I have just received notification that Timmy Thomas has passed from his
friend Gary Van Den Bussche which has been confirmed by a post on Timmy
Thomas' facebook. Thomas is universally known for his worldwide hit "Why Can't
We Live Together" in 1972.
It is very poignant that Gary notified me as we were just taking about
him last week after he played an exclusive stereo Tom Moulton mix of his classic "Why Can't We Live
Together" in solidarity for the Ukrainian people for which Gary had
previously received a message from Timmy thanking him for playing his
anthem.
What better tribute to Timmy and the current world crisis than to kick off
with his 1990 Lasting Peace Mix of Why Can''t We Live together.
Thomas' first recording was part of a group known as Phillip
(Reynolds) & The Faithfuls "Love Me" / "Rhythm Marie" on Goldwax in
1964. In 2009 a previously unreleased recording "What'cha Gonna Do" by them
was uncovered and released on Kent Select which sounds to me very similar to
Major Lance's "Monkey Time".
After this he became a session musician in Memphis and released two solo
singles on Goldwax in 1967 before relocating to Miami where he released a
single for Climax "What's Bothering Me" / "Dizzy Dizzy World" with "What's
Bothering Me" receiving spins on the Northern Soul circuit.
He had a total of thirteen entries into the US &&B chart in his
career with only three hitting the Hot 100 and was never able to emulate the
success of "Why Can't We Live Together".
In the UK he hit with the song twice, in 1973 and again with the Stand Up
For Love Remix in 1990. Sandwiched in between he had a hit with Nicole
(McCloud) "New York Eyes" in 1985.
Album Discography
Links to Spotify albums on title and Discogs on Cat. no.
1972 - Why Can't We Live Together [Glades #33-6501]
1975 - You're The Song I Always Wanted To Sing [Glades #6504]
1976 - The Magician [Glades #7510]
1977 - Touch To Touch [Glades #7513]
1984 - Gotta Give A Little Love (Ten Years After) [Gold Mountain #GM-80006]
1994 - With Heart & Soul [Transistor Music #7280]
As a tribute I've gathered together twenty of his best songs.
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1 comment:
Really very sad of this disappearance because Timmy had known how to create an immediately recognizable style. This will remain for me a great discovery of 1972.
Yves
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