Posted on 06/26/2021 1:28:49 PM PDT by nickcarraway
Can you imagine Ghostbusters without its signature "who you gonna call?" theme song by Ray Parker Jr.? As it turns out before Ray Park Jr. became involved with the film, a handful of sample theme songs were made but didn't make the cut and now one of them has made its way online.
The musical project known as Hughes/Thrall was enlisted to develop a theme and one of these themes has appeared online via artist Pat Thrall's Soundcloud. Here is what Thrall had to say about the track and let's just say, some of his language is pretty colorful:
"This is the demo Hughes/Thrall and Peter Aykroyd pitched for the movie. It was declined. There has been a version posted on YouTube claiming to be the HT demo but it wasn't Here for the first time it is finally posted. The guy that mixed it had been awake for a week on cocaine. It is one of the worst mixes ever."
Comparing this track to Parker's instantly classic theme does feel unfair but it is interesting to see what was toyed with before his song was used. Going with Parker's song was ultimately the right choice as it reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100 for three consecutive weeks. The theme was also nominated at the 57th Academy Awards for Best Original Song although it lost to Stevie Wonder's "I Just Called to Say I Love You."
What are YOUR thoughts on the unused Ghostbusters theme?
It's like a less weird Oingo Boingo.
But Ray Parker Jr. did the original one, and you can't change that.
Wasn’t Parker sued by Huey Lewis for ripping off “I wanna new drug”?
Valid complaints about the mix…but the engineer had the pink noise right up front.
So there’s that.
Ah…the sound of tape.
>>Wasn’t Parker sued by Huey Lewis for ripping off “I wanna new drug”?<<
And how — Lewis won big (but is enjoined from saying how big): https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/53452/was-ghostbusters-theme-stolen-huey-lewis
Until the suit when I first heard GB theme on the movie I thought it was a ripoff of “Soul Finger:” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BpI1fcJdFrA
In fairness, it wasn’t a final mix to be released?
Yes. Parker was sued and the case was settled out of court.
Of the three, the only one worth watching.
I think someone had good sense when they turned this down.
https://soundcloud.com/ezpt/hughes-thrall-ghostbusters-demo-1983
Yeah, no, that sucks. Thanks goodness they found Ray Parker Jr.
That opening instrumental part leaves no doubt that it was lifted from that song. 8>)
Yeah, no, that sucks. Thanks goodness they found Ray Parker Jr.
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Indeed. The Ghostbusters theme is a classic. Bouncy, edgy, and exciting.
I actually kind of like this edgy version, as if Al Jourgensen from Ministry did this in his With Sympathy Dark Wave days... but that being said, I can see why they went with the more upbeat and charming Ray Parker version.
Can people download from SounCloud?
Glen Hughes ping.
I'll have to check if you can download.
Ahhh, the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo, what a fun band they were!
Actually, I found a way to do it — fairly safe converter. Soundcloud to MP3 (I often use a similar app called youtube to mp3).
Sounds pretty good, and I’m a sucker for that 80s programmed synth drums.
The song is utter garbage and I’m holding back out of respect for Peter Ackroyd’s brother Dan.
Not sure why. It was garbage non-music. But whatever. It’s ancient history now.
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