The Real Thing

Born in Liverpool in the early 1970s, The Real Thing developed a British soul sound informed by R&B, disco and, increasingly, Brit funk. Originally formed as a vocal quartet around Chris Amoo, Dave Smith, Kenny Davis and Ray Lake, the group settled into its most durable lineup with the arrival of Eddie Amoo in 1975. After several singles on EMI failed to take off, the band entered a new phase working with David Essex and signing to Pye, resulting in hits like You to Me Are Everything, Can’t Get By Without You and Can You Feel the Force?—built on tight harmonies, pop choruses and dance-oriented rhythms while staying true to their soul roots. The Real Thing’s studio discography includes Real Thing (1976), 4 from 8 (1977), Step into Our World (also reissued as Can You Feel the Force) (1978), Saints or Sinners? (1980) and A Brand New Day (2022). From the 1980s onward the group also re-emerged through several remixes of their catalogue, and their story was documented in Everything - The Real Thing Story, broadcast in 2020. Today The Real Thing continues under the stewardship of Chris Amoo and Dave Smith.