Decca 31738. "The Night Walker" was originally composed by Vic Mizzy for William Castle's 1964 psychological horror movie of the same name. (It was one of Mizzy's earliest recorded compositions; he'd contribute notable themes for the "Addams Family" and films like "The Love God" and "The Ghost and Mr. Chicken" in short order.) There was no commercially-released soundtrack for "The Night Walker" at the time; this recording, rather, is Kaye's 1964 reading of the title theme. Mizzy was never one to be afraid of musical theatrics, but Kaye's version is positively flamboyant next to the theme actually heard in the movie. It's quite unlike anything else in aging big band leader Sammy Kaye's oeuvre that I'm aware of, for that matter, a swirling cauldron of twangy suspense guitars, screaming organ and a building ominous mood. For more post-War bohemia, visit the Lonely Beat, One Hundred Themes from the Naked City: http://exoticaproject.com/2/
