close your eyes and...haunt...October 23rd, 2025

Greetings,

It's that time of year...close your eyes and haunt...

What does your Halloween scene look like?

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

costume choices...October 22nd, 2025

Greetings,

Costume choices are important especially for kids. My youngest chose to be a plague doctor mostly due to our visit to Scotland and our experiences on a ghost tour that discussed the plague and the recognizable "Plague Doctor". Three of the four of us had paranormal experiences there...I've had many in my lifetime and it was interesting to see the reactions of my children when dealing with things that could not be explained. 

Every year I usually dig out an old costume and decide where I'm going with it...I have mix and match things, but I haven't purchased a Halloween costume in a very long time.

We, as a family, often discuss a theme for all of us, but usually the kids ally with a classmate and head that route.  The "Plague Doctor" will be a solo mission and it's going to be great.

What are you wearing this Halloween? Do you buy, make or recycle costumes?

Drop a line, say "hey"...we are getting CLOSE.

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

free MP3 download...October 21st, 2025

Greetings!

Back in 2002 I participated in producing a charity CD (with a number of other artists).  It was called "Haunters Helping Haunters" and I had three songs on the disc.

"Helping Haunters" was recorded specifically for this disc.

Please have a listen and ENJOY...

Tonight I'm making this tune available for FREE!

Download "Helping Haunters" now - here.

I hope you enjoy some of the FREE Halloween treats I'm posting.  Remember to support independent artists (like me) by downloading or purchasing music - you can find my music for download here, here, here and here.

Mark Harvey

Click here if you can't figure out where to download the track

man...its the 20th...October 20th, 2025

Greetings!

Wow...it's really hard to believe that it's the 20th of October. This month has flown by. This is usually the time of the Season where I start to get antsy and I force more "more Halloween than is necessary" to everyone in my sphere. Yeah, that's me.

So, I'm still trippin' on the fact that the Rain Station's DARK RIDE album was done 25 years ago.  Makes me feel super old, but when I listen to the tracks I feel like they were recorded yesterday.  I hope the album ages gracefully, that people find joy in listening to it, watching the videos and that it is passed down generationally like "Monster Mash" or "Thriller" (I know, high bars, but...gotta dream big).

Anyhow, not much else is going on...life progresses...October doesn't stop and turn into Halloweentown for me (as much as I wish it would). For now, I am content with my Jack O' Lanterns lighting up my living room...my ghouls and pumpkins in the front.  I think I am properly Halloweening even when I feel out of sorts.

This is free flow...

Have a listen (again or for the first time).

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

favorite viewing this time of year...October 19th, 2025

Greetings, 

I thought I'd post a bunch of my favorite YouTube videos for you watching enjoyment!
I hope they bring you as much joy as they do me!





HAPPY HAUNTING!

Mark Harvey

fleshrot anthem...a track from Fleshrot:Songs from the Dead...October 18th, 2025

Good thing it is Saturday night...

What a week...and with that being said, now is the time to rock out to some of my heavier music (is that OK with you?).

Taken from Fleshrot: Songs from the Dead, "Fleshrot Anthem" is one of my favorite tracks off the CD.  Here's a review of the track...

"The opening track starts of with dark instrumental and the sound of zombies, then explodes into a brilliant thrash metal experience clocking in at about just over 9 minutes!. Pure audio adrenaline."

Have a listen...have a great weekend!

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

demographics...October 17th, 2025

Greetings,

I recently looked at the demographics of who is visiting me here at Mark Harvey World (since I'm spending time here during October). I was very surprised to see which countries most of the traffic is coming from. Leading the charge is Singapore (by a wide margin - 29%) followed by Germany, Sweden and Iran. The U.S. comes in fifth, but the number five spot is moving with Iran and the U.S. trading spots on a daily basis.

Thank you to my international visitors and welcome - please drop a comment and let me know what landed you here. I'm most active on my blog during the month of October, but I do stop in periodically during the year. I always state I'll post here more often, but...yeah...

So...Zombies....

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

more DARK RIDE goodness...October 16th, 2025

Greetings,

Another quick post on the 25th Anniversary of Rain Station's DARK RIDE album...

I recently learned of an animated version of the final track of DARK RIDE...named...well, same...

I love that after all these years the album can inspire someone to create something with it. Here's what Jay wrote on RainStation.com...

"A fan of the Dark Ride album emailed and asked permission to animate our music. I was psyched. It came out nifty. I especially love the homage to the Candy characters and other characters from our past animations.

25 years went by really fast. Mark Harvey and I have raised our children, shared our love of Halloween with them, and here we are still going strong due to Robert Whittington’s new animation. Thanks, Robert Whittington of FIDreams. Thanks for reminding us that we exist.

I hadn’t noticed that we reached the 25 years point. I do know that two generations have grown up listening to our Halloween tunes. I also want to thank Heather Drain for reminding us that we are still worth mentioning at this time of year. Heather has had a lot to do with our exposure to all things internet. Yay team."

Here's the video...

What Jay wrote continues...

"I don’t know why Mark and I made Dark Ride. We just love Halloween. It wasn’t a commercial project, it never tried to make any money. It was a project we did because we want to be a part of the Halloween season. It feels really good to hear from Dads who search for our animations to show their kids. It means so much to us to be a part of your celebration.

Dark Ride is a party album, made for parties, long cues at haunts, any place where a bouncy dancey Halloween vibe could be of use. Plus Mark and I make some really funny voices and characters. Check it all out at JackOLantern.ORG 🎃 – and Happy Halloween to you and yourn!"

Many readers probably know the "WHY" for the DARK RIDE album based on many, many, many previous blog posts.  If not, here is where you'll read about it. I'm just so happy to have had a collaborator like Jay to be able to pull off a project like DARK RIDE.  I can remember the time vividly, working at a guitar shop, their consignment shop, writing lyrics in-between customers...eager to get home to work on the album some more. 

We had such a tight timeline and it felt like such an achievement to complete a 13 track album in two weeks. It was a labor of love, an album that encapsulates my Halloween experience growing up.  It means a lot to me that folks like it still. I appreciate every song download. Every time our name is mentioned. Rain Station is alive and well and we'll most certainly ride again. 

Happy Haunting, 

Mark Harvey

nocturne...October 15th, 2025

Greetings,

Just a few more shots of my living room so far. I hope to continue working on it this week and have things well in hand by the weekend.

Fill in spaces. Create scenes that tell stories. 

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

feeling fall...October 14th, 2025

Greetings,

I hope your Season has been going well.  We've been busy over here at Pumpkinland. There's much afoot on a daily basis that certainly not seasonal (as we can all attest to), but I did manage to get some more things out and up.

My kids enjoy having the spaces decorated. I enjoy putting a movie on and letting the pumpkins glow while I take in the ambiance. My house returns to it regularly decorated program briefly after Halloween and then Christmas takes over for a long time.

For now I enjoy feeling Fall...feeling October....Feeling Halloween.

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

Happy Silver Anniversary! Twenty Five Years of DARK RIDE...October 13th, 2025

Greetings and salutations,

TWENTY FIVE years ago Jay and I released Rain Station's DARK RIDE and after all these years I'm still as excited about this CD as I was when it was released.  Let's rewind the clock...here's the back story (for those who don't know).
Back in the Fall of 2000 (Due to my online presence on 13thTrack.com Halloween Radio) I was invited to The Universal Studios Hollywood Eyegore Awards. The Universal Studios Hollywood Eyegore Awards are presented for achievement in the horror and sci-fi genre. So, on Friday, October 13th Jay and I trekked down to LA to be there, interview some folks and get some station IDs for 13thTrack.com as well as interview some of the winners for an article that I wrote.  For some reason I still can't seem to find the article, but I'll keep digging so I can post it here.

The winners that night were:
* Joss Whedon
* Casts of Buffy and Angel
* Karen Black
* Gloria Stewart

* "The Undertaker"

I knew I was going to be meeting some people that night (Rob Zombie, Karen Black, Alyson Hannigan, Bill Moseley, Joss Whedon and more) and I figured it would be cool to record a Halloween CD to hand out to the folks we meet - you know, see if we can land that big record deal or get our music placed in a horror film, on TV...something. Rob Zombie had recently launched his Zombie A-Go-Go Record label (now inactive) and since I've always been a fan of HALLOWEEN and rockabilly (gothabilly) I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to push out another CD in 2000 (we had released "Stonedozer" earlier that year). So Jay and I put this together quick style and did what we set out to do. Funny how I remember working at the Gelb Music consignment shop and writing lyrics.  I had rough mixes on cassette and an old tape player. In between customers and phone calls I'd try and pen lyrics.  I remember being a bit frantic since I knew we had a deadline and I agreed to work extra shifts to cover a vacation. I'm a bit of a perfectionist when I record - or at least I try to be - and in this case DARK RIDE just wasn't going to get the time I would normally put into a CD.  Amazing enough the disc turned out despite lack of time. Once we got back to the Bay Area from the "gig" we decided that the CD was pretty good so we mastered the disc with George Horn (Chief Mastering Engineer) at Fantasy Records in Berkeley, CA.

It still amazes me that we recorded this entire CD in probably two or three weeks. The disc got some great reviews as well...and although I know I've blogged this far too many times, here goes again (the reviews):

Underground DJ from Haunted Attraction Magazine

Now it is time to run away and join the carnival. "Step right up and see the amazing, the unbelievable, the available for your attraction CD, DARK RIDE by Rain Station." A journey through a veritable midway of new music written for old pretzel rides. The use of sound effects is limited only to those that help create the feel of the piece. The styles of music range widely from Heavy Metal beats through old time Rock and Roll to the almost cutesy Trick Or Treatin'. This nostalgically fun selection, took me back to my early days as a young zombie, heading out on Halloween with the lust for candy in my heart. The CD would be great for line entertainment or a party, with a little bit for every taste and some of the beats are infectious.

Larry McKenzie HalloweenMagazine.com

DARK RIDE by Rain Station is one of the most unique Halloween music CDs I have ever heard. DARK RIDE has 13 music tracks. Each track is a good mixture for Halloween. A bit mysterious and dark, yet very fun. The DARK RIDE CD would be great for an adult Halloween party. If you are a Halloween enthusiast and are looking for more Halloween music for your collection, you should visit http://www.NobodyRecords.com/ and listen to the MP3 samples from the DARK RIDE CD. I am happy to have this CD as part of my Halloween music collection. I sincerely recommend visiting Nobody Records and listen to a track or two.

Underground Entertainment

(This) offering is more of a Halloween party CD, especially suited to be played in queue lines or on the midways of Scream Parks. It contains thirteen tracks of rock/alternative style music with Halloween themes. You'll find titles such as "Monster Hunter", "Haunted Man", "Black Lagoon", "Trick or Treatin'", and "Broom Hopping". This one is fun and is a CD that should be added to the collection of anyone interested in assembling a music anthology of Halloween related material.

Chaotic Order

Curious mix of Porno for Pyros and White Collar Crime with a penchant for Halloween. Best use would be on the soundtrack for the upcoming Scooby Doo movie.

Happy Halloween Magazine

Looking for a Halloween CD with an edge, this is the one to get. Available from Nobody Records, Rain Station's Dark Ride packs a gritty, heavy metal sound that conjures an auditory image of purgatory. While this is not normally the type of music I listen to, for Halloween...it works! The raspy vocals lend a dark, almost visceral feel to the accompanying music. Contains 13, new, original hits...

Jay made some "videos" for some of the tracks on DARK RIDE. Check all of them out here.
DARK RIDE is one of my all time favorite projects. Perhaps it is because we didn't over analyze it, we had a timeline and had to bang it out. Perhaps it was because we got to be completely goofy. Rain Station music can sometimes be awfully serious and this disc is nothing but pure fun. Perhaps it was the thrill of getting to give copies of our CD to folks like Rob Zombie and Karen Black. Perhaps it was the Halloween theme.
The road trip to Universal Studios with Jay is a very fond memory for me. It felt like we were on tour.

Watch DARK RIDE cartoons HERE
JackOLantern.ORG Animation from J.E.Moores on Vimeo.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY DARK RIDE!!!

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

Disney's "The Song and Story from The Haunted Mansion"...October 11th, 2025

Greetings,

Each year I feel the need to pay homage to Disney's Haunted Mansion and how it impacted my life. The aesthetic, music and overall experience is where my "haunter's head and heart" has always gravitated toward. I have never been into gore. Whimsical supernatural is fun. As my friend Brent Ross has always said, "we like old dead, not new dead"...

Disney's "The Song and Story from The Haunted Mansion" is probably one of my favorite records of all time.

As a kid I had a copy, but my Mom - in an attempt to rid our house of all EVIL LPs - threw it out (my poor sisters lost A LOT of LPs...Led Zeppelin, Bad Company...and so many more). It was a phase in my life where celebrating Halloween was OK just as long as you had nothing evil or dark associated with it.

In my adult years I began searching the Internet to see if I could find a replacement copy of Disney's "The Song and Story from The Haunted Mansion". I found a guy named Jeff Baham who was running a little site about Disney's Haunted Mansion. That site has gotten HUGE (here). Jeff suggested eBay and so I surfed over there to see what eBay was all about. Talk about SCORE. I now own several copies of Disney's Haunted Mansion LP, many in pristine condition. I'm so happy to have them in my collection. "The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion" is an LP that featured a pre-Happy-Days Ron Howard. Recorded in 1969, "The Story and Song from the Haunted Mansion" featured the young Howard as "Mike," a teenager out on a date with "Karen" voiced by Robie Lester. Lester's "Storyteller" album for The Aristocats was nominated for a 1970 Grammy Award. One of her most famous roles was as "Miss Jessica", the schoolteacher who becomes Mrs. Kris Kringle (Santa Claus) in the 1970 Rankin-Bass TV special Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town (TV special).

The story is narrated by Thurl Ravenscroft, one of Disney's best-known vocal talents. Ravenscroft is known for being the original voice of Tony the Tiger as well as the the singer of "You're a Mean One, Mr. Grinch," from Chuck Jones' classic cartoon How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The Disneyland ride's main scenes are represented which makes this an album well worth owning (if you have a turntable). The LP's Ghost Host is voiced by Pete Renoudet. This differs from the attraction's Ghost Host, voiced by Paul Frees. The album contains an 11-page book of illustrations by Disney Imagineer and artist Collin Campbell.

I hope you enjoy what I consider to be the starting point of my love for all things Halloween...Disney's "The Song and Story from The Haunted Mansion"...








Happy Haunting!

Mark Harvey

free Halloween music always sounds good...October 10th, 2025

Greetings,

I feel the need to offer up some treats for those of you who read this blog. Here is a FREE download of one of my tracks. The FREE MP3 download is "Every Day, Every Year" (click here to download), taken from the Nobody Records Pumpkinland Halloween Sampler (also found on mopehead's "Big Top Blues" CD here). Enjoy the FREE track and please drop me a comment. Remember, all of my CDs are available for purchase at and be downloaded here, here, here and here.
Be sure and support Halloween Radio by purchasing CDs from us!

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey (aka mopehead)

Click here if you can't figure out where you're supposed to click to download the song.

haunt music for your home, party or haunted attraction...October 9th, 2025

Greetings and salutations,

Today (as I do on many occasions) I harken back to the glory days of when I was making Halloween music and somewhat working in the haunt industry.  A few years ago Weird Jon at Gravediggers Local 16 (here) did an incredible write up of my Pumpkinland CDs.

Here's the article:

The late 90’s were a very important time in the development of modern haunted attraction music. Midnight Syndicate had settled into the style which made them famous in 1998 and Michael Hedstrom entered the scene in 1999. That year also saw the release of Pumpkinland by a California native by the name Mark Harvey. He created the album due to the difficulties he had finding the right soundtrack for his “Pumpkinland” home haunt. As this was before the explosion of ambient horror music, he was limited to the various scary sound effects albums which used to flood supermarkets and drug stores each October. They offered more sound effects than music and many of said sound effects were inappropriate for children (who were the haunt’s intended audience). So he decided to just make his own custom mix of music and effects. Thank goodness he was an experienced musician with his own label!

Mark Harvey’s music career traces back to 1985 and he created Nobody Records in 1987 to release his band’s first album. The Screaming Paisleys were only the beginning of his working with others, as later years saw him playing as a member of Rain Station along with Beth Eyre and Month of Sundays. He also spent much of the 90’s as a solo act performing under the name “mopehead.” Pumpkinland not only spawned his recording studio, but its success led to his “HauntScapes” (as he calls them) appearing in haunted attractions and dark rides around the world! His work has also appeared in television, radio, commercials and film.
The opening track “Pumpkinland” features a slow, rumbling buildup which carries on through entire track. There are also touches of musical instruments to keep the tension up. It’s not too overwhelming for children while still being creepy enough for everyone else. It’s great for pumpkin patches, graveyards, boiler rooms, etc. If you go with a pumpkin theme, make sure to build a pumpkin arch to help with the mood. The track’s mild lurking feel helps it flow into the next track as well. “Creature” turns up the lurking sensation and oozes with unease. It’s all atmosphere with no additional music. That is, unless you count how the track “throbs” at times. You’ll understand once you hear it. “Swamp” picks things up a bit with hissing music and a feel that’s almost like breathing. There are the occasional distant cries heard as well. I really enjoyed the direction the music took toward the last leg of the track, especially the groaning tones. Maybe it’s due to the drum beats, but this has something of a Midnight Syndicate feel as well. You had better believe that’s meant as a compliment! “Ghouls” is a grand orchestral track. The amazing organs and horns are sometimes joined by vaguely mystical or spacey touches. It’s a bit insect-like at times, so it could work in spider or bug room. “The Pumpkin Patch” is an epic soundscape whose length depends on the format you purchase it on. The digital download runs a little over 25 minutes but has a brief silent pause about 17:14 into the track. This is due to Bandcamp’s size limits and the uninterrupted 34 minute version can only be found on CD. There’s wailing wind, creaking branches and night birds. There’s even some howling wolves, crickets and thunder at times for good measure. On the music side of things, there are the occasional touches of instruments. But they come and go too quickly to let you make any identifications.

Mark Harvey made a truly impressive impact upon the world of ambient Halloween music with Pumpkinland. With the shortest track only being a little under 4 minutes, looping isn’t a problem for any of the tracks. That is, unless you purchase “The Pumpkin Patch” as a digital download. They also flow into each other well enough to allow for the album to be looped as a whole. Naturally, a sequel soon followed and the year 2000 saw the release of Pumpkinland II.

“Pumpkinland II” has a dark and low synth opening. There are plenty of musical variations to keep things interesting (and disturbing). It’s extremely creepy and gets even creepier halfway through thanks to vaguely metallic notes and subdued string work. I enjoyed how the strings picked up as it plays out. The vaguely creaking open of “Nightfall” leads to sinister synth tones that take on an almost heartbeat-like feel at times. Said heartbeat is enhanced by both the percussion sounds and the soft sounds of wind which are woven into the track. Since it reminds me of an old rope swaying in the wind, why not play it near your haunt’s gibbet? In “Lagoon,” classic jungle sounds (monkeys and birds) are melded with dark synth work. There are steady, stab-like tones and vaguely otherworldly touches as well. Later we can hear effects like a heartbeat, something moving through vegetation and a yowling cat in the distance. The track picks up a bit for the second half (especially the heartbeat and moving sounds). You could potentially time a scare to happen when the heartbeat reaches its highest point. Alternately, you could wait until when the jungle sounds yield to a heartbeat as the traveler exits the lagoon. I’m sure the guests’ guards will be down then. This would be perfect for jungle scenes or encounters with amphibious monsters. But if you really want to throw a curve ball at your guests, try making an alligator box!

Clocking in at over 8 minutes in length, “Caverns” is one of the album’s longer tracks. The synth work has an appropriately heavy mood and strange laughter can be briefly heard at times. The fluttering bats and distant dripping perfectly capture the feel of wandering in an underground realm. The sound of footsteps let us know we’re not alone in the caves. These briefly give way to more synth work, but the effects do return. My only (minor) complaint is how the effects simply get repeated rather than use variations of them. Haunted caves and mine shafts would greatly benefit from this track. “Creep” offers low (but not too heavy) synth work backed by soft tones. It’s eerie rather than intense. This is not a bad thing. “Behind the Castle” starts off with the sounds of a rope creaking and straining, in addition to soft wind and plenty of dark ambience. But then we get a surprise: electrical zapping and machinery noises pop in for a short spell. So why not use this in a mad scientist’s laboratory? You can even have a Frankenstein’s monster prop laid out on a table hanging from ropes! Synthesizer notes are used to create a low key sense of dread in “Green Mist.” You could potentially use it outdoors with a fog machine (and fog chiller) if so desired, but I highly recommend using some creepy scarecrows as well. “Midnight” is the longest track, clocking in at a little under 24 minutes. The sound of wailing wind is louder than it was on the other tracks. The inclusion of rain and creepy bird sounds enhances the mood, as do the sound of leaves rustling in the wind (or something rustling in the grass, it works either way). There’s plenty of variations, especially the weather effects. Sometimes a random sound effect is used once and never appears again. These include church bells, bats and distant thunder. All other effects return in some form throughout the track. There are tons of potential uses for this track. You could even play it softly in a haunted room scene with the music player hidden near a false window to create effect of a stormy night outside. Alternately, you could use a real window with drawn curtains if the window sill is large enough to support your audio player.
Mark Harvey did more than match the quality of his last album, he improved upon it! There’s more tracks and most are either equal to or greater than the lengths of the material on Pumpkinland. The HauntScapes themselves are all perfectly chilling. You can close your eyes and be instantly transported to a variety of scary locations while listening. 2000 also saw the release of a soundscape album called Mark Harvey​.​.​.​Unreleased. I think you can figure out the source of the material based on the title, so let’s move on to the final (as of this writing) installment of the Pumpkinland series: 2001’s Pumpkinland III.

“Procession” has what I like to call a “medium low” musical backbone. There are some neat variations to the plodding drumbeats and other instruments take over at times. It’s perfect for those who want to use something other than Chopin’s funeral march in their haunted attraction. It also works as a standalone track you can enjoy on any day of the year. The synth heavy “Rites” is suggestive of dark doings. Its unique use of drums is supported by dripping sounds and distant moaning. So it’s ideal for caverns, altars, prisons and dungeons. You could even score an entire garage haunt with this track since it’s over 12 minutes long! Pounding synth work and some new wind effects kick off “Pumpkinland III.” Its ominous feel would aid any graveyard or pumpkin patch it’s used in. This is another track that I think would pair nicely with scarecrows. “Nocturne” features low, heavy synths and chirping insects. The chirping fades in and out and crickets join in at times to keep things interesting. This track can be used in haunted forests or any any scene involving nature. The use of insect calls also mean it can be used as the musical backing for a room involving the Necronomicon. The creepy opening of “Docks” vaguely reminds me of Nickelodeon’s Are You Afraid of the Dark? series. But the soft wind and creepily cooing synthesizers take things in a different direction. Dripping water and softly lapping waves can be heard later on, along with the occasional appearance by wordless female vocals. The synths get very varied about halfway through. There’s also a sound effect that’s either someone walking or the sound of the docks settling. Either way, this lengthy soundscape is very eerie and effective. Its name makes me think of pirates, but that isn’t the only potential use this track could have in your haunt. You could easily use it if you have a rumble bridge in a swamp scene. Haunts using tour guides can even make up a story about a ghost who crosses the bridge at times in order to take advantage of the “walking” sounds. Low synth notes lurk in the background of “Nightmare,” which conjures up a feeling of mild nervousness. A lengthy screech breaks the tension and returns just before the end. Other random effects put in brief appearances throughout the track. The sounds of wind and militaristic drum beats are combined with synth work in “Graveyard.” The synth work is just as wonderfully varied as the drums are steady. I love the sneaking tones and mournful notes. There’s a nice callback to the album’s opening track too. The album could have only consisted of this track and it still would have delivered everything promised by the cover art.

Pumpkinland III is yet another triumph from Mark Harvey. Previous albums used variations on certain sound effects in the tracks to keep things interesting, but this time synth work handles that particular task more. But don’t let that make you think the effects are boring. Hell, there’s more different wind sound effects in this than the other two albums combined! But no matter which album(s) you use, your guests (be they trick-or-treaters or haunt patrons) are certain to have a great time. The HauntScapes are both creepy enough for adults while not being too intense for kids. These albums can also be played in haunted attractions on a royalty free basis once purchased. What’s not to love?

Although his work is respected in the Halloween and haunting communities, I’ve noticed how his work seems to be more obscure than the other artists who started out in the 90’s. I’ve lurked at a few forums devoted to haunting and was shocked to haunt operators’ discussions of what audio they should use rarely mentioned him. This might be due to how his albums were initially sold on eBay and his work is only available as a digital download from select services like Bandcamp rather than big name online retailers like Amazon or iTunes. Others have noted how the various covers for Pumpkinland (and its sequels) might have made some potential buyers think it was a kiddie album and pass on it. I’m convinced everyone would use his name in the same breath as Midnight Syndicate if Pumpkinland had used the cover of Pumpkinland III. Hopefully this situation will change soon. His work is amazing and deserves all the recognition it can get.

What has Mark Harvey been up to since then? He released Fleshrot: Songs from the Dead in 2003 to act as the soundtrack for John Pearson’s graphic novel Fleshrot: Tales From The Dead. A few tracks were recycled from Pumpkinland II and Pumpkinland III, but I’d like to think it’s a reference to how Pearson created the current cover art for those albums. At some point a sampler album was released and I imagine he did plenty of custom tracks for various attractions as well. After that, he stopped making ambient albums to focus on his family and various musical projects. He still kept himself in the world of Halloween thanks to his blog and by running the online radio station 13Track.com. But last year saw the release of the haunting single Undead and left fans wondering if more albums are in the works. Stay tuned!"

My studio is still not up and running much to my dismay.  I am hoping to get the space put together after a long hiatus and begin recording music again.  I'd like to thank all of those who have supported my music these many years.  Each years I sell some CDs and downloads.  I appreciate every single one of them more than you could know.  After all these years my 'HauntScapes' are still heard around the world on Halloween night - helping haunters haunt and giving a spooky vibe to their events.  That's cool.

Have a listen if you haven't and any support is greatly appreciated!

Pumpkinland

Pumpkinland II

Pumpkinland III

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

a little light indoor decorating...October 8th, 2025

Greetings,

Today I did a little light indoor decorating.  I usually like to have it done earlier than the 8th of October, but that didn't happen. Outdoor decorating started in September when my wife put a few items out in the yard.  After that, bit by bit, more things were added. I like to add new things to the front yard as the month goes on.  The kids have fun coming home from school and seeing a new ghoul or pumpkin set up somewhere in the yard. 

Both of my younger kids got involved with bringing things up, setting things up and enjoying the process.  I am far from done, but starting the project is always the hardest part. We had Halloween music playing on the speakers and Scooby Doo on the TV.

Later tonight my son and I watched a cool pumpkin carving show to get into the spirit. We'll probably watch the series as it is so cool to see the artistry and creativity these folks bring to the Season.

How early do you decorate for Halloween? Do you decorate inside and outside? Do you watch movies, listen to music...both? Drop me a line and let me know.

Happy Haunting,

Mark Harvey

Dressing Up Halloween: The Story of Ben Cooper Inc...October 7th, 2025

Greetings,

Last night based on a recommendation from a friend my son and I watched this awesome documentary. My daughter drifted in and out, but my son was mesmerized. Both kids stated, "we grew up in the wrong generation". Tons of great footage of the old costumes, heartwarming stories of a company that put people first and great Halloween feels all around.

From their website (here), "In 2022, Rob rented out the former Ben Cooper factory in Brooklyn, NY. He went to work on his plan to have former Ben Cooper employees return to the place where they once worked to tell stories of the past.

A few months later the former employees arrived, and the gathering was a momentous occasion as some of these employees had not seen each other in over three to four decades.

One of the special attendees was Ben Cooper’s grandson, who represented his family’s proud heritage. As the grandson of the founder, he shared insights into the early years of the company, the values instilled by his grandfather, and the challenges they faced along the way.

Throughout the day, the former employees reminisced about their time at the Ben Cooper factory, sharing anecdotes and stories that fueled their camaraderie. Old friendships were rekindled, and the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as memories were exchanged and laughter filled the room.

Rob has now teamed with The Nacelle Company to bring the film to the masses.

“This film is loaded with nostalgia,” said Caprilozzi, “and features tons of vintage videos in all their static-filled glory.”"

For the generation that grew up with Ben Cooper costumes this was a great watch filled with heartwarming stories of a company with amazing people standards, values and great products. I highly recommend watching this. It was awesome.

Happy Haunting (and remember, "No costume, no candy"),

Mark Harvey