Searsly Spuhghetti

 By Eddie Spuhghetti


1984 goes down as one of the highest grossing years in cinematic history and look no further for proof than the top ten: they are all classics in their own right.  Beverly Hills Cop, Gremlins, Indiana Jones & The Temple Of Doom, Romancing The Stone, The Karate Kid, Footloose, Police Academy, The Terminator, Star Trek III: The Search For Spock and oh yeah, Ghostbusters.  Teaser trailers were sort of a new thing at the time and certainly helped peak interest for this wacko sci-fi/horror comedy chock full of SNL and SCTV alumni that was set to be released in July.  Only, nobody was humming that iconic theme song after seeing the teaser: when it came to giving the boys with nuclear-accelerators-on-their-backs a heroic tune, who did the producers call?!  Not Ray Parker Jr.

Hughes & Thrall, a then-newly established collaboration between former Deep Purple bassist Glenn Hughes and touring-guitarist Pat Thrall, were brought aboard to write and perform several songs for the film; one of which would be the purported iconic theme song.  They apparently saw this opportunity as less of a stepping stone towards working on films and more as strengthening their workmanship towards their next album.  At some point in post-production (and after this teaser was released), the plug was pulled on their work and in came Ray Parker Jr. with a more pop-sounding tune that he was inspired to write by some drug song he had heard by a guy named Huey.
     

No known copy of Hughes & Thrall's "Ghostbusters" was released to the public other than the short teaser snippet.  The band has professed that they wish to release it but are not able to (possibly due to a legality).  It's a shame because the song really isn't that bad and could have been used in the end credits: hell, I've found myself listening to the short clip of it a few times in a row just wondering what the rest of the song sounds like.  I'm sure in some alternate reality where my name is Stevie Linguini and Rick Shithouse is called Donathan, we're all singing "Whos that creeping down the hall?  You've got time to make one call!  Gho ho ho ho hoooooosst Ghostbustersssssss!"


Searsly Spuhghetti - "Ghostbusters Teaser Trailer" from EddieSpuhghetti on Vimeo.

There are definitely fans of this original tune and one went as far as to making his own interpretation of it. Keeping things on a theme of alternate interpretations, I'd be remiss not to share some classic Ghosthouse for even more blurring of reality, history and fantasy.

Synthetix Sundays

It's only mere hours until the next instalment of Synthetix Sundays gets set to explode with Marko Maric! The show airs LIVE on Radio Pure Gently at this time and is an unstoppable warmachine on a path for unrequited vengeance with the Dark Lords Of Synths Part 2 lined up in the sights and the trigger ready to squeeze. 

Interviews with Dan Terminus, Cluster Buster, Daniel Deluxe and Ed Harbinger will ensure the grip of terror will be unescapable as the darkness envelopes proceedings entirely! But all has not succumbed to the black arts as regular segments from Paul 'Dress2Kill' Daly and Quality Time With Shithouse shed some lighter 80s powers with swords of synth justice raised to the heavens.

All this rockin is sure to set your world afire and to add even more excitement an extra special exclusive track from Mental Minority scheduled into the programming.

Tune in LIVE here and rock it harder than a melonfarmer, each week and every week!

If you can't make the live show be sure to come back tomorrow for a link to the show that you can download and enjoy in your own time and I'll also be posting the tracks from Quality Time With Shithouse that are available for free download.

On a final note, Sunday the 20th of July marks International Boombox Day and in celebration of this auspicious occasion I've created specially themed mixtape that will be an annual specially themed mixtape, similar to the Halloween, Valentine's and Year End mixtapes I do.

The Stereo Sonic Electro Rockin Mixtape focuses on the funkier electro end of 80s sounds and contains a stellar line up talent from the scene. Rock your own copy of the Stereo Sonic Electro Rockin mixtape with the  download link in the player, full track listing available on the soundcloud page. High res cover art is available here. 

Ghosthouse Go For The Deep V

Ghosthouse are back with a new party-riot EP salaciously titled Deep V. These guys have a totally killer brand of party synth rock sounds that move through different decades but always have the 80s spirit being poured by the gallon.

Deep V contains their killer single from last year in Stop, Drop and Roll as well as bringing along a trio of new songs that push the party mood into some dangerously sexy new territory.



The party kicks off with the good time anthem Freeze. The big 'X Factor' with any Ghosthouse song are the lyrics, these guys are masters of working the most bitchen lines betwixt the catchy riffs and melodies. 'Freeze' kicks so much arse in the lyrics department that you can't help but sing along, even the first time through. The Ghosthouse live party vibe runs riot throughout 'Freeze' and sets a course for good times and great rock'n'roll from the outset.

The second track winds things back to some steamier R&B flavoured tones with 'Empty Bottles'. Wanton refrains of unrequited love and lust end up in the gutter with broken glass and a haze of intoxication. Funky orchestral work and sensuously smooth sax highlights the scene but the pleading vocals tell of a soul bared and crushed 'neath the passions of the night.

'Witness To The Scene' kicks in with a highly polished staccato energy and a totally rad vocal style not dissimilar to something like Rockwell's Somebody's Watching Me. This song is just pure Ghosthouse gold with every ounce of drama exacted from each note and chord, the party is in full swing and it's never gonna stop with this rockin the scene.

The final phase of Deep V is the synth laden 'Stop, Drop & Roll'. Lots of classically 80s pop funk sounds are paraded up and down the catwalk with a strut and swagger full of conviction and confidence. More so than just getting the 80s sounds and ideas 'right' Ghosthouse get the feelings of the 80s right, it's brash, fresh, and full of an uncontrollable exuberance.

The EP closes out with a Radio Edit (they cut the 'fuck' out) of Freeze, which I hope gets metric shit tonnes of FM airplay as these rockers really deserve a massive audience of devoted followers.

The Deep V EP is presented on Ghosthouse's Bandcamp here at a 'name your own' price point. This EP is a must have release for those who want to experience that revival of 80s fun and party action any time you feel the need. Party on Ghosthouse, party on.

Ghosthouse Take The Money And Run

As 2012 draws to a close on Synthetix we've still got some rockin' good action for you. This will be the last weekday post on Synthetix for 2012. We'll be back to regular programming early January, but before I finish up I'll be doing a year end best of 2012 spectacular this weekend in lieu of the regular Weekend Update. I'm hoping for this to be a super exciting way to finish off a super exciting year in 80s inspired synth and to compliment this auspicious occassion there'll be 2012 Synthetix Ultimix to keep you rockin into 2013 in the most luxurious of styles.

For our last week day post on Synthetix I've got something special. There are many underrated bands and producers in the 80s inspired synth scene, but one that most certainly deserves a lot more kudos than they get is Ghosthouse. My first experience with Ghosthouse were the Stop Drop And Roll remixes released a few months ago (particularly the wonderful MiamiNights1984 one). However the real Ghosthouse sound is most evident in their superb self-titled album from 2011, available here.

Although I feel late to the Ghosthouse party, their absolutely stunning track Flat Line, has been one of my favourite songs this year. As it was released last year, it's exempt from the Best Of 2012 I'm doing this weekend but that doesn't mean we can't give it some love right now, so be sure to give this totally k-rad to the max song some love right now here. Please come back once you've enjoyed it's myriad of vintage pleasures.

Moving back up to the present Ghosthouse have just shared a new track on their soundcloud that is technically more rock than synth, but it's soul glows with such vibrant 80s colours that I thought it would be a real highnote to finish up the new music posts with.  Get ready to rock like it's 1985 and tear the place apart as Ghosthouse get totally tubular with their new song: Money!




The 80s feeling is so perfect in this song. The vocal delivery in Ghosthouse's sound is utterly perfect, combine this with some of the best 80s style lyrics written since 1989 and you have a recipe for lots of good times and great rock'n'roll. Doing a truly 80s rock sound is difficult to achieve once you start including all the elements Ghosthouse use, but Money shows their proficiency for authentic sounds and arrangements like no other.

I've been saying all year that the 80s inspired synth producers that gravitate towards using more varied instruments, like guitars and sax, and that also do vocal tracks will elevate the experience of their sounds into previously unimagined territory. Ghosthouse are doing this right now, and are doing it with a natural ease that oozes quality on every conceivable level.

Everything about Money rocks, it works in a completely authentic way that makes me scream for more. I can only hope Ghosthouse are planning to unleash a new record in 2013 and that they continue developing their styles into even more 80s inspired magic. For now, this serves as the perfect song to finish up 2012 with, so rock it hard and rock it often.

I look forward to seeing you on the weekend for all the Top Tens of 2012 in the 80s inspired synth scene on your internet channel that's all 80s all the time: Synthetix.