Rod Thomas

Rod’s first release was Don’t Take Your Lovin’ Away and was sung by Kim Davis on the Decca label. Kim was from Newcastle, UK and was one of the original ‘northern soul’ artists before the phrase was coined. Later she had a top forty hit with Are You Ready For Love on CBS and then went to front disco band Eruption taking over from Precious Wilson.

Pre Radio 1,  Don’t Take Your Lovin’ Away received regular plays on Radio Luxembourg and other popular pirate radio stations of the time. Kim also had the opportunity to promote the record whilst supporting The Walker Brothers and Roy Orbison with her band The Del 5. A man called Arthur Greenslade who also plays piano on the song did the principal arrangement for the session. Notably he is also responsible for the ‘barrel house’ piano on You Really Got Me by The Kinks. As an arranger he has worked with Cat Stevens and Tom Jones, arranged Chris Farlows Out Of Time and Dusty Springfields The Look Of Love. He also arranged the strings on Genesis To Revelation by Genesis.

Don’t Take Your Lovin’ Away was produced by Mike Smith who among others produced The Tremeloes, Billy Fury, Love Affair, Georgie Fame and more recently Michael Ball.

(Something About) Suburbia came about after Rod sent a version of the song to Tony Hall. The original title There’s Something About Suburbia became shortened along the way. Sung by Tim Andrews and released on Parlophone it quickly became a Radio 1 favourite and was Tim’s  follow up to Sad Simon Lives Again. It was re-released in 1982 and 1986 on the vinyl compilation Sixties Lost And Found. The sleeve notes read, “it has a good-time music hall atmosphere and is eminently a sing-a-long song”. The release of the record owes much to Tony Hall, producer, publisher, manager and the man instrumental in the careers of artists such as Five Star, Living In A Box and Loose Ends. The producer of the track is Paul Korda who has worked with Dave Edmunds, Elkie Brooks and Roger Daltrey. He has also noted as being the producer of John Anderson of Yes first recordings. The arrangement is by Cy Payne who worked with Jeff Lynne’s first band, The Idle Race. He also arranged United We Stand by the original Brotherhood Of Man (which included Roger Greenway and Tony Burrows) and Concrete And Clay by Unit Four Plus Two. Recently his performance on a piece entitled Gentle Flute was sampled by American soul duo Gnarls Barkley that consists of Brian Joseph Burton and Thomas DeCarlo Callaway (known professionally as Cee Lo Green) on their song She Knows.

“Timothy Jones” was recorded at Olympic Sound Studio, Barnes. It was produced by Jonathan King and released on the newly formed Cube Label that took over from Fly Records. Other artists on the label were John Kongos, Harvey Andrews, and Joan Armatrading. Johnny Arthery did the arrangement but it closely followed the original demo version recorded at Rockfield Studios, Monmouth with Dave Edmunds on drums.

Rainbow Waters was composed on a hundred year old harmonium. At first producer Dave Williams thought about using the harmonium on the actual record but later decided on the band Driftwood. Driftwood comprised of Brian Willoughby (guitar), Andy Richards (keyboards), Chas Cronk (bass) and Tony Fernandez (drums) who are better known as The Strawbs. The name Driftwood was thought up last minute as contractual difficulties prevented The Strawbs name appearing on the record. The song went on to enjoy success in Holland on the Mamicha Music Label, and in Italy on Frog Records (Carosello) of Milan. The song was also used as background music on television.

Dave Williams, who has worked with the likes of King Crimson produced Springwater’s number one hit I Will Return. He is now producing the likes of Eleanor McEvoy at his studio, The Grange in Norfolk.

Recently Rod has written, along with co-writer Hywel Jones the song “Always With You”. All proceeds of the song going to the cancer charity Tenovus. Recorded by platinum selling artist Donna Lewis with Gerry Leonard on guitars the song was produced by Trevor Horn and mastered by Bob Ludwig. All gave their time for free. See the link “I love it when it all comes together” for more info.

More recently Cherry Red Records have released a CD of the work of Tim Andrews including Rod's song, Something About Suburbia which has a new and longer mix and is the title of the CD.

Jeremy Thomas

Jeremy worked early on with the band 3 Go Sailing who were signed to Kingsley Ward’s Rockfield Studios.  Dave Charles produced the band whose credits include The Charlatans, Dr. Feelgood and The La’s. After just the one single release Jeremy went on to become lead vocalist and principal songwriter with the band The Front Room.

“Get out of my Front Room” was released on the 25 Records label with one review in a music magazine describing their sound as Cow Punk A Go Go!

The Front Room got signed up to a management company that gave them the opportunity to work with producer Gareth Young who wrote and produced for All Saints and The Sugarbabes.

The Front Room then secured a publishing deal with Sony Asia / ATV.

Of late Jeremy has been co writer with his father Rod on the majority of his latest material. Gareth Young being brought in to produce the tracks Complete and Everytime and co-producing Mark Donoghue’s arrangement of The Breeze. Dai Shell of Sassafras produced “When The Talking’s Done”. Both of these songs feature Luther Vaughan who performs regularly with the Welsh National Opera.

You Gotta Have Roots, Circling The Flame, Another Way, Let It Show and Things Are Looking Good were produced by Gene Rabbai at his studio in Hendersonville, Nashville.. Gene has worked with many artists including Neil Young and Willie Nelson. He also produced Wavin’ Goodbye and Out of My Mind, which was sung by Melissa Duvall. Melissa has opened for Michael English, Crystal Lewis and Lee Ann Womack and has tracks featured on Ugly Betty and Born Country (CMT). You can also catch her at The Ivories Lounge and Hilton Garden Inn, both in Nashville where she performs regularly.