Ghostbusters: Original Soundtrack Album [SOUNDTRACK]

Various Artists - Soundtracks - 1984, Elmer Bernstein

Product Details

• Audio CD (October 25, 1990)
• Original Release Date: June 8, 1984
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Soundtrack
• Label: Columbia Pictures
• ASIN: B000002VCY
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (39 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,656 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who ya gonna call?, August 19, 2002

By	Daniel J. Hamlow (Narita, Japan) - See all my reviews (TOP 100 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

What was the first ever, pop album I ever, and I mean EVER bought? Whatcha gonna say? GHOSTBUSTERS! The soundtrack, that is.

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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Cool 80s Soundtrack, September 29, 2004

By	Westley (Stuck in my head) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

"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.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Who You Gonna Call? ( U Know ), April 5, 2000

By	Rocco Battaglia (New York City, NY) - See all my reviews

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.