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)
Let Me Go
Ray Parker Jr. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
We've had some good times and some hard times too
But now I've reached that point in my life
Where I need more of a commitment from you
You've had me on hold for so very long
Make up your mind baby
Don't keep me hangin' on
Let me go
Come on and do right by me baby
And if you're not sure that you need me
Let me go oh
I'm not the kinda man
You can just keep for your pleasure
You've gotta really want
For us to stay together yeah
It's not fair to keep me hangin' on
For another year or two
Make up your mind right now
And decide what you want to do
Now I know when a woman gets in her twenties
She starts to feel like she's runnin' out of time
Nine times out of ten she's correct
If she assumes, yea, that marriage
Is the last thing on a man's mind
But now the table's turned
The shoe is on the other foot
I know what I want
But you still want to look
Ray Parker Jr.'s song Let Me Go talks about a man who has been with someone for some time now and is at a point in his life where he needs more from their relationship. He wants a commitment from his partner, but she has been keeping him on hold for a long time. He urges her to make up her mind and do right by him. If she is unsure about their relationship and whether she wants him, he wants her to let him go. He tells her that he is not the kind of man that she can just keep for her pleasure. He needs her to truly want to be together rather than keeping him hanging on for another year or two.
The lyrics illustrate the frustrations of someone who is looking for a more committed relationship. He emphasizes the importance of not delaying the decision to be with someone and not to keep someone waiting around. The song takes a turn when the singer reflects on how women often feel like they are running out of time in their twenties, while men typically do not think about marriage. However, in his case, he knows what he wants and is ready for a commitment, but his partner is the one who still wants to look around.
Overall, Let Me Go portrays the frustration and longing of someone who wants to take their relationship to the next level. It highlights the importance of clear communication and being transparent about what you want in a relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
We've been goin' out for awhile now baby
We have been in a committed relationship for some time now, darling.
We've had some good times and some hard times too
We have enjoyed happy moments and endured tough experiences together.
But now I've reached that point in my life
At this stage in my life, I need more certainty in our relationship.
Where I need more of a commitment from you
I need you to commit to a future with me and be serious about it.
You've had me on hold for so very long
You have left me hanging and waiting for your decision for an extended period.
Make up your mind baby
Please decide on our relationship, my dear.
Don't keep me hangin' on
It's unfair to keep me in the dark regarding our future together.
If you're not sure that you want me
If you are uncertain about being committed to me,
Let me go
then please, let me go and move forward.
Come on and do right by me baby
Please show respect towards me and treat me with honesty.
And if you're not sure that you need me
If you are unsure about needing me,
Let me go oh
then, let me go and don't string me along.
I'm not the kinda man
I am not the type of person who you can just use for your pleasure.
You can just keep for your pleasure
I am not to be taken lightly without any real commitment on your part.
You've gotta really want
I need you to genuinely desire a future with me.
For us to stay together yeah
In order for us to build a future together.
It's not fair to keep me hangin' on
It's not fair for me to feel uncertain and left in the dark regarding our future.
For another year or two
It's unreasonable to continue this way for much longer.
Make up your mind right now
Please decide on our relationship immediately.
And decide what you want to do
And communicate your decision regarding our future together.
Now I know when a woman gets in her twenties
I understand that women in their twenties may start feeling pressure to settle down.
She starts to feel like she's runnin' out of time
She may begin to worry that time is running out for her to find a committed partner.
Nine times out of ten she's correct
In most cases, she is justified in feeling that way.
If she assumes, yea, that marriage
If she believes that marriage is an important goal.
Is the last thing on a man's mind
She may think that most men are not truly interested in getting married.
But now the table's turned
However, the situation has changed for me.
The shoe is on the other foot
I now find myself in the opposite position.
I know what I want
I am sure about my desires and goals regarding our relationship.
But you still want to look
But you are still indecisive and unsure about a future with me.
Lyrics Β© Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: RAY ERSKINE PARKER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@gloriajhayes71
I could listen to this song all night -Beautiful β€οΈ it!
@hokomcedi8174
This song is a hit indeed. He is telling the truth all the time
@Bob-ml1mv
Love Ray Parker he has a distinct voice and his songs are awesome
@kelvinbryant7602
Ur right Bob Ray Parker Jr is a true Icon. This song is my favorite.still hits me today
@user-sv1qd4ds9g
This song sung by this greatest and under rated artist favorite of mine sends me down memory lane. Ray is one of the best, pure Heavenly talent. Reminds me of Ayanda Kahla, he adored Ray and this was one of his favourite songs
@rodneyvoshell9296
One of the most underrated performers. A true talent.
@anwulikaagbaku630
My late dad's favorite song, though was born after this song but got to know and fall in love with this song and my dad constantly plays it daily.
@kinghezekiahisrael6053
One of my favorite songs brings back memories 8th grade school year we had assembly we had guests there speakers the mayor of Memphis two brothers dj from am radio station Bob and Melvin Jones a fire chief but my band we was supposed to do the school song the greatest love of all just that song we did that song and went right into ray parker let me go I quickly said to all of she cheerleaders and majorette and the rest that keep telling me that I don't know who I want we did that song everyone stood up and I mean everyone teaches students even the guests speakers my music teacher asked when did y'all's rehearsed that last night he asked just one night yes one night cause were yd outs good we're professionals
what memories still love that song a woman needs love
@denisethompson9208
HAVE NOT HEARD THIS SONG IN YEAR'S I LOVE ALL OF HIS SONG'S πππΉπΉβ€οΈ
@mbotembote944
One of my favourite R&B musicians