Northern Soul legend Jimmy Thomas returns with a stomper that proves that, after making records for almost fifty years, the man has STILL got it. Earlier this year, Jimmy released a fabulous new version of my 1976 classic L.J. Johnson hit, "Dancing On The Edge Of A Dream", which was the follow up to "Your Magic Put A Spell On Me", for our "Yesterday And Tomorrow" album. I have known Jimmy Thomas for a staggering thirty five years. I used to visit him when I first visited London, at his home in Chepstow Road, Notting Hill Gate, and even have my picture in Kev Roberts' book, taken with him in The Torch in Stoke On Trent in 1972, when I DJ'd there as a teenager. Jimmy was born in Osceola, Arkansas, USA. He called his first band "The Trays" and he formed this whilst still in school. Albert King, the late eminent blues guitarist/singer, a family friend, arrived in the early hours of one morning, shortly after Jimmy left school, and took him to St Louis to meet Ike Turner. Having enjoyed the meeting, Jimmy stayed in St Louis as one of the male vocalists in Ike's "Kings of Rhythm". Jimmy was there when the Ike and Tina Turner Revue was formed. He was the main male vocalist with his own spot in the show. He travelled and recorded extensively with them, touring Britain twice and the USA many times. It wasn't long before Ike recognised Jimmy's songwriting talent. "You can Go" was released on Sue Records the label owned by Juggy Murray of New York. "Just Trying to Please You" c/w "Where There's a Will (There's a Way)", as well as "He's Alright With Me" and " Your Kind (is no good)" (Jimmy's songs) were released on Mirwood Records. All of these releases did well. During the second UK tour with the Ike and Tina Turner Review, the late Denny Cordell, who produced many artists such as Joe Cocker, J.J Cale, Procul Harum and others, and Tony Visconti, who produced T-Rex, David Bowie and others for Straight Ahead Productions, invited Jimmy to return to London to learn record production under their auspices. One of Jimmy's early productions and songs was a massive Northern Soul hit. "The Beautiful Night"/"Above a Whisper" single was the first of Jimmy's productions and "Where There's a Will (There's a Way)" also became a Northern Soul classic. "The Beautiful Night" was re-recorded for 20th Century Records. Jimmy produced an album of his own work, called "Abyss", on Contempo International, a London label owned by John Abbey. Since arriving in England, Jimmy has made several singles and has worked vocally with many, many artists - John Lennon, The Rolling Stones, Madness, Lloyd Cole and the Commotions - and the list goes on. Jimmy has his own label, Osceola Records as an outlet for his work. I filmed him for The Strange World Of Northern Soul doing recuts of "The Beautiful Night", and the classic from Mirwood Records, "Where There's A Will There's A Way". We also cut new songs, "We Got Togetherness" and "Secret Doors To Secret Places" in the year 2000. "First Class Ticket" was a key track for the album "Northern Soul 2008". Everything about this wonderful song suggests the magic and energy of the era that I fell in love with as a teenager. Forget the purists - this one has it all. If you can keep your feet still while listening to this, then you must be a country and western fan or something. This Northern Soul album is a sequel to our album "Northern Soul 2007" which was the very first release on Centre City Records. I have spent thirty two years honing my craft to the point when I am able to produce authentic records like this. There are some small minded people who call themselves fans of Northern Soul who refuse to accept that anybody can make a new record that sounds like the real thing. The new album consists of twenty four brand new 2008 songs by soul and disco legends. Each song has an accompanying video of the artist basically performing it the studio and in outside locations, and the DVD has four extra bonus tracks too. The work that we have all put into this project is quite staggering, and I hope it will break down the barriers between the older Northern Soul stalwarts and a new generation who need younger acts who still produce the same vibe we all witnessed forty years ago for Motown's glory years. Play the CD, watch the DVD, and give new Northern Soul a chance this time. Jimmy and I co-wrote this fabulous uplifting song with my long time producing partner Clive Scott.
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