Ray Parker Jr.’s song ‘Ghostbusters’ is a favorite this time of year, and certainly helped to make the movie a success. But here’s something I recently learned, it wasn’t the first main theme song for the film (at least for the trailer)! Check out this video that was shot in 1983 that had Dan Akyroyd and Bill Murray pitching ‘Ghostbusters’ to independent movie theaters. It’s really rough, not their best ad-libbing, but fast forward to 1:42 in the video below to hear the ORIGINAL SONG! Here are a few tidbits you may not know about the history of that famous song:
- Ray Parker Jr. only had a couple of days to come up with the main theme for the movie. (“Ghostbusters by Ray Parker Jr. – Professor of Rock”. Professor of Rock. 2018-10-25. Retrieved 2018-10-29)
- Huey Lewis actually sued because they claim Ray Parker Jr.’s song was too similar to their hit, ‘I Want A New Drug’. (hmmm, they do sound alike a little!) (“Back to the Future: 13 things you may not know”. The Daily Telegraph. 21 October 2015. Retrieved 29 August 2016)
- In an interview with ‘Words & Music’, Lindsay Buckingham says he a had discussion with filmmakers about creating the main theme song. Harold Ramis used him to create ‘Holiday Road’ for ‘National Lampoons Family Vacation’ which he directed. Lindsay turned them down, not wanting to be known as a soundtrack artist.
(source perchmymurch & Todd Spence via YouTube)
And while we’re talking ‘Ghostbusters’, the third movie in this ghostly franchise is set to be released in March of 2021. Here’s a cool documentary that talks about how it all came together, including getting Bill Murray to sign on.
(source Midnight’s Edge via YouTube)
