The return of The Real Thing

Featuring the group’s three original vocalists Eddie Amoo, Chris Amoo and Dave Smith, along with their five-piece band, the trio deliver a funky show with a strong retro flavour with the band’s classic songs mixed with contemporary grooves.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of their debut hit single You to Me Are Everything, the Liverpool-based trio boast three million selling hit singles including, Can’t Get by Without You, Whenever You Want My Love and Can You Feel the Force, making them the UK’s best-selling black group of the late 70s.

Formed by lead singer Chris Amoo and David Smith in 1972, they added Ray Lake, Kenny Davis and Eddie Ankrah with Kenny and Eddie leaving two years later.

Continuing as a trio, in 1975 they added Eddy Amoo, brother of Chris, who had been helping in the band’s development.

A singer-songwriter with The Chants, this band had its origins in the Mersey Beat boom of the 1960s and were discovered and launched by The Beatles.

Spotted by ex-Radio Luxembourg DJ Tony Hall, The Real Thing were snapped up by Pye Records and the 1976 release You to Me Are Everything sailed to the top of the UK singles chart. The band went on to have a further nine hits over a three-year period including ‘Can’t Get by Without You’, and ‘Can You Feel the Force’, both of which were top five success stories.

The band’s bestselling album 4 from 8 was released in 1977 and contained the L8 Medley which included the classic track Children of the Ghetto.

The song has since been covered by artists including Mary J Blige, Courtney Pine and Philip Bailey (Earth, Wind & Fire) and has been sampled by numerous hip hop artists as well as being featured in the Spike Lee movie, Clockers.

In 1986 You to Me Are Everything, Can’t Get by Without You and Can You Feel the Force were all remixed and became hits once again, thanks to their club following.

In 2005, Love’s Such a Wonderful Thing was sampled by French dance outfit Daft Punk on their tune So Much Love to Give’. The same year the Freeloaders had a UK Top 10 single with So Much Love to Give which featured The Real Thing, meaning the band had charted across three decades.

The band recently released The Real Thing Live DVD and CD recorded at the Philharmonic Hall, Liverpool and celebrates 40 years on the road and includes the concert in full, new material and a cover of The Beatles song Eleanor Rigby.

The band continue to tour up and down the country selling out venues including the Jazz Café, London and regularly perform at the Rewind the 80’s festivals and Here and Now festivals.

The Real Thing will perform at The Royal Hippodrome Theatre on May 21