Ray Parker Jr.'s immortal rollicking fusion of rock and funk title track kicks off the soundtrack. As a bookend, the instrumental version of this song completes the album. Yes, it is worth having both versions.

The Bus Boys' rock-a-billy "Cleaning Up The Town" picks up the pace of a party in full swing. It's the most lively track on the album.

I never heard anything else by Alessi, but their "Saving The Day" is a mid-paced synthesizer number with backing horns. The Thompson Twins' bouncy post-modern new wave "In The Name Of Love," originally from their Into The Gap album, is present as well. With Steve Lillywhite producing this song, it's good to know he had more than just DMB on his producing credits.

Air Supply's "I Can Wait Forever" a Chicago or REO Speedwagon-type ballad, is simply wonderful. The first time I heard them I wondered about the vocalist's gender. I found out later, of course. He kind of reminded me of Dennis DeYoung of Styx.

Laura Branigan's "Hot Night" is actually different from the synthesizer pop she usually performed. It's a rocking club number complete with driving electric guitar. Her best song ever!

Mick Smiley's "Magic" predominates with a synth-drum reminiscent of Phil Collin's "In The Air Tonight" and some rock guitar used in the chorus. This song is played when the city begins to be riddled with spooks in the movie, with ectoplasmic ghosts trails floating towards the sky; the portion used is the monologue spoken over the moody uptempo drums and eerie synthesizer, conveyed to denote the ghosts taking over.

Two of Elmer Bernstein's score numbers are included, the rhythmic piano march dubbed "Main Title Theme," used to show the boys on the move, and the love theme, Dana's Theme, scored around the relationship between Dana and Venkman.

This soundtrack captures yet another 80's snapshot, and it's message is that the new wave movement was dying out, pop ballads and female songstresses were still the groove, and took Ray Parker Jr. to his peak before he became relegated to obscurity after one more album.

Several things happened that crucial year, 1984. Yes, Ghostbusters came out, but I freed myself from the musical shackles that my parents kept me in, and on 16 October, a day that will forever live in my personal history books, And that was only the beginning.


Cool 80s Soundtrack   September 30, 2004
Westley (Stuck in my head)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

"Ghostbusters" was one of the biggest comedies of the 80s and spawned this hit soundtrack from 1984. Of course, most everyone knows the title track by Ray Parker Jr., formerly of Raydio. It's kitschy and fun - with its catchy lines, "I ain't afraid of no ghosts" and "Who you gonna call?" The song peaked at #1 for three weeks and is also included in an instrumental version.

Several other songs on the CD fit well with the movie's theme, such as "Savin' the Day" by Alessi and "Cleaning' Up the Town" by The Bus Boys. The former is the only other song to hit the pop charts, peaking at #68. One of the biggest surprises is "Magic" by Mick Smiley - my favorite song on the CD aside from "Ghostbusters." It's an atmospheric pop confection from an artist who apparently has never recorded again.

The rest of the CD is filled with decent and somewhat eclectic pop and dance music. The Thompson Twins contributed "In the Name of Love," which is one of their best songs, with a propulsive beat and heavy drum sound; it wasn't a hit but received some airplay at the time. Two mediocre tracks from artists who were big at the time are also here - "I Can Wait Forever" by Air Supply and "Hot Night" by Laura Branigan; neither song is very memorable. The CD ends with three instrumentals, including two composed by Elmer Bernstein.

I bought the "Ghostbusters" soundtrack on cassette when I was 14 years old, and I really loved it then. I replaced it on CD a few years ago and found that it doesn't hold up terribly well, although the nostalgia factor helps raise it to 4 stars. If you're a fan of the movie or grew up during that period, then you'll likely enjoy this soundtrack - others are less likely to do so.



Who You Gonna Call? ( U Know )   April 6, 2000
Rocco Battaglia (New York City, NY)
5 out of 5 found this review helpful

Ghostbusters : The Soundtrack was one of the greatest albums of the 1980s. Featuring talented artists such as Bobby Alessi and Air Supply, this CD warps you back to the time of punk-rock and wild hair styles. The movie was just great and so is this CD. Better get your copy fast, because this is a best-selling title.


"Who Ya Gonna Call?"   October 10, 2004
oldschooler1981 (San Jose, CA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

1984's paranormal comedy about a team of scientist-turned-Ghostbusters who come to the rescue when New York City begins to be riddled with ghosts has a fairly fitting soundtrack album to go along with it. Featuring a few one hit wonders, pop ballads, new wave songs, pop/rockers, and s couple pieces of the score, it's a fitting Halloween album.

1. Ray Parker Jr.'s infamous title track can be heard in the opening credits. Starting with a creepy, Halloween-esque sound, it soons turns into an uptempo pop/rock/funk hybrid. Its fun sound and "Who ya gonna call?" catchphrase (rightfully) turned it into a huge hit. Though many claimed it closely resembles Huey Lewis' "I Want A New Drug" (maybe a little too close - which led to a lawsuit), I don't hear the connection myself.

2. "Cleanin' Up the Town" Bus Boys -- The only other hit to emerge from the soundtrack is basically the 'Buster's theme song. With its upbeat drums, piano and guitar solo, I'd liken its semi rowdy sound to a more R&B version of the J. Geils' hit "Centerfold."

3. "Savin' the Day" Alessi -- I wouldn't call this one of the stronger songs on the album, but it does fit the storyline. With its mid tempo, horn-laden sound, it's almost like how Chicago would sound (musically) if they did New Wave.

4. "In the Name of Love" Thompson Twins -- Another heavily new wave influenced song sounding like it came out a couple years too late (this style was already fading out by 1984). It's very uptempo and silly sounding - almost the polar opposite of the same year's semi ballad "Hold Me Now" and it can be heard as the guys are eating dinner, just before they get called to the Sedgewick Hotel.

5. "I Can Wait Forever" Air Supply -- The backing piano, sweet vocals and electric guitar make this slightly uptempo Christopher Cross/REO Speedwagon-esque ballad fall inbetween their power ballad-ish hit "Making Love Out of Nothing At All" and their usual lite pop style. Though I'm not a fan of theirs, this song is a rare exception.

6. "Hot Night" Laura Branigan -- This is played at Lewis' party as he gets locked out (again, LOL). It fits in context with its fun, uptempo club sound and backing electric guitar. It's almost akin to a dance/pop version of an arena rock song Loverboy or Survivor might do. Catchy as ever, I'm amazed it wasn't a hit, especially since it sounds alot like her SELF-CONTROL album that same year.

7. "Magic" Mick Smiley -- This slow rock number is featured more prominently in the movie, being played just as the ghosts are beginning to take over the town. Opening up with an eerie drum beat, not unlike Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" it becomes halfway uptempo on the choruses. For the record, I didn't like this at all for quite awhile, but subsequent listens turned me into a fan.

8/9. -- The "Main Title" and "Dana's Theme" is part of the instrumental score from Elmer Bernstein. The former is a piano piece, and the latter is a slower, more haunting sound which can be heard in the movie after Dana becomes possessed.

10. -- The soundtrack wraps up with an instrumental version of the title track, and a slightly extended playing time (i.e. the bridge features a creepy, ghostlike sound before fading into where the "I ain't 'fraid of no ghost" line would be. Also, instead of the song fading out, it continues longer before simply ending).

In general, I think the soundtrack is mostly strong (plus it's one of my favorite movies), so it gets four stars. It's not without its flaws: The instrumental title track, though it's a cool extra, should've been saved as a B side, and left that as a place for another song. I also could've done without one or both of the two new wave songs in the middle.

That leaves 5 songs (exactly half the album) as good to great.


This soundtrack absolutely RULES!!!!!   September 13, 1999
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

This soundtrack is amoung the best in my book. The movie ruled and to top it off they come out with a blockbuster soundtrack. The ghostbuster's theme by Ray Parker Jr., is such an iresistable song, and the rest are cool too. So if you don't like this soundtrack, you don't like music.