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May 29, 2021 8:35 pm  #1


B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

Singer B.J. Thomas has died from stage 4 lung cancer at the age of 78

Thomas topped the charts with such notable songs as Hooked On A  Feeling & Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head

A great talent with a long career

May he rest in peace

 

May 30, 2021 7:24 am  #2


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

BJ had a lot of good hits, I'll choose "I Just Can't Help Believing" as my fav.

RIP BJ

 

May 30, 2021 8:08 am  #3


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

Since B.J. Thomas was a Texas resident, I thought it might be worthwhile to find and post an obituary from there. He did so many songs that I really liked ... he had a truly special singing voice that was also very versatile.
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/local/obituaries/article251780908.html

 

May 30, 2021 8:13 am  #4


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

A few weeks ago on one of the oldies shows, they played "Raindrops Keep Fallin On My Head." They said Thomas was never happy with the song because his throat was a bit raw when he recorded it and he demanded to do it again. They let him, but used that first take anyway, since the producers liked it better. 

In the end, it was a moot point - it was certainly his biggest hit. 

My fave was Rock and Roll Lullaby, but I can't think of a song of his that I didn't like. 

 

May 30, 2021 11:41 am  #5


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

All his hit recordings were good. Faves are I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry, The Eyes Of A New York Woman and Rock And Roll Lullabye.
 

 

May 30, 2021 1:12 pm  #6


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

His obit in Billboard includes his chart hits and where they ranked. (I'd forgotten about No Love At All and Everybody's Out Of Town, both great songs. But I don't see Mighty Clouds of Joy.)

B.J. Thomas' Biggest Billboard Hits

Rank, Title, Artist, Hot 100 Peak Position, Year

1. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," No. 1 (four weeks), 1970

2. "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," No. 1 (one week), 1975

3. "Hooked on a Feeling," No. 5, 1969

4. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (with The Triumphs), No. 8, 1966

5. "I Just Can't Help Believing," No. 9, 1970

6. "Don't Worry Baby," No. 17, 1977

7. "Rock and Roll Lullaby," No. 15, 1972

8. "No Love At All," No. 16, 1971

9. "The Eyes of a New York Woman," No. 28, 1968

10. "Everybody's Out of Town," No. 26, 1970

 

May 30, 2021 1:33 pm  #7


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

Mighty Clouds Of Joy only reached #34 on Billboard. It did a bit better here in Toronto, reaching #16 on CHUM although only spending four weeks on the chart.  

 

May 31, 2021 12:37 pm  #8


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

I am a big fan of B.J.'s recordings and used several of them in karaoke adventures.  I have to say that "Rock & Roll Lullaby" tops my list.  He also appeared on some episodes of the "Country's Family Reunion" series and told some stories as well as singing some of his hits.

 

June 1, 2021 6:54 am  #9


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

He hosts a Time Life CD infomercial of 70s music.

 

June 2, 2021 3:27 pm  #10


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

aflem wrote:

His obit in Billboard includes his chart hits and where they ranked. (I'd forgotten about No Love At All and Everybody's Out Of Town, both great songs. But I don't see Mighty Clouds of Joy.)

B.J. Thomas' Biggest Billboard Hits

Rank, Title, Artist, Hot 100 Peak Position, Year

1. "Raindrops Keep Fallin' on My Head," No. 1 (four weeks), 1970

2. "(Hey Won't You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," No. 1 (one week), 1975

3. "Hooked on a Feeling," No. 5, 1969

4. "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (with The Triumphs), No. 8, 1966

5. "I Just Can't Help Believing," No. 9, 1970

6. "Don't Worry Baby," No. 17, 1977

7. "Rock and Roll Lullaby," No. 15, 1972

8. "No Love At All," No. 16, 1971

9. "The Eyes of a New York Woman," No. 28, 1968

10. "Everybody's Out of Town," No. 26, 1970

Either Billboard's stats are in error or Joel Whitburn's stats are in error.  Thomas' #9 ranking song, Mama, peaked on the Billboard charts at #22 on 6/17/1966.  It had been included as part of Thomas' debut album, I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry.  It peaked at #4 on the CFUN charts (https://vancouversignaturesounds.com/hits/mama-b-j-thomas/) and (according to Wikipedia) #12 on the Canadian(?!?!?) chart. 

 

June 2, 2021 9:17 pm  #11


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

Billboard's methodology is explained in the article as follows: "B.J. Thomas' Biggest Billboard Hits recap is based on actual performance on the weekly Billboard Hot 100 chart. Songs are ranked based on an inverse point system, with weeks at No. 1 earning the greatest value. Due to changes in chart methodology over the years, eras are weighted to account for different chart turnover rates over various periods." To oversimplify somewhat, the songs at #9 and #10 probably had chart runs that were longer and accumulated more points in the process than Mama. Re Wikipedia's Canadian chart peak, it would be from the national chart that RPM magazine started publishing here in 1964.

 

June 3, 2021 1:34 am  #12


Re: B.J. Thomas R.I.P.

Thanks Lorne.  Personally, Mama wasn't at the top of my list, but it was ok.

Last edited by Little Rich (June 3, 2021 1:35 am)

 

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