Ghostbusters (1984 soundtrack)

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Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album is the soundtrack album for the 1984 film of the same name, released by Arista Records on June 8, 1984.[1] The soundtrack includes the Billboard Hot 100 number one hit "Ghostbusters", written and performed by Ray Parker Jr. The film score, Ghostbusters: Original Motion Picture Score, is composed by Elmer Bernstein.[2] Since the release of the film in 1984, the film score remained unreleased until March 16, 2006, released by Varèse Sarabande.[3]

Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album[]

Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album
Ghostbusters Soundtrack.png
Soundtrack album by
various artists
ReleasedJune 8, 1984
Length37:52
LabelArista
Ghostbusters soundtracks chronology
Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album
(1984) 		Ghostbusters II
(1989)
Singles from Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album
  1. "Ghostbusters"
    Released: June 8, 1984

Development[]

Early on, Ghostbusters director Ivan Reitman and Elmer Bernstein discussed the idea that the film would feature popular music at specific points to complement Bernstein's original score. This included "Magic" by Mick Smiley, which plays during the scene when the ghosts are released from the Ghostbusters headquarters. Bernstein's main theme for the Ghostbusters was later replaced by Ray Parker Jr.'s "Ghostbusters".[4][5] Bernstein personally disliked the use of these songs, particularly "Magic", but said, "it’s very hard to argue with something like ["Ghostbusters"], when it is up in the top ten on the charts."[5] The soundtrack also includes two tracks from Elmer Bernstein's score for the film.

Music was required for a montage in the middle of the film, and "I Want a New Drug" by Huey Lewis and the News was used as a temporary placeholder because of its appropriate tempo. Reitman was later introduced to Parker Jr. who developed "Ghostbusters" with a similar riff to match the montage.[6] There were approximately 50 to 60 different theme songs developed for Ghostbusters by different artists before Parker Jr.'s involvement, though none was deemed suitable.[7][8] Huey Lewis was approached to compose the film's theme, but was already committed to work on Back to the Future's soundtrack.[9]

Track listing[]

No.TitleWriter(s)PerformerLength
1."Ghostbusters"Ray Parker Jr.Ray Parker Jr.4:05
2."Cleanin' Up The Town"
The BusBoys2:57
3."Savin' the Day"
Alessi Brothers3:22
4."In the Name of Love"Tom BaileyThompson Twins3:18
5."I Can Wait Forever"
Air Supply5:08
6."Hot Night"
Laura Branigan3:21
7."Magic"Mick SmileyMick Smiley4:19
8."Main Title Theme (Ghostbusters)"Elmer BernsteinElmer Bernstein2:59
9."Dana's Theme"BernsteinElmer Bernstein3:31
10."Ghostbusters" (instrumental version)ParkerRay Parker Jr.3:06
Total length:37:52

Charts[]

Chart (1984–85) Peak
position
Argentine Albums (CAPIF)[10] 1
Canada Top Albums/CDs (RPM)[11] 6
Japanese Albums (Oricon)[12] 3
New Zealand Albums (RMNZ)[13] 18
Norwegian Albums (VG-lista)[14] 15
Spanish Albums (AFYVE)[15] 4
Swedish Albums (Sverigetopplistan)[16] 13
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[17] 16
UK Albums (OCC)[18] 24
US Billboard 200[19] 6

Certifications[]

Region Certification Certified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[20] Platinum 100,000^
France (SNEP)[22] Gold 100,000[21]
Spain (PROMUSICAE)[15] Gold 50,000^
United Kingdom (BPI)[23] Gold 100,000^
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,000,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Ghostbusters: Original Motion Picture Score[]

Ghostbusters: Original Motion Picture Score
Ghostbusters Score Soundtrack.png
Film score by
Elmer Bernstein
ReleasedMarch 16, 2006
Recorded1984
StudioThe Village, West Los Angeles, California
GenreFilm score
Length60:00
Label
ProducerElmer Bernstein
Ghostbusters soundtracks chronology
Ghostbusters II
(1989) 		Ghostbusters: Original Motion Picture Score
(2006) 		Ghostbusters: Original Motion Picture Score
(2016)

Development[]

The Ghostbusters score was composed by Elmer Bernstein and performed by the 72-person Hollywood Studio Symphony orchestra at The Village in West Los Angeles, California. It was orchestrated by Bernstein's son, Peter and David Spear.[4][5] Bernstein had previously scored several of Ivan Reitman's films and was hired before filming had begun or all the cast had been signed.[5] Reitman wanted a grounded, realistic score and did not want the music to tell the audience when something was funny.[25] Bernstein used the ondes Martenot (effectively a keyboard equivalent of a theremin) to produce the "eerie" effect. Bernstein had to bring a musician, Cynthia Millar, from England to play the instrument because there were so few trained ondists. He also used three Yamaha DX7 synthesizers.[5][4]

In a 1985 interview Bernstein described Ghostbusters as the most difficult score he had written, finding it challenging to balance the film's varying comedic and serious tones. He created an "antic" theme for the Ghostbusters he described as "cute, without being really way out." He found the latter parts of the film easier to score, aiming to make it sound "awesome and mystical."[5]

Track listing[]

All tracks are written by Elmer Bernstein.

No.TitleLength
1."Ghostbusters Theme"3:01
2."Library"2:22
3."Venkman"0:33
4."Hello"1:36
5."The Best One in Your Row"1:07
6."Get Her!"2:03
7."Plan"1:26
8."Dana's Theme"3:31
9."Fridge and Sign"1:57
10."Attack"1:32
11."Client"0:35
12."Dana's Apartment"1:40
13."Same Problem"1:08
14."We Got One"2:03
15."Zuul Part 1"0:46
16."Meeting 1"3:02
17."I Respect You"0:57
18."Who Brought the Dog"0:59
19."Zuul Part 2"4:13
20."Steel Drum"1:29
21."Cross Rip"2:16
22."News"1:44
23."Judgement Day"1:19
24."Mistake"0:39
25."Halls"2:30
26."Ballroom"1:03
27."Trap"0:55
28."Meeting 2"1:14
29."Earthquake"0:34
30."Stairwell"1:21
31."Gozer"2:51
32."Let's Go"1:15
33."We're Going to Save the World"1:27
34."Mr. Stay Puft"0:34
35."Final Battle"1:33
36."Finish"2:15
37."Zuul" (album version)3:14
Total length:60:00

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Ghostbusters - Soundtrack - Spotify". 1984. Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  2. ^ "Ghostbusters (Original Motion Picture Score) - Spotify". June 7, 2019. Archived from the original on August 19, 2021. Retrieved September 6, 2021.
  3. ^ "The Best of 2006 - Soundtrack.net". Archived from the original on September 6, 2021. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  4. ^ a b c "Recorded at The Village – Elmer Bernstein's 'Ghostbusters' Score". The Village. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Larson 1985, pp. 9–10.
  6. ^ Matloff, Jason (February 24, 2014). "An Oral History of Ghostbusters". Esquire. Archived from the original on April 26, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  7. ^ Lau, Melody (July 14, 2016). "15 Things You Might Not Know about the Ghostbusters Theme Song". CBCMusic.ca. Archived from the original on December 20, 2018. Retrieved September 29, 2019.
  8. ^ Pizzo, Mike (July 14, 2016). "The Freaky Legacy of the Ghostbusters Theme Song". Medium. Archived from the original on June 27, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
  9. ^ "Ghostbusters (1984)". American Film Institute Catalog of Feature Films. Archived from the original on January 13, 2019. Retrieved January 12, 2019.
  10. ^ "International Bestsellers – Argentina" (PDF). Cashbox. February 23, 1985. p. 41. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  11. ^ "Top RPM Albums: Issue 8515". RPM. Library and Archives Canada. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  12. ^ "International Bestsellers – Japan" (PDF). Cashbox. October 20, 1984. p. 35. Retrieved January 4, 2022.
  13. ^ "Charts.nz – Soundtrack – Ghostbusters". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  14. ^ "Norwegiancharts.com – Soundtrack – Ghostbusters". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  15. ^ a b Fernando Salaverri (September 2005). Sólo éxitos: año a año, 1959–2002 (1st ed.). Spain: Fundación Autor-SGAE. p. 918. ISBN 84-8048-639-2.
  16. ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Soundtrack – Ghostbusters". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  17. ^ "Swisscharts.com – Soundtrack – Ghostbusters". Hung Medien. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  18. ^ "OFFICIAL ALBUMS CHART RESULTS MATCHING: GHOSTBUSTERS". September 29, 1984. Archived from the original on August 19, 2013. Retrieved September 27, 2021.
  19. ^ "Billboard 200 Chart History". July 7, 1984. Archived from the original on June 5, 2021. Retrieved September 8, 2021.
  20. ^ "Canadian album certifications – Soundtrack – Ghostbusters". Music Canada. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  21. ^ "Les Certifications & Les Ventes". Info Disc. Archived from the original on April 14, 2016. Retrieved September 19, 2021.
  22. ^ "French album certifications – B.O.F. – Ghostbusters" (in French). InfoDisc. Retrieved September 7, 2021. Select B.O.F. and click OK. 
  23. ^ "British album certifications – Soundtrack – Ghostbusters". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  24. ^ "American album certifications – Soundtrack – Ghostbusters". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved September 7, 2021.
  25. ^ Konow, David (May 7, 2015). "Putting Together Ghostbusters' Special Effects". Tested.com. Archived from the original on June 22, 2019. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
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