The Real Thing

The Real Thing were an English soul-funk quartet of the 1970s. Starting with a 1972–74 run of singles for Bell and EMI, the band scored back-to-back 1976 chart-toppers with “You to Me Are Everything” and “Can’t Get By Without You” on Pye, which issued the act’s first three albums.

Members: Eddie Amoo (vocals, guitar), Chris Amoo (vocals), Ray Lake (bass), Dave Smith (vocals)

Emerging from a fervent mid-’70s Liverpool scene — Deaf School, Nasty Pop, Nutz — The Real Thing were among the few UK acts of the time to model itself on stateside urban contemporary. Their second album, 4 from 8, found the band at their most ambitious with the three-part “Liverpool 8 Medley.”

Discography:

• The Real Thing (1976)
• 4 from 8 (1977)
• Step into Our World [aka Can You Feel the Force] (1978)
• …Saints Or Sinners? (1979)