''Lookin' For Another Pure Love''

Backing Vocals – Debra Wilson, Loris Harvin, Shirley Brewer Soloist, Guitar – Buzzy Feton*, Jeff Beck

''Maybe Your Baby ''

Guitar - Ray Parker, Jr

Sleeve credits inside:
Production Support: Centaur Music Production
Recorded at: Air Studios, London, Electric Lady Studios, New York, Crystal Studios, Los Angeles, Record Plant, Los Angeles
Mastering: The Cutting Room, New York

Sleeve credits back:
All songs © 1972 Jobete Music / Black Bull Music [+ all lyrics]
Made from masters of Motown Records Corporation.

Identity said:

''Lookin' For Another Pure Love''

Backing Vocals – Debra Wilson, Loris Harvin, Shirley Brewer Soloist, Guitar – Buzzy Feton*, Jeff Beck

''Maybe Your Baby ''

Guitar - Ray Parker, Jr

Sleeve credits inside:
Production Support: Centaur Music Production
Recorded at: Air Studios, London, Electric Lady Studios, New York, Crystal Studios, Los Angeles, Record Plant, Los Angeles
Mastering: The Cutting Room, New York

Sleeve credits back:
All songs © 1972 Jobete Music / Black Bull Music [+ all lyrics]
Made from masters of Motown Records Corporation.

Thought so.

Shango said:

As part of Stu Gardner's "First Cosins Jazz Ensemble" (1977). One year after that, Ray started releasing work with Raydio. Stu later composed the Cosby Show's theme.

They both played on one of The COS albums.

[Edited 2/9/12 19:49pm]

[Edited 2/9/12 20:04pm]

"Mr. Telephone Man" - New Edition

''When Love Comes Calling'' - Denice Williams

''Upfront'' - Diana Ross

''I've Been Watching You" - Randy Hall

"Gentleman" - Randy Hall

"Babe" - Brick (co-written by Ray)

More songs composed by Ray.

[Edited 2/9/12 23:00pm]

Ray with his wife Elaine.

[Edited 2/9/12 23:14pm]

StarMon said:

Shango said:

As part of Stu Gardner's "First Cosins Jazz Ensemble" (1977). One year after that, Ray started releasing work with Raydio. Stu later composed the Cosby Show's theme.

They both played on one of The COS albums.

Okay i see, thanks Thought that Stu was the bandleader/founder of the project

Identity said:

''I've Been Watching You" - Randy Hall

Great track. There was a clearer version of that video on YT sometime ago. Couldn't find it now, but glad that i made a copy of it when it was still there. I dig the part while they're going up the hill in the night and the fireworks going off on the beat of the track.

There seemed confusement between this song and Ray's "Jamie". Iirc, people thought that Randy's single was released by Ray? If so, it probably had to do with the "Jamie" single being an answer to "I've Been Watching You", besides Ray's appearance in Randy's video lol.

Here's Randy's Soul Train version

[Edited 2/10/12 2:29am]

I will be watching this one tonight

anc282 said:

Yep. If anybody is deserving of an Unsung episode it's DEFINITELY this man!

People will always associate him with "Ghostbusters" but he's done so much more, and even so much BETTER than that song.

Damn right! Tracks like Bad Boy & Jamie were way better. And lets not forget about the tracks he wrote/composed for Raydio.

Here is one of those funk tracks co-written by Ray for Herbie!:

sosgemini said:

How the hell is the singer of one of the biggest hits of the 80's unsung?

"Ghostbusters" was both a blessing and a curse in regards to Ray Parker Jr.'s career, in my opinion. Because it was such a novelty song, it not only overshadowed his catalog both with Raydio and as a solo artist but it seemed that he was not taken seriously as a recording artist and musician from that day forward. Parker had some hit songs after "Ghostbusters" -- "Jamie," "Girls Are More Fun," "I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone" and "Over You" (his duet with Natalie Cole) -- but he was typecast as "the Ghostbusters singer" to the point of parody.

Keep in mind, Raydio had quite a few hit songs both on the Billboard R&B and pop charts, such as "Jack And Jill," "You Can't Change That," "Two Places At The Same Time," "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)" and "That Old Song." And that not is even counting his post-Raydio and pre-"Ghostbusters" hits, such as "The Other Woman," "Let Me Go," "Bad Boy" and "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You." But a lot of that is overlooked because he instantly is associated with "Ghostbusters."

On top of that, Parker was an in-demand studio musician and songwriter in the late '60s and '70s prior to his days with Raydio. As a teen-ager in the late '60s, Parker played on The Spinners' touring band and was a session guitarist with Holland-Dozier-Holland's Invictus/Hot Wax imprint (he was the guitarist on The Honey Cone's hit "Want Ads"). He wrote Rufus & Chaka Khan's first No. 1 single "You Got the Love" and was a sideman in Barry White's Love Unlimited Orchestra (Parker co-wrote "You See The Trouble With Me") from 1973 to 1977.

Parker also wrote songs and did session work for The Carptenters, Aretha Franklin, Stevie Wonder (with whom he toured and played for a year, which led him to move to Los Angeles from Detroit), Deniece Williams, Leon Haywood, Gladys Knight and The Pips, Herbie Hancock and Diana Ross.

[Edited 2/13/12 11:04am]

There's also the lawsuit filed against Ray by Huey Lewis for Ghostbusters which dampened his career momentum as well. Since neither party is allowed to discussed the details of the settlement, the general consensus from what i've heard through the years is that Ray got the short end of the stick. So while the lawsuit I'm sure will be mentioned in tonight's ep, i'm expecting that there won't be much revealed about the settlement.

UnderMySun said:

There's also the lawsuit filed against Ray by Huey Lewis for Ghostbusters which dampened his career momentum as well. Since neither party is allowed to discussed the details of the settlement, the general consensus from what i've heard through the years is that Ray got the short end of the stick. So while the lawsuit I'm sure will be mentioned in tonight's ep, i'm expecting that there won't be much revealed about the settlement.

True. Early in his post-Raydio career, Ray Parker Jr. had hit songs that clearly were inspired by other artists' then-recent big pop hits:

"The Other Woman" --> Rick Springfield's "Jesse Girl"

"I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" --> The Police's "Every Breath You Take"

"Ghostbusters" --> Huey Lewis & The News' "I Want A New Drug"

Moreover, Parker stated in interviews that "The Other Woman" and "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" were created with those songs in mind, and all three of Parker's songs came out shortly after those artists' songs peaked on the charts. That is what led to the Huey Lewis lawsuit.

[Edited 2/13/12 6:58am]

MusickMan said:

UnderMySun said:

There's also the lawsuit filed against Ray by Huey Lewis for Ghostbusters which dampened his career momentum as well. Since neither party is allowed to discussed the details of the settlement, the general consensus from what i've heard through the years is that Ray got the short end of the stick. So while the lawsuit I'm sure will be mentioned in tonight's ep, i'm expecting that there won't be much revealed about the settlement.

True. Early in his post-Raydio career, Ray Parker Jr. had hit songs that clearly were inspired by other artists' then-recent big pop hits:

"The Other Woman" --> Rick Springfield's "Jesse Girl"

"I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" --> The Police's "Every Breath You Take"

"Ghostbusters" --> Huey Lewis & The News' "I Want A New Drug"

Moreover, Parker stated in interviews that "The Other Woman" and "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" were created with those songs in mind, and all three of Parker's songs came out shortly after those artists' songs peaked on the charts. That what was led to the Huey Lewis lawsuit.

Some people even suggested that "I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone" borrows heavily from Patti Austin's "The Heat Of Heat".

SoulAlive said:

MusickMan said:

True. Early in his post-Raydio career, Ray Parker Jr. had hit songs that clearly were inspired by other artists' then-recent big pop hits:

"The Other Woman" --> Rick Springfield's "Jesse Girl"

"I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" --> The Police's "Every Breath You Take"

"Ghostbusters" --> Huey Lewis & The News' "I Want A New Drug"

Moreover, Parker stated in interviews that "The Other Woman" and "I Still Can't Get Over Loving You" were created with those songs in mind, and all three of Parker's songs came out shortly after those artists' songs peaked on the charts. That what was led to the Huey Lewis lawsuit.

Some people even suggested that "I Don't Think That Man Should Sleep Alone" borrows heavily from Patti Austin's "The Heat Of Heat".

I would not be surprised. Ray Parker Jr. openly stated in interviews in the late '80s that he wanted and approached Jimmy Jam & Terry Lewis to produce songs for him and "The Heat Of Heat" was a Jam & Lewis-produced song. In fact, Parker's final hit song "She Needs To Get Some" was an obvious imtation of the Jam & Lewis-produced "Sensitivity" by Ralph Tresvant.

[Edited 2/13/12 7:15am]

What is the funky song in the very beginning that Ray is playing-the clip is a soul train clip?

Damn.. I knew about all his own hits but i never knew he played or wrote for Rufus, Cheryl Lynn and the others

And Clive was on there talking about Whitney...

banks said:

Damn.. I knew about all his own hits but i never knew he played or wrote for Rufus, Cheryl Lynn and the others

I knew he was on the Rufus hits and wrote and produced Cheryl's "Shake It Up Tonight" but I had no idea he did "Got to Be Real" too.

Timmy84 said:

banks said:

Damn.. I knew about all his own hits but i never knew he played or wrote for Rufus, Cheryl Lynn and the others

I knew he was on the Rufus hits and wrote and produced Cheryl's "Shake It Up Tonight" but I had no idea he did "Got to Be Real" too.

Ray wrote Mr Telephone Man...

banks said:

Timmy84 said:

I knew he was on the Rufus hits and wrote and produced Cheryl's "Shake It Up Tonight" but I had no idea he did "Got to Be Real" too.

Ray wrote Mr Telephone Man...

I've known that for years too.

Let me state for the record that I Hated that Ghostbuster's song.

banks said:

Timmy84 said:

I knew he was on the Rufus hits and wrote and produced Cheryl's "Shake It Up Tonight" but I had no idea he did "Got to Be Real" too.

Ray wrote Mr Telephone Man...

Ray Parker Jr. was the session guitarist on Cheryl Lynn's "Got To Be Real." He wrote and produced "Shake It Up Tonight."

Once you listen to "Mr. Telephone Man," it certainly has that Raydio melody, similar to "A Woman Needs Love (Just Like You Do)" and "You Can't Change That."

[Edited 2/13/12 21:06pm]

banks said:

Timmy84 said:

I knew he was on the Rufus hits and wrote and produced Cheryl's "Shake It Up Tonight" but I had no idea he did "Got to Be Real" too.

Ray wrote Mr Telephone Man...

You never heard the Raydio sound in Mr Telephone Man

Shango said:

Identity said:

''I've Been Watching You" - Randy Hall

Great track. There was a clearer version of that video on YT sometime ago. Couldn't find it now, but glad that i made a copy of it when it was still there. I dig the part while they're going up the hill in the night and the fireworks going off on the beat of the track.

There seemed confusement between this song and Ray's "Jamie". Iirc, people thought that Randy's single was released by Ray? If so, it probably had to do with the "Jamie" single being an answer to "I've Been Watching You", besides Ray's appearance in Randy's video lol.

This may be the clear version of the song for which you were looking.

Actually, the "Jamie" in the Randy Hall song was the name of Hall's friend -- hence the name "I've Been Watching You (Jamie's Girl)."

The reason why people were confused is because Ray Parker Jr. produced both songs and and he used the male name "Jamie" to describe Hall's friend and the female name "Jamie" to describe his ex-girlfriend in his own song. So technically, one song is not an answer to the other song.

On another note, Randy Hall was was co-arranger on the 1981 Miles Davis album "The Man With The Horn." He later joined the group Pleasure in 1982 before going solo to make the Parker-produced album "I Belong To You."

[Edited 2/14/12 6:46am]

scriptgirl said:

What is the funky song in the very beginning that Ray is playing-the clip is a soul train clip?

My favorite Ray Parker Jr./Raydio songs that haven't been mentioned, both from the "Rock On" album:

"Hot Stuff:"

"More Than One Way To Love A Woman:"