Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. (born May 1, 1954), is an American guitarist, songw… Read Full Bio ↴Ray Erskine Parker, Jr. (born May 1, 1954), is an American guitarist, songwriter, producer and recording artist. Parker is known for writing and performing the theme song to the motion picture Ghostbusters, for his solo hits, and performing with his band Raydio as well as the late Barry White.
Early Work
In the mid-1970s he was a sideman in Barry White's "Love Unlimited Orchestra", before creating Raydio, an R&B group, in 1977, with Vincent Bohnam, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael. Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film "Uptown Saturday Night" as a guitar player. Parker also wrote songs and did session work for The Carpenters, Rufus and Chaka Khan,Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Leon Haywood, Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs, Rhythm Heritage, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Raydio
The group scored their first big hit, with Arista Records, "Jack and Jill" off of their self-titled album in 1978. The song was # 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, earning a Gold record in the process.
Their successful follow-up hit, "You Can't Change That" was released in 1979, off of the Rock On album. The song was a Top 10 hit, making it up to # 9 on the Billboard charts during the same year it was released.
In 1980, the group became known as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, and the group released two more albums: Two Places at the Same Time in 1980 and A Woman Needs Love in 1981.
During the eighties Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio had two Top 40 hits ("Two Places at the Same Time" - # 40 in 1980 and "That Old Song" - # 21 in 1981) and their last and biggest hit "A Woman Needs Love," released in 1981, went to # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and # 1 on the R&B Charts for two weeks in 1981.
The Solo Years and Ghostbusters
Raydio broke up in 1981, while Ray Parker Jr. continued with his solo career, scoring six Top 40 hits, including the hit single "The Other Woman" (Pop # 4) in 1982 and "Ghostbusters" in 1984.
Parker was one the first black artists to venture into the then-fledgling world of music videos. He actually made two different videos for his hit "The Other Woman". The first was Halloween-themed and centered around a haunted castle with dancing corpses and vampires. The second was more performance-oriented, with Parker performing the song against a outer space background with backup singers. MTV initially refused to air either video because, at the time, no videos for black artists were shown and, in the case of the "haunted castle" video, Parker was depicted as having interracial relationships, which MTV didn't want to promote.
"Ghostbusters" was a title track of the Gold-selling soundtrack of the hit movie Ghostbusters (but the song has now sold upwards of 28 million units internationally according to Parker in 2007)[citation needed], starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The single was at #1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and at #1 for two weeks on its Black Singles chart. The song was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984 but lost to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red.
He also made an acting appearance on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break starring Nell Carter.
Controversy surrounding Ghostbusters
Parker was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis & the News song "I Want a New Drug" for his 1984 #1 hit theme to Ghostbusters, released only six months after Lewis' hit reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. This ended with Lewis suing Parker, and the pair settled out of court in 1995.
They returned to court once again in 2001, as Parker sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement forming part of their original out of court settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly. Lewis had revealed in a VH1 Behind The Music special that Parker had paid a financial settlement as part of the original agreement.
Continued Songwriting
Ray Parker Jr. also wrote and produced hits for New Edition ("Mr. Telephone Man"), Randy Hall, Cheryl Lynn ("Shake It Up Tonight"), Deniece Williams ("I Found Love") and Diana Ross. He also performed guitar on several songs on La Toya Jackson's 1980 debut album.
Raydio Discography
* Raydio (1978) #27 US
* Rock On (1979) #45 US
* Two Places at the Same Time (1980) #33 US
* A Woman Needs Love (1981) #13 US
* Greatest Hits (1982)
Ray Parker Jr. Discography
* The Other Woman (1982) #11 US
* Woman Out of Control (1983) #45 US
* Ghostbusters (Soundtrack) (1984) #6 US
* Chartbusters (1984) #60 US
* Sex and The Single Man (1985) #65 US
* After Dark (1987) #86 US
* I Love You Like You Are (1991)
* I'm Free (2006)
Early Work
In the mid-1970s he was a sideman in Barry White's "Love Unlimited Orchestra", before creating Raydio, an R&B group, in 1977, with Vincent Bohnam, Jerry Knight, and Arnell Carmichael. Parker appeared briefly in the 1974 film "Uptown Saturday Night" as a guitar player. Parker also wrote songs and did session work for The Carpenters, Rufus and Chaka Khan,Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Leon Haywood, Temptations, The Spinners, Boz Scaggs, Rhythm Heritage, and Gladys Knight and the Pips.
Raydio
The group scored their first big hit, with Arista Records, "Jack and Jill" off of their self-titled album in 1978. The song was # 8 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts, earning a Gold record in the process.
Their successful follow-up hit, "You Can't Change That" was released in 1979, off of the Rock On album. The song was a Top 10 hit, making it up to # 9 on the Billboard charts during the same year it was released.
In 1980, the group became known as Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio, and the group released two more albums: Two Places at the Same Time in 1980 and A Woman Needs Love in 1981.
During the eighties Ray Parker Jr. and Raydio had two Top 40 hits ("Two Places at the Same Time" - # 40 in 1980 and "That Old Song" - # 21 in 1981) and their last and biggest hit "A Woman Needs Love," released in 1981, went to # 4 on the Billboard Hot 100 Charts, and # 1 on the R&B Charts for two weeks in 1981.
The Solo Years and Ghostbusters
Raydio broke up in 1981, while Ray Parker Jr. continued with his solo career, scoring six Top 40 hits, including the hit single "The Other Woman" (Pop # 4) in 1982 and "Ghostbusters" in 1984.
Parker was one the first black artists to venture into the then-fledgling world of music videos. He actually made two different videos for his hit "The Other Woman". The first was Halloween-themed and centered around a haunted castle with dancing corpses and vampires. The second was more performance-oriented, with Parker performing the song against a outer space background with backup singers. MTV initially refused to air either video because, at the time, no videos for black artists were shown and, in the case of the "haunted castle" video, Parker was depicted as having interracial relationships, which MTV didn't want to promote.
"Ghostbusters" was a title track of the Gold-selling soundtrack of the hit movie Ghostbusters (but the song has now sold upwards of 28 million units internationally according to Parker in 2007)[citation needed], starring Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. The single was at #1 for three weeks on Billboard's Hot 100 chart, and at #1 for two weeks on its Black Singles chart. The song was also nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Song in 1984 but lost to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You" from The Woman in Red.
He also made an acting appearance on the 1980s sitcom Gimme a Break starring Nell Carter.
Controversy surrounding Ghostbusters
Parker was accused of plagiarizing the melody from Huey Lewis & the News song "I Want a New Drug" for his 1984 #1 hit theme to Ghostbusters, released only six months after Lewis' hit reached #6 in the Billboard Hot 100. This ended with Lewis suing Parker, and the pair settled out of court in 1995.
They returned to court once again in 2001, as Parker sued Lewis for breaching a confidentiality agreement forming part of their original out of court settlement which prohibited either side from speaking about it publicly. Lewis had revealed in a VH1 Behind The Music special that Parker had paid a financial settlement as part of the original agreement.
Continued Songwriting
Ray Parker Jr. also wrote and produced hits for New Edition ("Mr. Telephone Man"), Randy Hall, Cheryl Lynn ("Shake It Up Tonight"), Deniece Williams ("I Found Love") and Diana Ross. He also performed guitar on several songs on La Toya Jackson's 1980 debut album.
Raydio Discography
* Raydio (1978) #27 US
* Rock On (1979) #45 US
* Two Places at the Same Time (1980) #33 US
* A Woman Needs Love (1981) #13 US
* Greatest Hits (1982)
Ray Parker Jr. Discography
* The Other Woman (1982) #11 US
* Woman Out of Control (1983) #45 US
* Ghostbusters (Soundtrack) (1984) #6 US
* Chartbusters (1984) #60 US
* Sex and The Single Man (1985) #65 US
* After Dark (1987) #86 US
* I Love You Like You Are (1991)
* I'm Free (2006)
Heart of Glass
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Heart of Glass' by these artists:
AAdagio Heart Of Glass Holding out from the rain falling into the…
Anna Blue Heart Of Glass - Anna Blue so you say that I…
Apollo Brown Baby if you've got to go away Don't think I can…
Bass and Heat Hunter You wrapped your hands around it, took it for your…
BETAMOTION Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Blanee Holding out from the rain falling into the storm Swept away…
Blondie Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Blondie (CindyKAT) Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Blondie - A Tribute Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
BLONDIE; HARRY DEBORAH Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Blondie䜀 Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Bob Sinclar & Gisele Bündchen Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Buck Oh, heart of glass I keep mending you Every time She breaks …
C. J. Johnson Glass heart, bury me Glass eyes, savor me Passion called Le…
Celine Dion Couldn't breathe Couldn't breathe, it was high tide Couldn't…
Chris Stein/Debbie Harry Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Davers When the sun came up I was waiting for you that…
Debbie Harry (Blondie) Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Djulia & Band Can't you see through this heart of mine I want it…
Double You Once I had a love and it was a gas soon…
Elatia Can we try to connect all the pieces Can we fight…
Erasure Once I had love and it was a gas Soon turned…
evalyn Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Exilium Pulling down from the rain falling in to the storm Swept…
F & M Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
F.M. new popular music Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Gisele Bndchen Feat. Bob Sinclar Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Gisele&Bob Sinclar Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Gisele/Bob Sinclar Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Insipid Brown Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
J. Ivanovici Anna Lia Bright Nah Youn Sun Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
J.M Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
K.A.Z You wrapped your hands around it, took it for your…
Kehele Keff Heart Of Glass Holding out from the rain falling into the…
Kimura Kaela 木村カエラ Once I had a love and it was a gas soon turned…
KITCHEN 1 - Blondie Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Lil Eddie Ever since we met Boy you couldnt let go Stuck to my…
Lily Moore Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
M.F.A.T.G.G. Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Mart feat. Casey Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Me First and the Gimme Gimmes [Chorus] Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Miley Cyrus Once I had a love and it was a gas It…
Mini Mansions Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Nina Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Nouvelle Vague (Aula Magna 07.12.07) Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Nouvelle Vague - Bande À Part Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Nouvelle Vague / Melanie Pain Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Nouvelle Vague and Gerald Toto Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Paul Lock Holding out from the rain Falling into the storm Swept away …
Phatt-B Holding down from the rain falling in to the storm. Swapt…
Platon Karataev I breathe on your heart of glass I know how fragile…
Popeska (feat. Denny White) Escape the shadows run fast Try to fight the devil off…
Puppini Sisters Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Queen Ooh, yea Don't know how I got here It's just something I…
R And M Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Robin Zander Once upon a time your eyes could see You had X-ray…
S.E.N.S. Glass heart, bury me Glass eyes, savor me Passion called Le…
Scatteredtrees Turn me around and I'll give you anything but truth I…
Sgmaniak I had a feeling you'd abandon me But you still visit…
Skye Sweetnam Once I had love and It was a gas Soon turned out Had…
Storm Lee Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Superbus Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Sweetnam Skye Once I had love and It was a gas Soon turned out Had…
Take Me To Rio Collective Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Take Me To Rio Collective [feat. Blondie] Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
The Associates Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
The Bad Plus Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
The Band Can't you see through this heart of mine I want it…
The Dazees Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
The Exploding Boy If I am the one who followes you would notice…
THE F.A.M. Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
The Graeme Watkins Project Once I had love It was a gas Soon turned out it…
The Midway State When you, you know that you′ve finally found it When you,…
The Puppine Sisters Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Tommy Burr There's a lot you've got to know but the way things…
Yseult Ouuuhhh oh oh x4 Once I had a love and it…
王菲 Once i had a love and it was a gas,…
Blondie Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
The Puppini Sisters Once I had a love and it was a gas Soon…
Ｕ It's like a heart of glass この胸の鼓動 君を想うといつも この弱い心 君の愛で護る oh B…
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ray Parker Jr.:
A Woman Needs Love Doo-doo-doo-doo-doo Mmm-mmm-mmm A woman needs a love (just …
Bad Boy I've been a Bad Boy Now I want to come back…
Christmas Time Is Here Hang up the mistletoe And turn the lights down low Let's fee…
Don't Think That Man Should sleep Alone I don't think that man should sleep alone I don't think…
Ghost Busters Ghostbusters If there's something strange in you neighborho…
Ghostbuster Ghostbusters! If there's something strange in you neighborh…
Ghostbusters (Ghostbusters) If there's something strange In your neighbor…
Ghostbusters (From Ghostbusters! If there's something strange In your neigh…
Ghostbusters (Instrumental Version) GHOSTBUSTERS If there's something strange in your neighborh…
Girls Are More Fun Girls are more fun, ooh, ooh Girls are more fun The party…
I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone I don't think that man should sleep alone I don't think…
I Got You I'm all confused And I don't know what to do Cause I…
I Still Can I'm all confused and I don't know what to do Cause…
I Still Can't Get Over Loving You I'm all confused And I don't know what to do Cause I…
In The Heat Of The Night He promises you things'll be different If you just give him…
Intro It's neither touch nor taste But silvery lines, the cute fr…
It's Time to Party Now Everybody* up it's time to party now Turn up the music…
Jack and Jill Jack (Jack)- wanting someone to feel (feel) Sat upon the hil…
Jamie Jamie used to be my girl She used to be my…
Let Her Go We've been goin' out for awhile now baby We've had…
Loving You I'm all confused And I don't know what to do Cause I…
Old Pro (Oooooo) Loving you, was everything I needed and more But li…
Over You I'm all confused And I don't know what to do Cause I…
So Into You "So Into You" All my life I′ve elected To keep my feelings …
That Old Song A good song and a love affair Go hand in hand…
The Other Woman Oh, yeah I'm in love (I'm in love) With the other woman My…
The Past I was wrong when I hurt you Did you have to…
The People Next Door I wanna bang on the walls Rock on the floor I wanna…
Two Places At The Same Time Doo, doo, doo Doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo First time…
Woman Out Of Control Mmm I've got a woman out of control A woman…
You Can Mm, hm Honey, I'll always love you I promise I'll always lo…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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schroedzilla
After i passed out in my chair and woke up, i LISTENED TO IT 3 times in a row!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FANTASTIC mix! Very creative and NEVER would have thought the 3 would go so well together.
paintedbird
Wow, this is very neat! Great job!
onceIhadalove
OH MY GOD! WHO WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT!!! This works so incredibly well! You should forward this link to blondie.net! The disco skull is the absolute perfect touch. You have really outdone yourself here... I will spread the news with a link, ok?
Ruben Fame
Genial........ _gracias Blondie tus canciones son Amores:
dougtheprop1
Halloween perfection
Stilesda
holy epic halloween anthem, batman