A colossus of the early 1970's countrypolitan and soft-pop era, Oklahoma-born, Texas-raised crooner B. J. Thomas (1942-2021) struck gold in the mid-'Sixties with his cover of an old Hank Williams song, but it was in the Me Decade he really made his mark. Thomas recorded several huge hits that became indelible anthems of the era, particularly "Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song," "Hooked On A Feeling" and of course, "Raindrops Keep Falling On My Head." These were huge hits -- well-written but made memorable with Thomas' cheerful, robust, expansive delivery. Great voice. For several years, Thomas rode high and scored a string of chart-topping hits, and was an omnipresent guest on TV variety programs and award shows, and his songs flooded the radio waves on pop and country channels

Like a lot of stars, Thomas tried to keep up with the changing styles, and had a remarkable run, though eventually he started to slip out of the spotlight -- drinking and drugs also took a toll, and by mid-decade he'd burnt out and desperately needed a new direction. In 1976, B.J. Thomas got religion, got sober, and signed to a Christian music label, where he scored one of his biggest hits with his first album, Home Where I Belong, which was the gospel album ever to sell over a million copies. Although he continued to sporadically release secular material, religious albums became his mainstay, including several Christmas albums late in his career. Here's a quick look at his work...

B. J. Thomas "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" (Scepter Records, 1966) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Tomorrow Never Comes" (Scepter Records, 1966) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "On My Way" (Scepter Records, 1968) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Young And In Love" (Scepter Records, 1969) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Raindrops Keep Fallin' On My Head" (Scepter Records, 1969) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Everybody's Out Of Town" (Scepter Records, 1970) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Most Of All" (Scepter Records, 1970) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "B. J. Thomas Country" (Scepter Records, 1972) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Billy Joe Thomas" (Scepter Records, 1972) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Rock 'N' Roll Lullaby" (Scepter Records, 1972) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Songs" (Paramount Records, 1973) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Longhorns And Londonbridges" (Paramount Records, 1974) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Reunion" (ABC Records, 1975) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Help Me Make It (To My Rockin' Chair)" (ABC Records, 1975) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "B. J. Thomas" (MCA Records, 1977) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Home Where I Belong" (Myrrh Records, 1977) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Happy Man" (Myrrh Records, 1979) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "You Gave Me Love (When Nobody Gave Me A Prayer)" (Word Records, 1979) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "The Best Of B.J. Thomas" (Myrrh Records, 1980) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "In Concert" (MCA Records, 1980) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Amazing Grace" (Word Records, 1981) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Some Love Songs Never Die" (MCA Records, 1981) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Peace In The Valley" (Word Records, 1982) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Love Shines" (Epic Records, 1981) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "New Looks" (Columbia Records, 1983) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "The Great American Dream" (Columbia Records, 1983) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Shining" (Columbia Records, 1984) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Throwin' Rocks At The Moon" (Columbia Records, 1985) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "You Gave Me Love" (Myrrh Records, 1980) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Night Life" (Columbia Records, 1986) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "All Is Calm, All Is Bright" (Columbia Records, 1986) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Hey Won't You Play Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song" (MCA Records, 1987) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Midnight Minute" (Reprise Records, 1989) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "As We Knew Him" (MCA Records, 1991) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Jesus Hearted People" (MCA Records, 1991) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Rock Against The Wall" (Reprise Records, 1992) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Rock And Roll Lullaby" (Trace Records, 1992) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Still Standing Here" (Laurie Records, 1994) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Precious Memories" (Warner Brothers, 1995) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Scenes Of Christmas" (Cross Three Records, 1995) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "...Sings Hank Williams and Other Favorites" (Buckboard Records, 1996) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "I Believe" (Warner Brothers, 1997) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Christmas Is Coming Home" (Warner Brothers, 1997) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Sounds Of Christmas" (Kardina Records, 1997) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "You Call That A Mountain" (Warner Records, 1997) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "That Christmas Feeling" (Madacy Records, 1997) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "We Praise: Glorify Thy Name" (Braun Media, 1997) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "We Praise: Just As I Am" (Warner Records, 1997) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Home For Christmas" (Lifestyles Records, 1997) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Greatest Hits, Volume One" (Scepter Records, 1970) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Greatest Hits, Volume Two" (Scepter Records, 1971) (LP)

B. J. Thomas "Wind Beneath My Wings" (Sony Special Products, 1993)
Perhaps Thomas had kind of outstayed his welcome by the time these tinkly-sounding early '80s hits came along. The title track is one of those atrociously cheesoid keyboard ballads that someone out in middle-America seems to love (lord knows who, though!), and most of the album follows in pretty much the same pattern. I can happily hum along to the sunshine pop of "Whatever Happened To Old Fashioned Love," but that's about as far down this path as I'll go.

• Wikipedia: B. J. Thomas

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