Timmy Thomas
Timmy Thomas E. (* 13. November 1944 in Evansville , Indiana ) is an American R & B - singer , keyboard player , composer and music producer . His best known hit is Why Can't We Live Together from 1972.
Life
Thomas began his musical career as an accompanist for Donald Byrd and Cannonball Adderley before moving to Memphis , Tennessee as a session musician . His first solo hit was Why Can't We Live Together , which reached number one on the Billboard R&B charts in 1973.
Several other hits followed by 1984, including People Are Changin ' . Thomas continued to work as a session musician at TK Records, including Gwen McCrae and Blowfly . In the 1990s he was a producer at LaFace Records. In 1985 the singer Nicole McCloud , who had a top 20 hit in Germany with Don't You Want My Love , recorded the song New York Eyes written by Timmy Thomas in a duet with him. As organist, Timmy Thomas is involved in the Joss Stone albums The Soul Sessions (2003) and Mind, Body & Soul (2004).
Success and Cultural Influence
Especially his title Why Can't We Live Together has been covered several times or served as inspiration for other productions. In addition to a remix under her own name in 1990, the version by the British singer Sade from her 1984 debut album Diamond Life became particularly popular. In 2015 the Canadian rapper Drake released his track Hotline Bling , the musical basis of which is the instrumental version of Why Can't We Live Together .
Discography
Albums
year | title |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | |||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | UK | US | R&B | |||
1973 | Why Can't We Live Together Glades 6501 |
- | - |
US53 (15 weeks) US |
R&B10 (15 weeks) R&B |
First published: 1972
Producers: Steve Alaimo , Timmy Thomas |
More albums
- 1974: You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing (Glades 6504)
- 1976: The Magician (Glades 7510)
- 1977: Touch to Touch (Glades 7513)
- 1979: Timmy Thomas Live (Glades 7517)
- 1974: Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years After) (Gold Mountain 80006)
- 1994: With Heart and Soul (DTM)
- 1998: Why Can't We Live Together: The Best of the TK Years 1972–81 (compilation; Westside 552)
Singles
year | Title album |
Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) |
Remarks | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
DE | UK | US | R&B | Dance | |||
1972 | Why Can't We Live Together Why Can't We Live Together |
DE28 (4 weeks) DE |
UK12 (11 weeks) UK |
US3 (15 weeks) US |
R&B1 (18 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: October 1972
Author: Timmy Thomas |
1973 | People Are Changin ' You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing |
- | - |
US75 (5 weeks) US |
R&B23 (7 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: March 1973
Author: Timmy Thomas |
Let Me Be Your Eyes You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing |
- | - | - |
R&B48 (6 weeks) R&B |
- | ||
What Can I Tell Her You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing |
- | - | - |
R&B19 (14 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: October 1973
Authors: Brad Shapiro, Clarence Reid, Willie Clarke Original: JP Robinson, 1970 |
|
1974 | One Brief Moment You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing |
- | - | - |
R&B62 (9 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: February 1974
Author: Timmy Thomas |
I've Got to See You Tonight You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing |
- | - | - |
R&B31 (12 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: October 1974
Author: Willie Hale |
|
1975 | You're the Song (I've Always Wanted to Sing) You're the Song I've Always Wanted to Sing |
- | - | - |
R&B78 (7 weeks) R&B |
- |
B-side of I've Got to See You Tonight
Authors: Stanley McKenny, Timmy Thomas |
Sexy woman |
- | - | - |
R&B69 (6 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: June 1975
Author: Timmy Thomas |
|
1977 | Stone to the Bone The Magician |
- | - | - |
R&B74 (7 weeks) R&B |
Dance12 (9 weeks) Dance |
First published: March 1977
Authors: Ines Pinchot, Timmy Thomas |
1978 | Touch to Touch / Africano Touch to Touch |
- | - | - | - |
Dance32 (4 weeks) Dance |
First published: February 1978
Author: Noel Williams |
Freak In, Freak Out |
- | - | - |
R&B92 (3 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: September 1978
Authors: Clarence Reid, Inez J. Kitts |
|
1981 | Are you crazy ??? |
- | - | - |
R&B73 (6 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: March 1981
Authors: Inez J. Kitts, Timmy Thomas |
1984 | Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years Later) Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years Later) |
- | - |
US80 (3 weeks) US |
R&B29 (11 weeks) R&B |
Dance28 (9 weeks) Dance |
First published: April 1984
Author: Timmy Thomas |
Love Is Never Too Late Gotta Give a Little Love (Ten Years Later) |
- | - | - |
R&B90 (2 weeks) R&B |
- |
First published: August 1984
Author: Timmy Thomas |
|
1985 | New York Eyes What About Me? |
- |
UK41 (8 weeks) UK |
- | - | - |
First published: December 1985
with Nicole McCloud Author: Timmy Thomas |
1990 | Why Can't We Live Together? (The 1990 Re-Recording) |
DE26 (12 weeks) DE |
UK54 (2 weeks) UK |
- | - | - |
gray hatching : no chart data available for this year
More singles
- 1967: Have Some Boogaloo (released March)
- 1967: It's My Life (release: August)
- 1970: What's Bothering Me
- 1973: The Coldest Days of My Life
- 1975: It's What They Can't See
- 1976: Love Shine
- 1977: The Magician (release: March)
- 1980: Drown in My Own Tears
- 1982: My Last Affair
- 1990: Dying Inside (To Hold You)
- 1991: What Do You Say to a Lady (with Jackie Moore )
- 2013: Sweet Heaven (Tom Glide feat. Timmy Thomas)
statistics
Chart evaluation
|
|
swell
- ↑ a b Chart sources: Singles DE UK Billboard 200
- ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
- ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot R&B Songs 1942–2010: 6th Edition, ISBN 978-0-89820-186-4 .
- ^ Joel Whitburn : Hot Dance / Disco 1974-2003, ISBN 978-0-89820-156-7 .
Web links
- Timmy Thomas at Allmusic (English)
- Timmy Thomas at Discogs (English)
- Article on The Standard Report
personal data | |
---|---|
SURNAME | Thomas, Timmy |
ALTERNATIVE NAMES | Thomas, Timmy E. |
BRIEF DESCRIPTION | American R&B singer, keyboardist, composer and producer |
DATE OF BIRTH | November 13, 1944 |
PLACE OF BIRTH | Evansville , Indiana |