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.
“Feel The Need” is a hit song originally recorded by the American R&B group Detroit Emeralds in 1972 titled “Feel The Need In Me”. The group re-recorded the song and re-released a disco version in 1977 as “Feel the Need”.
In 1979 American singer Leif Garrett released a cover of the song from his second studio LP of the same name. “Feel The Need” was the follow-up to his top ten single “I Was Made For Dancin ” released in October 1978. “Feel The Need” peaked at #57 on the U.S. Billboard Singles chart on June 2, 1979, after spending eight weeks on the survey. The single reached #38 in the U.K. “Feel The Need” represented the last success on the pop charts for Leif Garrett who had an 18-month run with several singles and two albums.
The b-side “New York City Nights” is a non-album track.
SIDE A: Feel The Need (Disco Mix) 5:38
Written-By – Abrim Tilmon
“2010” is a 1984 single released by the guitarist for the band The Police, Andy Summers for the soundtrack of the film 2010: The Year We Make Contact.
“2010” was a modern new-wave pop version of Richard Strauss’s Also Sprach Zarathustra (the main theme from 2001: A Space Odyssey). Though Summers’ recording was included on the soundtrack album and released as a single, it was not used in the film. For the B-side to the single, Summers recorded another 2010-based track entitled “To Hal and Back”, though this appeared in neither the film nor the soundtrack album.
“Who Do You Love?” was the second single taken from the self-titled fourth studio LP by Australian singer-songwriter Mark Holden. The album would also be his first release on American label Casablanca Records. “Who Do You Love?” was co-written by Holden, and only released as a single in Australia, and Japan failing to chart. Richard Carpenter covered the song for his solo album “Time” (1987).
Holden was a pop star in the 1970s and had four top 20 hit singles, “Never Gonna Fall in Love Again” (May 1976), “I Wanna Make You My Lady” (September), “Last Romance” (November) and “Reach Out for the One Who Loves You” (October 1977). Holden regularly appeared on the national pop music show, Countdown. Holden is remembered for his good looks and clean-cut image.
In the 1980s he worked as a songwriter in Los Angeles providing material recorded by Meat Loaf, Joe Cocker, Gladys Knight, Bob Welch, and Steve Jones. He was one of three original judges on the television series Australian Idol (2003–07) and the first season (2005) of The X Factor. In 2023, Holden voiced “The Old Man” in the narrative video game RoboCop: Rogue City.
After the lack of success of Mark Holden (LP), Holden focused on becoming a songwriter and music producer. He formed a company called Multimedia with Anthony Curtis and Dan Wilson and over the next decade co-wrote two top ten hits on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for the Temptations, “Lady Soul” (June 1986) and “Look What You Started” (1987). There were also hits with Tracie Spencer, Joey Lawrence, Will Downing, a #1 dance hit with Kathy Sledge, and over 50 cover recordings of his songs from artists as varied as Belinda Carlisle, Steve Jones of the Sex Pistols, The Manhattans, Donny Osmond, José Feliciano, Fleetwood Mac, David Hasselhoff, Scarlett and Black and Branford Marsalis.
RELEASE INFORMATION:
Label: Casablanca – 7S-100
Format: Vinyl, 7″, 45 RPM, Single, Promo
Country: Japan
Released: 1983
Genre: Rock, Pop
Style: New Wave, Pop
