Spooky Songs Haunt 'Mansion' Soundtrack

11/20/2003 8:07 PM, Reuters
Barry A. Jeckell

Tracks by the Barenaked Ladies , Suzanne Vega, Raven Simone and Oingo Boingo are among those putting the scare into Walt Disney Records' "The Haunted Mansion: Haunted Hits."

Due Tuesday, the soundtrack of songs from and inspired by the Eddie Murphy -starring family film is rife with music with a spooky theme.

Simone sings the first single from the set, a version of the Stevie Wonder classic "Superstition." The star of the Disney Channel show "That's So Raven" recently shot a video for the song at Hollywood's historic El Capitan Theater. The clip will premiere Friday on the Disney Channel at 8 p.m. ET.

The Barenaked Ladies turn in a version of "Grim, Grinning Ghosts," a song that is heard in the movie by a collection of singing busts that populate the walls of the haunted mansion. The movie version is also included on the soundtrack, along with a piece of the film's score.

Brian O'Neal and the Bus Boys turn in covers of Dr. John's "Right Place, Wrong Time" and Bobby "Boris" Pickett's "Monster Mash," while neo-soul artist Calvin Richardson takes on Screamin' Jay Hawkins ' "I Put a Spell on You." Morris Day & the Time contribute a version of Rockwell's "Somebody's Watching Me."

Vega's "Tombstone," from her 1996 A&M album "Nine Objects of Desire," is featured, as is the Jackson 5's "The Boogie Man." That Deke Richards-written song originally appeared on the group's 1972 Motown album "Skywriter."

Rounding out the collection is Oingo Boingo's "Dead Man's Party" (prominently featured in the 1986 film "Back to School") and tracks by swing act the Atomic Fireballs, electronic pop outfit the All Stars and newcomer twin-sibling group the Conti Bros.

Also starring Terrence Stamp, Nathaniel Parker, Marsha Thomason and Jennifer Tilly , "The Haunted Mansion" opens Nov. 26 in U.S. theaters.

Reuters/Billboard