Evelyn Thomas "HIGH ENERGY "

[prays2ce]

Hey guys! Don't drop out!
Kim Thomas

[marmite7]

Doh! Late as usual ;)

Hey Evelyn

I first heard of you via "Weakspot" as I was part of the scooter / mod revival boom of the late 70's & early 80's. From there it was a short step to the gay clubs, with me falling in love with high energy the sound & your track.

Quick question time:

How much say did you have in the material you recorded for Ian?

I'm thinking of all the cover versions you did and wonder how comfortable you were with some of the choices?

"Reflections" springs to mind as imho you can't improve on a Motown classic and I have to say I was slightly peeved Ian decided to re-do it!

Loved Masquerade tho and it's probably my fave track of yours.

Second question:

Did you frequent Northern Soul events as a punter? Or did you only go when performing live?

Mark (Cambridge UK)

[SandraDee]

I've got a 'best of' CD of Evelyn Thomas & as well as the well-known tracks there are 2 tracks that sound like they're from the 70s & they are really good but I've never heard them before, 'Summer on The Beach' & 'Love In The First Degree'. Does anyone know what year these are from & whether they were on any LPs of Evelyn's? Maybe if Ms.Thomas comes back she may be able to enlighten me on these great tracks? I would be very grateful for any info. BTW, I always loved Evelyn's contribution on Fatbacks' funky 'Is this The Future' from '83.8)

[prays2ce]

I will foward all these questions to Evelyn. Will post reply as soon as i recieve them.
Thanks
Kim Thomas

[SouthernSon01]

Ahhhh that synth line was very catchy!

Down under it more so (the song) gave a tag to the style of music, High Energy the song never really stepped out of the gay scene though.

If memory serves me - the first song I remeber that got into the Australian top 40 was "To Sir With Love" - Vicki Sue Robinson, Hazell Dean got there too and later in '86 we had "Boom Boom" & "Male Stripper" funny now when you look at it, a great deal of this was to the club DJs in Oz (I was one of many) At times it was frustrating, in fact it was really annoying as once house music hit in '86 every club dj jumped onto that and seemed to be progressive............

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

I've got a 'best of' CD of Evelyn Thomas & as well as the well-known tracks there are 2 tracks that sound like they're from the 70s & they are really good but I've never heard them before, 'Summer on The Beach' & 'Love In The First Degree'. Does anyone know what year these are from & whether they were on any LPs of Evelyn's? Maybe if Ms.Thomas comes back she may be able to enlighten me on these great tracks? I would be very grateful for any info. BTW, I always loved Evelyn's contribution on Fatbacks' funky 'Is this The Future' from '83.8)

These two disco tracks were released on Ians NIGHTMARE GOLD series in 1987. Again, I recall these were tracks that were intended for release in 1979 but got shelved.

[prays2ce]

Hello everyone! Sorry to drop out so long. We will be scheduling another session here soon. Keep posted or you will miss it (again?).
Hey Ms. Jiani, Nice to see you here.
Thanks
Kim Thomas

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by prays2ce

Hello everyone! Sorry to drop out so long. We will be scheduling another session here soon. Keep posted or you will miss it (again?).
Hey Ms. Jiani, Nice to see you here.
Thanks
Kim Thomas

hey Kim
Thanks for dropping by again ... Look forward to chatting with you & Evelyn again real soon

[Mike C]

Originally Posted by remicks

*****

"

Yes .... that's it..... That's what I was trying to figure out .... what other song this pattern was reminding me of :
The repeated "tap tap tap " has a tinge of Village People ...... as in ......"They want you . They want you .They want you as a new recruit" .... tap tap tap ......


*****

It only occured to me quite recently, but the rhythm was a rip off of the 'Relax' - FGTH rhythm which had just been a huge hit here in the UK, just prior to High Energy, that same year.

[FranceJoliFan]

remicks: thanks for taking a stand on this song. I think it's mis-titled. If it hadn't been named High Energy, I don't think it would have been as disappointing. But if you're going to title your song after an entire sub-genre, then it better represent it. I was expecting the energy of Do Ya Wanna Funk. Instead, we get a mid-tempo b-side. I think it should be re-titled Moderate Energy.

[SandraDee]

Originally Posted by Mike C

It only occured to me quite recently, but the rhythm was a rip off of the 'Relax' - FGTH rhythm which had just been a huge hit here in the UK, just prior to High Energy, that same year.

I always thought that 'High Energy' copied the 'Relax' rhythm but not many people agreed with me. I'm really pleased that you see it as well Mike. Why Ian called it High Energy was always a mystery to me; he should've called it 'Relax, the revenge' or something.

[Energyguy]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

I always thought that 'High Energy' copied the 'Relax' rhythm but not many people agreed with me. I'm really pleased that you see it as well Mike. Why Ian called it High Energy was always a mystery to me; he should've called it 'Relax, the revenge' or something.

I do recall reading in a magazine that FGH were annoyed about the "similarities"........

[SandraDee]

I'm not surprised. Evelyn's record wasn't the only record at the time to copy Relax though; there was a track called Tear You Down by English Evenings which sounded very similar & 'Im No Angel' by Madleen Kane I feel had similarities too. They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery & these records show what an absolute killer track Relax was.

[Mike C]

Originally Posted by SandraDee

I'm not surprised. Evelyn's record wasn't the only record at the time to copy Relax though; there was a track called Tear You Down by English Evenings which sounded very similar & 'Im No Angel' by Madleen Kane I feel had similarities too. They do say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery & these records show what an absolute killer track Relax was.

I'm not sure if Bobby 'O''s 'Working Girl' by the Flirts was supposed to be a rip off of 'Relax' or of 'High Energy'. I can't put my hand on a copy right now, but from what I recall, the rhythm is a direct rip of 'High Energy'.

Bobby 'O' was so brazen. I love that.

Mike

[Thereza bizarre]

oh my gosh!! this topics starter seems to be a novice1 and blasphemous yyyeeeekkkss.....lol.
its a great trak. what can one say it commercialised the genre to the general radio freindly public i think it is what it says "hi energy" noisy? all music's noisy honey..if you mean you do not like the recording techniqure instruments used etc.well that is just a matter of taste.

Personally! i love the linndrum and oberheim dmx days and prophet 5 all that stuff so long linve the protagonist of popular hi nrg all hail the evelyn queen!! cheers love....