by Robert Wilkinson
The great BJ Thomas just got hooked on a feeling, and raindrops have stopped falling on his head as he took the fast train to catch the downbeat with the biggest band in eternity. Today we have great performances.
Billy Joe "B.J." Thomas (August 7, 1942 - May 29, 2021) was a pop singer who gave us some monster hits in the late 60s and early 70s! Even if you don’t know who he was, you’ve heard his music delivered by one of the biggest voices ever to hit the stage!
As you may know, I celebrate the life and work of this great Leo in early August each year. So for your enjoyment, here are a bunch of his performances across the years!
He broke out in 1966 with his remake of the Hank Williams classic, going to #8 and selling over a million copies! “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry”
His next release, a sentimental tear joiker, went to #22! “Mama”
This song was all over the NYC airwaves, going to #28 in the Summer of 1968! The video is BJ singing to a backing track at the time. Sorry for the poor quality of the picture, but this is a great tune! From The Upbeat Show, “The Eyes of A New York Woman”
Here’s the studio original of “The Eyes of A New York Woman”
From Calgary in 2011, a great live performance of “The Eyes of A New York Woman”
Later that same year, this #5 smash hit went gold! From what looks to be a return to the same tv show in 1968 as above, this is a great video! “Hooked On A Feeling”
A year later, he hit his peak when Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid was released, featuring BJ performing "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head." It won the Oscar for best original song, and soared to #1 in early 1970, giving him his third gold record.
Here’s a 1970 performance on Top of the Pops with a very strange set with go go dancers in a 180 degree cage. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head."
Here’s an extraordinary live television performance on CabaRay Nashville with Ray Stevens on piano and a full backing band and chorus of "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head."
Also in 1970, this one went to #9! This live performance is from 1993. "I Just Can't Help Believing”
That same year, this went to #38! Live on The Johnny Cash Show in 1971, “Most of All”
From 1972, another that cracked the Top 20 at #15! “Rock and Roll Lullaby”
In 1975, he hit gold again with this #1! Live on The Midnight Special tv show, "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (the longest titled No. 1 hit ever on the Hot 100)
In 1978, this went to #2! “Everybody Loves A Rain Song”
We’ll close with a tune he did with the magnificent Dusty Springfield that went to #7 in 1988! “As Long As We Got Each Other”
For the encore, 9 minutes at the Grand Ole Opry live in 2002! “I Just Can't Help Believin',” “Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head,” and “New Looks From An Old Lover”
© Copyright 2021 Robert Wilkinson
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