For along time I have heard that the GB's theme song is a sped up version of the Huey Louis song “I want a new drug”. I also heard that they sued Ray Parker Jr. and settled out of court. Can anyone tell me if this actually happened and if the theme is in fact a sped up version of “I want a new drug”.
Being a musican myself I know that several people use parts of riffs from songs change them a little and make a different chorus and brakedown to go with it and make that into a song. I believe the Ray Park Jr. song may contain some of the same notes of the Huey Louis song but, obviously (at least to my knowledge)the chorus to the GB theme is not a part in the Huey Louis song. Or maybe…it's a conspiracy..I'll ask Kevin Nealon to investigate..

Pete
“That reminds me of the time you tried to drill a hole in your head.”

Egon
“It would have worked if you didn't stop me.”

Ray Parker Jr. and Ivan were sued for 5 million dollars, by Huey Lewis in 1984 because the song “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker Jr. was just Huey Lewis's “I want a New Drug” just played at a faster rate, with different lyrics, and some other notes throwed in.

Huey Lewis won and was awarded the money, but They were still allowed to use the song. This is one reason why they do not play Ghostbusters on the radio too often.

Some more facts, Huey Lewis was sued by Ray Parker Jr. last year for mentioning the lawsuit on VH1 Behind the music.. you can see a news article I submitted to Proton Charging, but was never credited for. Another fact, Huey Lewis was approached for writing the GB song a couple of months before Ghostbusters premiered.

Now lets wait for Bo to chime in and say “I thought they were dead”.

I've heard both songs through and through and there are similarities betwen the two songs that are just too creepy to be ignored. Also, the fact that there was a lawsuit against Ray Parker Jr. has nothing to do with airplay, like Ectoman said. If Arista records can still put it on CD's and sell them, they can play it on a 24 hour Ghostbuster station for all Huey Lewis cares.

Ry

What goes around comes around, I guess (re: suing). Although eventually, there won't be any new songs, cos you can only use so many variations before hitting the same tune from another song.

Ok.. Ok.. I made that up.. but why don't they play it more then?

the reason that ghostbusters isn't heard too often on the radio is simply because it is classified as a novelty song, having to do with a movie that came out close to twenty years ago. Also, if an oldies station were to play the song, people would without a doubt ask “Why are they playing Ghostbusters, it's not halloween.” Thats why.

Ry