One Roky Erickson song is not enough, so today's song comes from a 1990 Roky Erickson tribute album called Where the Pyramid Meets the Eye. It contains a diverse array of artists covering Roky's songs, like ZZ Top, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Butthole Surfers, and today's performer, R.E.M. Although R.E.M isn't a band typically known for embracing horror themes, they picked one of Roky's most overtly horror songs to cover: "I Walked With a Zombie." The title might bring to mind chunky, distorted riffs and growling vocals a la Rob Zombie, but don't be fooled. This is a melodic, heartfelt doo-wop number about a nighttime stroll with a zombie friend. If you listen closely, I bet you can learn all the lyrics in one go.
Roky's version is still sweet and languorous, but slightly harsher than the R.E.M. version thanks to his throaty vocals. To me it's what Van Morrison would sound like if Van Morrison, y'know, walked with zombies.
The video features images from Jacques Tourneur's gorgeous 1943 film I Walked With A Zombie. If you've never seen it, and can't imagine a zombie film being beautiful, please check it out and be amazed. The trailer offers a sampling:
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