be it as a Musician? His Songwriting? His Raydio Era Material? His Cross-over Pop Hits? His Albums? His Session work?

Raydio was cool.

Funny u should mention Raydio... I just heard "Jack & Jill" this weekend. Damn, that was a corny song!

I liked his producing...New Edition (4 example) with "Mr. Telephone Man".

I don't like how he ripped Huey Lewis off by stealing the music 4 "Ghostbusters" from the song "I Want A New Drug"(so blatantly I might add). Huey won in court, but still, the damage 2 Ray's reputation was irreversible.

His voice? eh, it's okay.

June7 said:

What damages? COLUMBIA settled the suit real quick cuz GHOSTBUSTERS was a big hit. Ray got paid plus he got plenty of royalties to kick back on for guitar and production. I really don't know what he's up to nowadays.

BTW there was also a tune called "Pop Muzik" from 79 that sounds very similar to both Lewis and Parker's songs. I bet David has some juicy details on this song.

Ray Parker Jr still does Gigs with a Band more on the Jazz tip last I Heard.He made a Big InvestMent into Real Estate&it Hit really big.He is doing well but I did Hear when Huey Lewis mentioned "GhostBusters' on the Huey Lewis&the News Behind the Music Ray&His People got in touch with Huey about talking about it.Ray is still out in Cali last I heard.

PFunkjazz said:

great point on "Pop Muzik" just like "My Sharona" inspiring Michael Jackson's "Beat It"&a Run DMC Song as well.

I still don't hear the similarities that justify copyright infringement.

Supernova said:

Hard to describe music over the internet, but if you watch
the HUEY LEWIS VH! BEHIND THE MUSIC, they go the part that was copied. They also say Columbia didn't want to ferret the issue out cuz they knew the movie would be a big smash, so no bad publicity. A quick settlement seems to have calmed everybody down.

Ray Parker was Hot and Raydio was Great. I loved that music and Ray was so damn Fine.

Supernova said:

please super the main lick(the synth bass line)is almost indentical.i respect your view on everything else but on this u missed the boat.

theC said:

Admittedly, I haven't heard either song in YEARS literally. So the fact that neither was one of my favorite songs making neither one fresh in my mind may have something to do with it. If you think I'm sticking up for Ray that's not the case. Actually I don't even like the guy.

Supernova said:

theC
actually i liked ray,i have his stuff :O .and this way a straight rip-off.it wasn't his first time doing that either.
his song "for those who like to groove" was basically "one nation under a groove".

theC said:

He is a Very Talented Session Cat but Nevertheless a Session Cat that Sponged everything off Top 40 Radio IMHO."Girls are More Fun" Bit Whitney Houston's "How Will I Know" He jacked that whole Narada Michael Walden Vibe."I Don't think Man Shoudl Sleep Alone" Jacked Jam&Lewis's "Heat of Heat" the one Patti Austin did."Jack&Jill" the cut He did with Raydio Bit SLy&The Family Stone's "Stand".it's safe to say that while Talented Ray Parker Jr was a Thread Jacking Cat.He is a One-Man Band but He is Also a Man on the Listen.

Ray Parker Jr. has always been one of my favorites! He had a distinctive "sound" and the four albums he recorded with his group Raydio are excellent.It's somewhat ironic that his most gimmicky song---the silly "Ghostbusters"---is his biggest hit.He wrote MANY better songs than that! My favs are...

***"Jack and Jill"(1978)---This debut single became a huge hit in 1978.The chorus is addictive!!

***"You Can't Change That"(1979)---This breezy little number was huge back in '79.Lightweight but fun!

***"Hot Stuff"(1979)---Songs like this proved that Ray Parker Jr.and Raydio could funk it up a bit,too.

***"More Than One Way To Love A Woman"(1979)---I LOVE THIS SONG!! Ray sings in a stunning falsetto vocal.As with many Ray Parker songs,he is giving advice to men on how to please their woman..."A woman works from sun 'til sun,but a man's work is never really done,until he learns all of the ways to love a woman".

***"Two Places At The Same Time"(1980)---Another kickass single that brought them into the 80s.It contains a strong chorus: "I wanna be Two Places At The Same Time,inside you and inside your mind...Both of these ways I wanna love you,cause one without the other just won't do".

***"Tonight's The Night"(1980)---Herbie Hancock guests on this sexy bedroom ballad.

***"For Those Who Like To Groove"(1980)---a classic funk instrumental,this song was the B-side of the single "Two Places At The Same Time".Radio DJs flipped it over and this became a hit too.Too funky!!

***"A Woman Needs Love(Just Like You Do)"(1981)---Once again,Ray is giving the fellas advice on how to treat their women.It contains this chilling warning: "One day you'll come home,early from work...open up the door and get your feelings hurt".

***"It's Your Night"(1981)---more dancefloor funk

***"The Other Woman"(1982)---In 1982,Ray went solo and hit it big with this infectious rock/pop number.This sounded cool on pop radio back then.

***"I Still Can't Get Over Loving You"(1983)---This song had to have been inspired by The Police's "Every Breath You Take".Ray even swipes a line from that song! Nevertheless,this is a kickass song about a man who can't let his lover go."Don't you ever try to leave",he warns her,"It'll be the last thing you ever do".

***"Bad Boy"(1983)---Remember this one? Ray is apologizing to his neglected girlfriend and begs for a second chance.He even tells her to "spank me,whoop me,let me come back home".

***"Jamie"(1984)

***"I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone"(1987)---A smooth,Marvin Gaye-influenced song,this is another one of my favs.From his excellent 'After Dark' album.

***"After You"(with Natalie Cole)(1987)---This gentle love ballad is a stunning duet with the fantastic Natalie Cole.This song and "I Don't Think That Man..." both became Top Ten R&B hits,giving Parker a late-70s comeback of sorts.

DavidEye said:

Ray was cool until He started that Smooth Cross-Over Sap Material."A Woman needs Love"etc.. type songs paved the way I think for Lionel Richie Solo,then Babyface,to Brian Mcknight etc..it's cool for a minute but it then becomes a One trick Pony when a Artist knows they have more to offer IMHO.still Ray was cool for a while back in the day.His Produced "Sweat Till you Get Wet" for Brick still rocks my speakers.

Oh yeah, man I love Ray Parker Jr. Brother could funk and slow it down for the ladies. He was one of those cautionary brothers that look out for the ladies. Case In Point.."A Woman Needs Love" and "In The Heat Of The Night".

Here's a cut and paste from my post from earlier this year in the MICHAEL JACKSON-KING OF POP thread giving props to brotha Ray...





Yes a lot of people only remember Ray Parker Jr.for that song "Ghostbusters . However, Ray was on of my favorite 80's artists. People forget about his 70's funk group Raydio, some of my favorite Ray songs are...



*Jack And Jill



*Get Down-From the debut 1977 album Raydio!!!



*You Can't Change That


*Hot Stuff


*Rock On


*Two Places At The Same Time


*For Those Of Who Like To Groove- OKAY, FOR all of you Old Schoolers who are Ray Parker Jr haters...Tell me you didn't jam off of this song back in the 70's!!!


*A Woman Needs Love- Ray gives good advice to all the men out there not fulfillinf their women.


*That Old Song


*The Other Woman- This song went to number #4 on Billboard pop chart in 1982. This album is my favorite solo Ray Parker Jr record. FAMOUS LINE ON THIS SONG...My friends laugh but that's alright, I may be a fool but I know what I like"



*Let Me Go- One of Ray's best love ballad. This song had one of the best lines in music history. "Girl your stuff is so GOOD, I want my NAME ON IT!!!


*It's Our Own Affair


*Bad Boy


*I Still Can't Get Over Loving You

*In The Heat Of The Night- Personally I think this is surely one of Ray's best slow jam. This song is good to just lay back with your lady. Again, Ray plays the cautionary brother. This time he warns the lady to ..."never believe a man in the heat of the night"..."Baby why must you get BURN to LEARN"?(LOL)

*Christmas Time Is Here- Nice X-MAS song from Ray.

*Jamie

*I Dont Think A Man Should Sleep Alone- Nice mid-tempo jam from Ray. Another great line..."This world that we live in have too many laws and too many rules...The thought of you and me sleeping here..seems like everybody disapprove"
(LOL).

*After Midnite- Nice instrumental slow jam from Ray. This song was tailor made for quiet storm programming on R&B radio. And it was commonplace to hear the song on R&B radio
around midnite and shortly thereafter.


Ray made a lot of great jams. He is one of those artists that people have forgotten about though.

Brother915 said:

Ray is A Talented Cat but I think he got Forgotten for Being So Studio-Polished.the songs&Grooves are cool but they are mainly cool in a quick Flash as to Bumping them now.People Remember Him but ask most to name 5 songs of His at least&You Might get that Blank Stare?

He also produced 'Shake It Up Tonight' for Cheryl Lynn. I love that song.

Ray used to play with Stevie and that's him on You Got The Love By Rufus.

His songs used to tell the truth about men/relationships a cool song is "Old Pro"

todd305 said:

Oh yes,I had forgotten about that song!! In the summer of '81,that was DA JAM!!! That's probably my favorite song by Cheryl Lynn.Lyrics like "Can't wait until the sun goes down,I'm gettin' ready" and "Walk the streets,let's spread the news,there's a party" make me long for the early 80s nightclub scene,which I was too young to have been a part of...lol..

cranshaw62 said:

I'm pretty sure Ray Parker wrote the music (credit lists "Khan/Parker"),
but Al Ciner is the only guitarist on RAgs to Rufus.

Hi PFunkjazz,

How's it going?

I always heard Ray played the opening guitar riff uncredited on that song. When did Tony Maiden join the band?

If you know of any good Rufus sites you might want to post them.

Awww peace out!

cranshaw62 said:

Tony was in the band for 1974's RUFUSIZED which was recorded less than 6 months after RAGS TO RUFUS.

It may have been that Ray played on the track as the band was being overhauled to the Tony Maiden/Bobby Watson lineup and Ciner was out by then. Stevie Wonder was foolin' earlier
around LA with Talking Book at this time and Ray is featured in a big way on that
(though Ciner had a big role on on the debut, Rufus).

BTW: Al Ciner seems to have taken Ray Parker's lead and did LA pop sessions for artists like
Candi Staon, Shaun Cassidy and 3 Dog Night.



RUFUs websites are unheralded; sounds like a chance for opportunity...

:fr
[This message was edited Fri Jul 26 12:43:56 PDT 2002 by PFunkjazz]

Two places at the same time is the bomb. The background singing is beautiful. You don't want it to stop.