X.   Confused?  I was too at first, but somehow Mia Goth pulls it off and makes it work.  I think that is a testament to the talent that she is. 

  As with the previous installments, there are some great effects, with lots of blood and gore.  One scene in particular made me physically cringe, and I expect most males that watched this did the same.  That should be a good hint and what part of the body that effect involved!  

 Director Ti West once again does a wonderful job and makes another very stylistic horror film, and a nice wrap up to the X trilogy.   While I personally think MAXXXINE was the weakest of the 3 films, it was still very good and definitely worth a watch.     Second Sight Films again does a remarkable job with this 4K release.  The picture and sound quality is amazing, and as you can see below, these releases are loaded with some awesome Special Features!

MAXXXINE is available now in 4K UHD and a 4K UHD Limited Edition set.   The standard edition contains the following Special Features:

• Presented in HDR with Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos

• New audio commentary commentary by Bill Ackerman & Amanda Reyes

• Back to the Blank Page: a new interview with Director Ti West

• Money on the Screen: a new interview with Producer Jacob Jaffke
  
  
• B-Movie Aesthetic: a new interview with Director of Photography Eliot Rockett 
  
  
• Curating Space: a new audio interview with Production Designer Jason Kisvarday
  
  

• The Whole World's Gonna Know My Name: Kat Hughes on MaXXXine

• The Belly of the Beast

• XXX Marks the Spot

• Hollywood is a Killer

• Q&A with Ti West

The Limited Edition set contains all the Special Features from the standard edition, plus the following extras:

• Rigid slipcase with new artwork by OC Agency Group

• 120-page book with new essays by Reyna Cervantes, Sarah Miles, Sam Moore, James Rose, Rebecca Sayce and Michelle Swope

• 6 collectors' art cards 

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K UHD

CLICK HERE to purchase the 4K UHD Limited Edition set