Ray Parker Jr. – Ghostbusters (Europe 12″)
Posted by DjPaulT on October 10th, 2012
BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984
Re-Rip Remaster
Originally I posted this one back in October of 2010. But for those who may have missed it or if you are a new reader just discovering BTG. I decided to give this one a new rip with my newer equipment. This 12″ is also being posted in 24 bit flac for the very first time!
“Ghostbusters” is a 1984 song recorded by Ray Parker, Jr. as the theme to the film of the same name starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. It hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 on August 11 in 1984, and stayed there for three weeks. It also peaked at number two on the UK Singles Chart on 16 September 1984, where it stayed for three weeks. The song is performed in the key of B major.
It was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Music, Original Song, but lost to Stevie Wonder’s “I Just Called to Say I Love You”.
According to Parker, he was approached by the film’s producers to create a theme song for the film. Unfortunately, he only had a few days to do so and the film’s title seemed impossible to include in any lyrics. However, when watching television late at night, Parker saw a cheap commercial for a local service that reminded him that the film had a similar commercial featured for the fictional business. This inspired him to write the song as a pseudo-advertising jingle that the business could have commissioned as a promotion. The line “I ain’t scared of no ghosts” came from a 1937 Mickey Mouse short, Lonesome Ghosts.
Parker was later the defendant in a copyright-infringement lawsuit which claimed “Ghostbusters” was too similar in musical structure to “I Want a New Drug”, written and performed by Huey Lewis and the News (more specifically, the guitar riff which runs through the song). “I Want a New Drug” was a U.S. top-ten hit earlier the same year. The two parties settled out of court. Details of the settlement (specifically, that Parker paid Lewis a settlement) were confidential until 2001, when Lewis commented on the payment in an episode of VH1′s Behind the Music. Parker subsequently sued Lewis for breaching confidentiality; the lawsuit is ongoing. Ironically, Lewis had at one point been asked to record a theme song for the movie, but turned it down for other commitments.
In later years, AutoNation adopted the theme for their advertising campaign. In the United Kingdom, the song is parodied with Parker himself being featured in a commercial advertising direct enquiries line 118 118.
The song re-entered the UK Top 75 on 2nd November 2008 at #49.
Lindsey Buckingham claims to have been approached to write the Ghostbusters theme based on his successful contribution to Harold Ramis’s National Lampoon’s Vacation (the song “Holiday Road”). He turned down the opportunity as he didn’t want to be known as a soundtrack artist. He mentions this on the “Words & Music” interview disk.
A music video for the song featured a young woman, played by Cindy Harrell, who was being haunted by a ghost portrayed by Parker, roaming a nearly all-black house interior with vibrant neon designs outlining the sparse architectural and industrial features. It also contained footage from the film Ghostbusters, and featured cameos from many celebrities of the day, including Chevy Chase, Irene Cara, John Candy, Melissa Gilbert, Nickolas Ashford, Jeffrey Tambor, George Wendt, Al Franken, Danny DeVito, Carly Simon, Peter Falk, Teri Garr and Casey Kasem; all of whom exclaim the “Ghostbusters!” line of the song when shown.
The video concludes with Parker and the stars of the film, in full Ghostbuster costume, dancing down the streets of New York City.
SIDE A:
Ghostbusters (Extended Version) 6:08
SIDE B:
Ghostbusters (Dub Version) 5:33
Remix – Nick Martinelli And David Todd*
Ghostbusters (Instrumental Version) 4:03
VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Cover: Near Mint
CHARTS:
| Year | Single | Chart | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Ghostbusters | U.S. Billboard Hot 100 | #1 |
| 1984 | Ghostbusters | U.S. Billboard Hot Adult Contemporary Tracks | #9 |
| 1984 | Ghostbusters | U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music Club Play | #6 |
| 1984 | Ghostbusters | U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks | #1 |
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Arista
Catalog#: 601 460
Format: Vinyl, 12″, Maxi-Single
Country: Europe
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Synth-pop
Credits: Engineer, Mixed By – Ray Parker Jr. (tracks: A, B2)
Producer, Performer, Written-By – Ray Parker Jr.
Engineered and mixed at Ameraycan Studios.
NOTES:
Printed in Western Germany
From The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack “GHOSTBUSTERS”
**Track B2 is listed on the sleeve and label as “Short Version” it is a misprint and is actually the “Instrumental Version”
Find The 12″ On DISCOGS
EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut III
Cartridge: Ortofon Super
Stylus: Ortofon OM Stylus 30
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Soundcard: ESI Juli@
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Brother MFC-6490CW Professional Series Scanner
SOFTWARE USED:
Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Adobe Photoshop CS5
ClickRepair
dBpoweramp
Playlist Creator
RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
Downsampled to 24bit/96kHz and16bit /44kHz using iZotope RX Advanced 2
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi
PW: burningtheground
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October 10th, 2012 at 12:38 pm
Love this song
Thank you
Patrick
[Reply]
DjPaulT Reply:
October 10th, 2012 at 12:50 pm
You’re welcome Patrick
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October 10th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
FANTASTIC!!! I was already using your previous file on BlackLight, but at 24 bit and on your new equipment… WOW. Thank you for all your efforts to bring us this great music!
[Reply]
DjPaulT Reply:
October 10th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Thank you Gene. I appreciate your comment. Glad to hear you like the new rip.
[Reply]
October 10th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
Thanks !
Great track of a great movie!
[Reply]
DjPaulT Reply:
October 10th, 2012 at 3:54 pm
Thank you Drake!
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October 10th, 2012 at 4:28 pm
Paul, since I think you’re going with an October theme, I wonder if you might rip (if you have it) the UK 12″ of Supernature by Erasure. It’s the “extra” limited edition of You Surround Me, and features 2 mixes of the their cover of the Cerrone Halloween disco classic.
Just an idea.
[Reply]
DjPaulT Reply:
October 10th, 2012 at 6:12 pm
Hi Goodguy. I actually do have that limited edition 12′ it comes in a sleeve that looks like an envelope. The sleeve actually looks a bit like a Christmas card. This is the one I have: http://www.discogs.com/Erasure-Supernature/release/106458
I will see what I can do for you
[Reply]
Goodguy Reply:
October 11th, 2012 at 12:43 am
Thanks.
[Reply]
October 10th, 2012 at 6:42 pm
Ahhh… my favourite pop star court battle – Huey Lewis suing and winning against Ray Parker Jr over a debatable rip off, only to have to give it all back years later over a slip of the tongue.
Oh, to be loaded.
[Reply]
October 10th, 2012 at 9:17 pm
1984 was indeed a mega year for movie themes!
All the six singles from Footloose, the four from Purple Rain, a couple from The Woman In Red, Streets Of Fire and Breakin’, one each from Against All Odds, Two Of A Kind and Ghostbusters! And I’m sure I missed out on more!
Thank you for your upgrade, Sir Paul!
[Reply]
DjPaulT Reply:
October 11th, 2012 at 7:58 am
You’re welcome Sir Ric
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Jermajesty Reply:
October 11th, 2012 at 2:34 pm
It’s been noted on BTG before about the demise of the ‘movie single’, and I’m landing that blame squarely on Pulp Fiction’s shoulders.
What QT seemed great at the time, and different, but it seems there’s been no let up since 1994! Almost every film going just uses old/existing songs. Less risky and more importantly less costly, I imagine.
Hopefully Adele can save us.
[Reply]
DjPaulT Reply:
October 11th, 2012 at 2:58 pm
You’re right there has been a loss of great movie songs. I miss it. Not crazy about the Adele Bond track she’s getting a bit over exposed. Please don’t send me hate male lol. Just my opinion
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October 12th, 2012 at 4:40 am
The Nick Martinelli & David Todd’s Dub version you included here also has an accompanying Vocal version too. It is called “Ghostbusters (Searchin’ For The Spirit)” 5’27″. You can find it on the UK 12″
Also, Robin Scott aka M “Pop Musik” filed a suit against Ray Parker Jr AND Huey Lewis & The News as they BOTH had copied the bassline from “Pop Musik”. Unfortunately, Robin Scott and his lawyers were not savvy enough to ask for a large slice of Ray & Huey’s publishing. They simply agreed to an out of court settlement one-off fee. He’s been kicking himself ever since. Think how much money he could be making EVERY YEAR for the rest of his life? Doh!
[Reply]
October 14th, 2012 at 1:15 pm
Thank you
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