Hello, swimmers! Today, we’re taking a deep dive into a record that swims somewhere between spooky storytime and Saturday morning cartoon chaos. It’s called House of Terror! and let me tell you, it’s less haunted mansion and more haunted garage sale, in the best possible way. Released by the ever-thrifty folks at Parade Records in 1982, this double-LP bubbles over with Halloween novelty songs, recycled monster drama, and a stapled-in comic book that smells like a forgotten attic. The legendary comic artist Neal Adams lent his ghoulish talents to both the artwork and the storytelling. So flip your stylus to the right groove, because we’re about to crack open the crypt and hear what kind of shrieks Parade packed into this vinyl vault.
In the early 1980s, a curious entry appeared on Parade Records titled House of Terror!, a two-record set that blended spooky stories, children’s songs, and comic book flair. This album was a collaboration between music producer Bugs Bower and comic book artist Neal Adams. Parade Records, based in Newark, New Jersey, had built a catalog around budget-friendly titles, often reissuing or repurposing earlier material. The packaging includes a sixteen-page stapled comic book that ties into the audio content. The idea was not new, but the combination of horror-themed content with illustrated panels gave the release a playful charm. It was the kind of thing you’d find tucked behind the plastic vampire masks and glow-in-the-dark fangs at a neighborhood department store.
The album is organized across four sides. Sides A and B are filled with short comedic skits, eerie soundscapes, and novelty songs geared toward Halloween. These tracks include “The Witch Doctor,” “Bloody Mary!,” and “A Visit to the Grave.” Also included are “The Purple People Eater” and “Monster Mash,” two familiar titles that had found their way into many seasonal compilations by that time. These versions are likely not the originals but instead sound-alike recordings produced in-house. That was a common practice among budget labels who often sidestepped licensing fees by recording their own versions. Side B in particular shifts between playful menace and theatrical absurdity, never lingering too long on any single tone.
Sides C and D present the full-length story A Story of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman, which originally appeared on Power Records in 1975. Neal Adams not only created the art for the comic insert but also adapted the script for the audio performance. Each monster is given a short segment, with overlapping plot elements that build toward a climactic resolution. The voice actors take their roles seriously, delivering dramatic lines that echo through layers of creaking doors and thunderclaps. For children, the result was likely engaging without becoming overwhelming. The inclusion of the comic allowed listeners to follow along and fill in the visual gaps as they heard the story unfold.
House of Terror! sits at a crossroads where comic book publishing, children’s audio, and seasonal kitsch meet. While much of the content was borrowed or recycled from previous projects, the presentation makes it feel like a single, cohesive product. Parade Records was known for this type of packaging, where licensing arrangements and low production costs met colorful design and recognizable characters. Whether bought for a Halloween party or discovered as a curious find in the record bin, the album offered just enough entertainment to justify its place on the shelf. Its appeal today lies partly in its cobbled-together nature and the snapshot it provides of children’s media from that time. It was not meant to last, but somehow, it did.
And there you have it, my shiny-shelled companions. House of Terror! may not raise any spirits, but it definitely raises questions about copyright law and the reuse of mid-century monster melodrama. From novelty tunes that wink at the past to audio dramas stitched together like Frankenstein’s resume, this record is a true product of its time, and possibly a few other timelines it borrowed from. Whether you spin it for kitsch, nostalgia, or just to hear a knockoff “Monster Mash” echo through your living room, it’s one more treasure on the tide of audio oddities. Until next time, keep your stylus clean, your records dry, and your heart tuned to the background. This is Finnley the Dolphin, signing off from Finnley’s Audio Adventures.
Sources:
“A Story of Dracula, Frankenstein, and the Wolfman.” Discogs, https://www.discogs.com/release/4958819-Unknown-Artist-A-Story-Of-DraculaWolfman-And-Frankenstein. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
Bower, Bugs, and Neal Adams. House of Terror!. Parade Records, 1982. 2xLP, PA 103.“House of Terror!.” Discogs, https://www.discogs.com/release/4773191-Bugs-Bower-Neal-Adams-House-Of-Terror-. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
“LP Bargain: 12 for $3 on Parade Label.” Billboard, 3 Nov. 1951, p. 18. Billboard Magazine Archive, https://books.google.com/books?id=ox4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA18. Accessed 26 Oct. 2025.
