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)
Invasion
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
We have lyrics for 'Invasion' by these artists:
A.G.A.M.A Ya I'm back Yeah I'm coming hard like a bad cramp Something …
Abducted Agujeros negros se abren de la nada Todo estaba planeado des…
Abductors Deep inside do you believe The intelligent life's humanity…
ADX Beyond the sky and in the outer space A galaxy…
Ali.i.a.n When I grew up I was raised to not give…
Alinian Out there, over the hills There's a whole army of…
b.e.n.n.y. Yeah Finna buss the doors up out this bitch Its time for…
Bleach For every man there is a cause which he would…
BOOSTED P.S.I. Feel my wrath Feel my burn You don't know me You will learn …
Brutal Begude Notre continent est envahi Depuis des décennies Par des mili…
Chaneys From now on, everything that's here Everything will belong t…
Chthonic Rode with gloomy wind and magical clouds Soldiers equipped w…
Chumbawamba The first world's got greedy, we're consuming it all The thi…
D.A.R.P.A. Mis granos están en guerra Con las uñas de mis manos Que…
D.B.J It's a Zom-B invasion I'm contemplating on assassinating the…
D.O.V.E. D.A.W.G. Ya I'm back Yeah I'm coming hard like a bad cramp Something …
D.R.P. Mis granos están en guerra Con las uñas de mis manos Que…
DIMINISH THE GODS Worlds burning in the Great Conjunction Adamantium limbs cra…
DJ G-BROWN One two Outer Space A very cold and pretty place Gravity wil…
DJ Magic Mike & Techmaster P.e.b. It's a Zom-B invasion I'm contemplating on assassinating the…
Dr. P Intro: Let's get down to business I don't got no time to…
dr.P Mis granos están en guerra Con las uñas de mis manos Que…
e-axe Invasión cerebral Alarido visceral Desertornadolidominó ¿M…
Eisley The colors were burning up his eyes The bright lights of…
Electro-Z Just transformed my ride Now it got curtains (Transform!) Ba…
Eminem So let's get down to business I don't got no time…
Eviscerate [Lyrics: Mario] Now! The first light The illusion of lif…
F.O.O.L La hype j'connais l'tableau, nique un vernissage Quand y'a d…
False Images Existence will dissolve before your eyes It's only a matter …
Firnwald feat. Red.Chamber Diego no dora Invade yo block and we Invade yo block and…
Fondlecorpse the invasion has started the legion is here the end has arri…
Frisco It's a invasion, it's a invasion It's a invasion, it's a…
Fuck Our Ordinary Lives (F.O.O.L.) La hype j'connais l'tableau, nique un vernissage Quand y'a d…
Funker Vogt Prepare for invasion Prepare for invasion Prepare for invas…
Haken One One less One less file One less life for us to live Hold…
Headspace Naively, I had been attracted to the city as a…
I Am Abomination There's plenty of room in hell But you all deserve worse T…
I-Metra Feel my wrath Feel my burn You don't know me You will learn …
Invasion Years gone by On track to destruction Voices of wild indigna…
Iron Maiden [Harris] The Vikings are coming You'd better get ready for …
Iuly.B Uh, uh, yo Doo, doo, doo, doo Doo, doo, doo, doo Doo, doo,…
James Lavelle Show them only Flesh you needed You want it for you too (sta…
Jeru the Damaja Verse One: Police all on my dick like I shot somebody Cause…
John 5 and the Creatures The story begins with Dr. Nauthiz A star creature, who has…
Jupiter Society This is the end of the world No heard warning Life went…
K.S. Ratliff and Black Magic 94 banlieue on se prête main Forte mafia k'1 Fry, putain…
kenta-v.ez. Ka mate! ka mate! Ka ora! ka ora! Ka mate! ka mate! Ka…
L'Entourage La hype j'connais l'tableau, nique un vernissage Quand y'a d…
Lenin Was A Zombie A dangerous virus broke out the secret lab in Colorado It…
Lil' Wayne Tell us that you would like to Have the lyrics of…
Los Mortero Desde el norte se acerca la bestia desde el norte con…
Luis da silva Run for your life Run for your life…
M. Iwata & H. Sakimoto Yeah Finna buss the doors up out this bitch Its time for…
Macka B Look here old chap it's us who gave you civilization Invasio…
magdalene That day the ground trembled with the sound of rumbling…
Magnum You wouldn't believe your eyes You wouldn't believe your ear…
Marvin & DJ Jack Nimble That's just how I feel My trust gone get me killed I…
Monoplasma Una invasión que nos dejó sin ilusión Ya no eres dios,…
N-ter When I grew up I was raised to not give…
Nekrogoblikon A rotting old cabin collapses in gloom, This is a requiem…
Nempty White men floating in the waters It's the curse that will…
Nicolas Makelberge The trenches are cold Eyes, mortars in my soul Day, night …
No Relax ЎQuй bien me siento rodeado de razуn!, Todos me dicen: "por…
Noisuf-X Yeah Y'all already know what the fucking going on 2X in…
O.Lopez beat GREEN G.O.A.T Sosa Bow Don't take it personal men Lsb slime…
ortofálico chisme Hay noticias desde orión Amenazas de extinción De la poblaci…
P-Brane Mis granos están en guerra Con las uñas de mis manos Que…
Pánico En perfectas escuadras de belleza Los pájaros invaden la tar…
R-Sunset Yeah Finna buss the doors up out this bitch Its time for…
Rabbit Junk from the shadows, we watch, we listen, we taste the air,…
Reavers Yeah gather your thoughts and take Notice i'm focused Holdin…
Rebelution Extermination Conquest to kill all they believe in New desti…
Red White and Black Gray skin and yellow fins Our new cosmopolitan Invade We’re…
Red.Chamber Diego no dora Invade yo block and we Invade yo block and…
Righteous Jams Invasion used to be this band But now we're playing Righteou…
Rings Of Saturn Desecrate this wasteland to a state unprecedented I am the …
Robert Del Naja/U.N.K.L.E. La hype j'connais l'tableau, nique un vernissage Quand y'a d…
Ronald-V Ka mate! ka mate! Ka ora! ka ora! Ka mate! ka mate! Ka…
Sacrificium Tagaeri Alien muerto Sangre expuesta, El que teme es de afuera. Lanz…
Scintilla Orbital craft falling to the earth clinging to the ground…
seo Does anyone really Even belong here Cause as far I can see I…
Simon Bookish So, it could have been Berlin, I suppose, or perhaps…
Skrewdriver They came across the border in the middle of the…
Solentina Si le decís a la evolución que el tiempo no…
Space-man In our obsession with antagonisms of the moment We often …
Strip Music What happens when You can't stop screamin' Starring to t…
Stupeflip Walecrou, walecrou, walecrou, walecrou, wa-walecrou, wa-wale…
Styles P feat. Jadakiss & Junior Reid Intro: Let's get down to business I don't got no time to…
T.C.L Get ready for (x10) Get ready for the invasion, Self-satisf…
T.O.X.G Yeah Y'all already know what the fucking going on 2X in…
Terror ""Eyes of a parasite mark of a fake what made…
The Browning We are the end We are the end We are the end Invasion We…
The Green Leaf i wanna watch you i wanna see you shakin' and light in…
The Lizards' invasion Years gone by On track to destruction Voices of wild indigna…
The Other This ain't a test alarm, this is what we have…
The Reavers Yeah gather your thoughts and take Notice i'm focused Holdin…
U.N.K.L.E./Robert Del Naja La hype j'connais l'tableau, nique un vernissage Quand y'a d…
UNKLE Show them only Flesh you needed You want it for you too (sta…
Unkle (Featuring 3 D) Show them only Flesh you needed You want it for you too (…
Urgehal Invasion storming through the land Invasion coming from the…
V&K 94 banlieue on se prête main Forte mafia k'1 Fry, putain…
Various Artists For every man there is a cause which he would…
Vinnie Vincent You fired the first shot without fair warning Love's silver…
Vinnie Vincent Invasion You fired the first shot without fair warning A silver bulle…
X-Cite Yeah Y'all already know what the fucking going on 2X in…
yare yare Nunca me voy a conformar Sabes que siempre pido más El desie…
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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Invisible Sun
Surprised this song wasn't released as a single. It would have shot to the top of the charts. Invasion!
LMC_18
Love this!
LMC_18
My Pop has a mint condition (still) GB record with this on it. I played this to death when I was a kid 👍
Radio FM Space
Sure.......me too. Thanks for your comment. Regards
Larry Trayler
This is one of them Ray Parker jr. Is best songs ever
Pickchore
Man from the planet of no respect.
He's here.
Invasion.
Matthew Hartley
I fell n luv w/ the song, i luv the Robot sound to the song.
# Martin X
I Love To The Voice-Over Robot
Brady Morgan
Getting worse.