Ray Parker Jr.
Last year Huey Lewis claimed Parker had blatantly stolen the tune of Lewis' I Want a New Drug for his hit Ghostbusters. That issue, settled out of court, drew attention to Parker's lack of originality. Blessed with a good voice and a facile ability to write the kind of melodic hooks that spell Top 40, Parker still comes across as calculated, lazy and hollow, especially on his latest album. Except for the frisky party groove of Girls Are More Fun, the songs are listless. Most of the lyrics seem designed to cultivate Parker's own image as the record business' gift to women. When Marvin Gaye played the soul lothario, he did it with class, not macho locker-room boasting. When Parker sings I'm a Dog, it's hard in this case not to agree with him. (Arista)
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