The Real Thing (group)

Infobox musical artist
Name = The Real Thing


Img_capt =
Landscape = yes
Background = group_or_band
Birth_name =
Born =
Died =
Origin = Liverpool, England
Genre = Pop music
Occupation =
Years_active = 1972 - present
networth =
Label = Pye, Calibre, PRT, Jive, All Around The World
Associated_acts =
URL = [http://heofficialrealthing.com Link]
Current_members = Eddie Amoo Chris Amoo Dave Smith Ray Lake (deceased)

The Real Thing were a UK pop group, formed in Liverpool in the early 1970s. The vocal quartet comprised brothers Chris and Eddie Amoo alongside Ray Lake, Joshua Dixon and Dave Smith. Their most famous recording was their debut UK Singles Chart hit, entitled "You to Me Are Everything", which was released in 1976.

History

The Real Thing, a Liverpool based vocal group, had its origins in the Merseybeat boom of the 1960s. Lead singer Eddie Amoo was a former band member of The Chants, whose beat singles gathered considerable critical acclaim, although they failed to chart. After continuing to record for various record labels, the band name was eventually dropped.

Re-labelled as The Real Thing, and with brother Chris Amoo, Ray Lake and Dave Smith on board, they got their big break following an appearance on the "Opportunity Knocks" ITV talent show.cite book
first= Jo
last= Rice
year= 1982
title= The Guinness Book of 500 Number One Hits
edition= 1st
publisher= Guinness Superlatives Ltd
location= Enfield, Middlesex
pages= p. 176
id= ISBN 0-85112-250-7] Original members of the group who appeared on "Opportunity Knocks" were, Chris Amoo, Kenny Davis (deceased), Dave Smith, Eddie Ankrah, and Ray Lake (deceased).

They were spotted by an ex-Radio Luxembourg DJ, Tony Hall, who played a significant part in their early career development. Even so, success was not immediate, and recording contracts they signed with a couple of major record labels came to nothing. Then, in 1975, they signed to Pye Records. Touring as backing singers with David Essex for a spell also helped to increase their profile.

With a song written and produced by Ken Gold and Mick Denne, The Real Thing finally emerged in 1976 when "You to Me Are Everything" sailed up to the number one slot in the UK Singles Chart.cite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2006
title= British Hit Singles & Albums
edition= 19th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 453
id= ISBN 1-904994-10-5] The track provided them with their only tangible success in the United States, reaching number 28 on the Black Singles chart, and number 64 on the Pop Singles equivalent. [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fpfpxq95ldhe~T5 Allmusic.com - Charts & Awards] ] The same song would be re-released as 'The Decade Remix' in 1986 and achieved a UK chart position of number three, being remixed by Froggy, Simon Harris and KC.

This first success led to nine hits on Pye over a three year period, including "Can't Get By Without You", and "Can You Feel The Force", both of which were Top 5 successes.

Their brand of commercial sweet soul music, mixed with disco influences, established their popularity with the British audience. They were the UK's best selling black group of the late 1970s.cite book
first= David
last= Roberts
year= 2001
title= British Hit Singles
edition= 14th
publisher= Guinness World Records Limited
location= London
pages= p. 373
id= ISBN 0-85156-156-X] Their first album, titled "The Real Thing", contained their chart busters and previous singles. The group wanted to call their second LP 'Liverpool 8', the name of the racially mixed section of Liverpool (Toxteth) where they grew up with Asians, Africans, Chinese, Irish, and anyone else who could not afford more opulent surroundings. [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fpfpxq95ldhe~T1 Allmusic.com biography by Andrew Hamilton] ] Pye Records did not like the name, so they compromised with "Four From Eight", which meant nothing to anyone outside of Britain. A switch to the Calibre record label in 1980 slowed the momentum. Subsequent material fared less well, although remixes of their first two hits charted some 10 years after their original release.

In 1999 Eddie Amoo appeared in the 'Identity Parade', in the fifth series of the BBC Television show, "Never Mind the Buzzcocks".

The group, with three of the founder members still on board, continue to perform and record to this day.

The Real Thing's vocalist, Chris Amoo, is also a regular on the dog show circuit. His highlight came in 1987, when his Afghan Hound, Champion Viscount Grant, was crowned Supreme Champion at Crufts. [ [http://www.pubquizhelp.com/misc/past_winners_crufts.html Pubquizhelp.com] ] Dave Smith is a black belt in Karate.

Group personnel

* Eddie Amoo - born 5 May 1950, Liverpool - vocalist and guitarist.

* Chris Amoo - born 14 October 1952, Liverpool - vocalist.

* Ray Lake - born 11 February 1946, Liverpool - falsetto backing vocalist - now deceased.

* Dave Smith - born David Smith, 6 July 1952 - vocalist.

Discography

ingles

* "You to Me Are Everything" - (1976) - Number 1
* "Can't Get By Without You" - (1976) - Number 2
* "You'll Never Know What You're Missing" - (1977) - Number 16
* "Love's Such A Wonderful Thing" - (1977) - Number 33
* "Lightning Strikes Again" - (1977)
* "Whenever You Want My Love" - (1978) - Number 18
* "Let's Go Disco" - (1978) - Number 39
* "Rainin' Through My Sunshine" - (1978) - Number 40
* "Can You Feel The Force?" - (1979) - Number 5
* "Boogie Down (Get Funky Now)" - (1979) - Number 33
* "She's A Groovy Freak" - (1980) - Number 52
* "You To Me Are Everything (The Decade Remix 76-87)" - (1986) - Number 5
* "Can't Get By Without You (The Second Decade Remix)" - (1986) - Number 6
* "Can You Feel The Force? ('86 Remix)" - (1986) - Number 24
* "Straight To The Heart" - (1986) - Number 71
* "Hard Times" - (1987) - Number 90
* "So Much Love To Give" (with Freeloaders) - (2005) - Number 9

Albums

* "The Real Thing" (1976) - UK Number 34
* "Four From Eight" (1977)
* "Step Into Our World" (1978)
* "Can You Feel The Force" (1979) - UK Number 73
* "20 Greatest Hits" (1980) - UK Number 56
* "....Saints Or Sinners?" (1980)
* "100 Minutes" (1982)
* "The Best of The Real Thing" (1986) - UK Number 24
* "The Real Thing Live" (1998)

Highest rated compilation

* "Children Of The Ghetto: The Pye Anthology" (1999) - (Sequel) [ [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=10:wvftxqekldke~T1 Allmusic.com review] ]

ee also

*List of disco artists
*Brit funk
*Jazz-funk
*List of bands from Merseyside
*List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
*List of performers on Top of the Pops

References

External links

* [http://www.theofficialrealthing.com/ The Real Thing official website]
* [http://www.davehaslam.com/control.php?_command=/DISPLAY/16/13//3000&_path=/102/104 Feature on the band including an interview with Eddie Amoo - 'Children of the Ghetto; the Story of the Real Thing']
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:ad47gjyrj6iw~T0 The Real Thing biography at Allmusic.com]