WITHOUT doubt one of 1978's biggest records on both sides of the Atlantic was "Jack And Jill" which took Raydio and its mentor and founder, Mr. Ray Parker Jr., into the limelight fairly and squarely. A whole series of performances with Bootsy Collins furthered Raydio's popularity and now, about a year later, it's time for Raydio to launch a new attack on the airwaves across the nation.As always, Mr. Parker is making no bones about what he's doing: "I wanna go with what people dig musically because it's all about the business of selling records!" and lest you conclude that Mr. Parker has no time for words like 'artistry' and 'craftsmanship', let's correct that impression straight away. Anyone who knows anything about Mr. Parker Jr. will recall that he began his musical career whilst still very much in his teens in Detroit, playing on innumerable sessions for Motown, Invictus and anyone else who was making serious hit records in the motor city. And in case you might have any doubts about it, Mr. Parker would hardly have been allowed to do that if his skill and artistry weren't of the serious A-plus variety!
When he moved to Los Angeles, Mr. Parker continued to demonstrate his ability not only as an accomplished musician but also as a songwriter with tunes such as Rufus' "You Got The Love" to his credit. Which is all to reiterate that Ray knows all about artistry and craftmanship!
"The new album? Well, it's a lot like the last one!" he laughs. "It's not a total departure but I think the sound is better because we spent more time on it. I think people are going to dig it just judging from the responses we've been getting."
What responses, you might enquire since the album is only just about to surface? Aah, out comes the Ray Parker Jr. secret formula for making hit records! "Well, I record all my stuff at home — the whole album was done there as well as the last one — and I actually go out in my little old Volkswagen and stop people in the street and play them the roughs of what we're doing to get their response. It's all kinds of people — ordinary folks, not just 'record buyers'. And usually, I've found the opinions match up.
"I'll ask people what it is they like or don't like about a particular tune and that helps decide and shape what we're doing with it. And just to supplement what I do, I send a whole crew of my friends out there to do the same thing!
"You see, I've never understood why artists or record companies put out records that nobody likes but them! I like to use the ammunition we get in the streets from the people because after all, they're the ones who're gonna buy the records right?" Underlining his 'method' Ray even has folks come to his studio-at-home to boogie whilst he's recording — "that way I can tell what's getting to them and what's not!"
By now, you will have no doubt have concluded that Ray has his wits about him and further questioning reveals that he's certainly got his head on straight.
"Take my studio. I started work on that about 2½ years ago and I figured it was an investment for me if I was going to start making records myself. And it's paid off because we've done the two albums there like I said and it's been no problem maintaining it or anything. I feel that an artist has to hold as many cards as he can in this business and the studio's one of mine.
"In fact, when I first did the deal with Arista, I didn't tell them where I recorded the album. They knew, of course, afterwards. Sure, people thought I'd blown my top — my managers thought I'd gone a little too far — you know, writing all the stuff, producing it, singing, playing and doing it all in my home. They thought it was ego but when they thought about it some more they realized that I wouldn't have even tried to do it that way if I didn't think I could."
As a point of information, incidentally, Mr. Parker does actually play all the instruments on his album — "because I can't always get a musician when I need them, when I may get an idea — and also because I find it works doing it that way, building stage by stage."
One senses indeed that if Ray could go out on the road and do the whole show in person alone, he might — but that being impractical (!), he's selected some really good musicians to accompany him when he goes back out on tour later this year — and judging from the response last year to the musicians that make up Raydio, more excitement can be expected when they hit the road.
"I dig the road but I insist that it be done in the shortest possible time. I don't like sitting around in hotel rooms and don't like wasting all the money it costs to keep your band in hotels for days on end in between gigs. I don't like the days off so I try to compact the tour into the shortest amount of time we can. Like last year, we did 55 gigs in 2½ months and even that meant we had too many days off!
"To me, it's all about being busy all the time. Sure, it gets tiring but only if you let it. No, I don't mind getting to a city, doing our radio promotional things, doing press interviews, soundchecks and then performing because that's what being in this business is all about. If you don't like that, you shouldn't be doing it!"
Ray is also very particular about the use of drugs and alcohol in his band. "Music to me, is all about efficiency. When I was younger doing a lot of those sessions, I'd see guys fall out from too much smoking pot or drinking or whatever and I just never wanted to be that way.
"It seemed to me they'd always mess up — too late or slow or something. So I never got into it and you know what I think? I feel that people who have to resort to those stimulants and stuff really don't like themselves — that's why they do it. Because if you dig yourself as you are, why do you need to change your mood or yourself — because that's all that getting high is about — excaping or 'relaxing' — it's all the same!"
Ray uses discrimination when it comes to such 'habits' when choosing people he works with: "Sure, it means that a lot of people ostracize me — they can't understand if I don't get high but hey, that's their problem. I'm lucky in controlling my own situation when it comes to things like working in the studio.''
Ray rationalizes: "I just want to make nice, clean music — and you could say," he laughs, "that Raydio is the clean, all-American band!"
Asked about his future and career, Ray replies: "I'm excited about it but I try not to be moved by it. After all, I'm doing what I really enjoy doing. If that makes other people happy — and I try hard for that — then, great! I used to wonder what it would be like when I was a kid, around 13, to be popular, for people to dig your music — and it's just a great feeling. I just want to keep on doing it!"
With the kind of positive and for real attitudes Ray Parker Jr. expresses in person and in his music, there are plenty of people who wanna listen!
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