Category: Evelyn Thomas

Evelyn Thomas 1953-2024

Thomas was best known for hits such as ‘High Energy’, ‘Doomsday’ and ‘Weak Spot’

Influential disco singer Evelyn Thomas has died aged 70. No cause of death has been given.

The news was shared by Northern soul legend Ian Levine, who took to X/Twitter to announce Thomas’ death. “It is hard for me to accept that my lifelong protege really has left us”, he wrote, adding that “her music will outlive us all”.

Levine worked with Thomas and co-producer Fiachra Trench to create the Hi-NRG classic ‘High Energy’ in 1984 and signed the singer to his label in 1975. Though the pair fell out of contact after their last recording session in 2009, Levine revealed that Thomas had “reached out to me in love” a few months ago knowing she was dying.

Upon hearing from Thomas, Levine and Trench “immediately dropped everything” to write one last song for her called ‘Inspirational’. Though Thomas was too sick to record the song, he revealed her daughter Kimberly (aka YaYa Diamond) intends to record the song as a tribute to her mother, adding that “Kimberly has been the most amazing and caring daughter”.

Evelyn Thomas was born in Chicago, Illinois on August 22, 1953. Working across genres such as disco, dance, and R&B, she was discovered by Levine in 1975, who signed her to his label.

Evelyn Thomas – High-Energy (US 12″)

BURNING THE GROUND EXCLUSIVE 1984

“High-Energy” is the title of a 1984 song co-written and co-produced by Ian Levine and Fiachra Trench, and performed by American dance singer Evelyn Thomas. The song was very popular in dance clubs around the world, and it topped the American dance chart in September of that year. It also spent four weeks atop the singles chart in Germany, and peaked at #5 in the UK. It became one of the earliest successful songs within the genre of music that has come to be known as Hi-NRG.

SIDE A:
High-Energy (Original Version) 7:50

SIDE B:
High-Energy (Remix) 8:35
Engineer – David Storrs
Remix – Victor Flores

High-Energy (Remix Instrumental Dub) 5:18
Engineer – David Storrs
Remix – Victor Flores

VINYL GRADE:
Vinyl: Near Mint
Sleeve: Near Mint

U.S. CHART HISTORY:

Year Single Chart Position
1984 High-Energy U.S. Billboard Hot 100 #85
1984 High-Energy U.S. Billboard Hot Dance Music/Club Play #1

 

RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: TSR Records ‎– TSR-833, TSR Records ‎– TSR833
Format: Vinyl, 12″, 33 ⅓ RPM
Country: US
Released: 1984
Genre: Electronic
Style: Hi NRG, Disco

CREDITS:
Arranged By – Fiachra Trench
Design [Art Design] – Ron Wong
Producer [Credited On Labels] – Ian Levine and Fiachra Trench
Producer [Credited On Sleeve] – Ian Levine
Written-By – Ian Levine / Fiachra Trench*

NOTES:
Original & Special Remix Versions
Tempo: 124 BPM

Find the 12″ at DISCOGS

VINYL RESTORATION BY:
-DjPulT
burningtheground.net

EQUIPMENT USED:
Turntable: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon (DC)
Cartridge: Ortofon 2M
Stylus: Ortofon 2M Bronze
Isolation: Auralex Acoustics ISO-Tone Turntable Isolation Platform
Platter: Pro-Ject Acryl-It platter
Stabilizer: Pro-Ject Record Puck 
Phono Pre-amp:
Bellari VP130 Tube Phono Preamp
Tube:
Tung-Sol 12AX7 TubeGold Pins
Soundcard:
Novation Audiohub 2×4 Audio Interface
Record Cleaning:
VPI HW 16.5 Record Cleaning Machine
Artwork Scans:
Epson Workforce WF-7610 Professional Printer/Scanner

SOFTWARE USED:
Recording/Editing: Adobe Audition 3.0 (Recording)
Down Sampling: iZotope RX Advanced 2, ocenaudio
Artwork Editor: Adobe Photoshop CS5
Click Removal: Manual
FLAC/MP3 Conversion: dBpoweramp
M3U Playlist: Playlist Creator

RESTORATION NOTES:
All vinyl rips are recorded @ 32bit/float
FLAC (Level Eight)
MP3 (320kbps)
Artwork scanned at 600dpi