In response to demand created by his fans rather than some marketing departments sleight of hand, July sees Curbs full release of Crazy World, Kenny's new track that was seized upon by soul cognoscenti in the media and spread like a bush fire through Englands ever-vibrant northern soul club scene.
Soul music inspires more snobbery than almost any other genre, but Crazy World strikes one for homegrown British talent, with a soulful sway to rival Alexander ONeal at his best. Hot on the heels of the single, Thomas will issue Crazy World, the long-awaited album that will confirm his credentials with longtime supporters and new appreciators beyond any argument.
Let's not forget the huge mark that Kenny made during some golden years with Chrysalis Cooltempo label, which included two top ten albums, 1991s Voices and the 1993 sequel Wait For Me, the top ten smash Thinking About Your Love, three more top 20 hits in Outstanding, Best Of You and Trippin On Your Love, and four further top 40 UK singles.
Soul stylist Thomas is thrilled to be back, but he never really went away. After I left Cooltempo, says the genial north Londoner, I needed time to find out creatively where I was at, what was it that defines me. I was still writing and I continued to take my vocal lessons, to gig and meet the fans that were there at PAs and clubs.
I featured on a Stonebridge album, but I didn't want to be a voice for hire, I didn't want to go down that route. So I got involved in things that have been interesting, but I've also had a lot of time to write and absorb. I made this cut called Crazy World that got into the hands of a few DJs and blew up and took on a life of its own, on the northern soul and UK soul scene, and got some big endorsements. That in itself created a buzz. Everything works out in its own strange way.
The irony is songs like Thinking About Your Love, I don't think it has ever had as much airplay, since it was a hit, as it has in recent times. Capital is playing it, Heart is playing it. Maybe it's one of those records that's timeless, and it will remind people of what I did and reintroduce them to the new stuff.
Crazy World features mainly co-writes by Kenny, who's collaborated with such acclaimed talents as prolific hit maker Eliot Kenedy, South African-born writer-artist Jonathan Butler and producer Simon Law, whose credits include Soul II Soul and Chanté Moore. Among them is the much talked-about Let It Rain and the in-demand Him, co-written by Thomas and Butler and effusively embraced among the online community of Britsoul devotees as possibly one of the best UK soul tracks ever made.
The collection proudly wears Thomas' love of the very best classic American soul, funk and fusion on its sleeve, but never as mere imitation and always with his own character as a writer and vocalist to the fore. This album is old and new, he says, and there's always a risk when youre either trying to please someone else or be self-indulgent, because both can miss the mark. But Ive made a record where were being really true with the songs.
Also on the album are two imaginative covers to remind us that Kenny was always an outstanding interpreter too, all the way back to signature hits such as Outstanding and Tender Love. Opening the set is I Will, an ingenious reshaping of Icelandic jazz-funk outfit Mezzofortes top 20 pop crossover instrumental of 1983, Garden Party. Then there's a great reading of Don't Know Why, well known as a Norah Jones hit but now made entirely his own by Thomas, who takes possession of the Jesse Harris composition with a sophisticated update.
Both covers have stories to them, too. Eliot Kenedy is a great writer and a closet soulboy, says Thomas. He's got a great voice, he sounds like Michael McDonald AND he does the best Kenny Thomas impersonation I've ever heard! He mentioned Mezzoforte and I said of course that I knew it, I'm a jazz-funk boy. It was his idea to take the melody, slow it down a little bit, change the structure somewhat, and write our lyrics to it. With the blessing, we might add, of Mezzoforte themselves.
Don't Know Why is on the album as a result of Kenny performing the track to great acclaim in May 2005 on the highly popular ITV series Hit Me Baby One More Time (on which he also sang Thinking About Your Love). She did it as a sleepy jazz thing, says Thomas. I've done covers and I've always believed you've got to do them some kind of justice. That for me is singing.
And that has always been his lifeblood. I was born in Islington, I'm a definite Londoner through and through, but I'm also half-Spanish, my mother was from the Canary Islands he says. Kenny showed great promise as a boxer when he was young, but was hooked on soul even before he started his record collection with a Stevie Wonder album.
I grew up on a housing estate and it was multi-cultural, all different backgrounds. There were some second generation Caribbean kids whose parents brought their reggae over, then lovers rock happened, but we were mainly listening to a lot of US soul. I had a record shop situated just opposite my flats in Stamford Hill called R&B Records, I used to buy all my imports from there. I had friends with older brothers, who said Have you heard Rick James, Funkadelic or Headhunters and all this, so then I got into jazz-funk and jazz fusion. Great stuff, I wouldn't change it for the world. It made me what I am.
Kenny got his school qualifications and went to work in the city, but his passions lay elsewhere. His classy vocals and song writing ability brought him to the attention of Cooltempo, for whom he signed in 1990 and hit the ground running when Outstanding became a major new year success.
He was three hits in by the time the album Voices arrived in the autumn of 1991, becoming a double platinum sensation that led to Brit Award nominations as both Best British Male Vocalist and Best British Newcomer. In 1993, Kenny's second album Wait For Me included contributions from the ultra-funky American singer Carleen Anderson, hit the top ten and featured four chart singles.
He reflects wisely on the pleasures and pressures of his old life in the chart bubble, and is clearly delighted to be rising through the underground again on his own terms. There were certain aspects of that initial fame that were marvellous. One minute I'm living in a council estate environment, the next I'm sitting in someone's house in Los Angeles talking to the Isley Brothers. If that doesn't blow your mind I don't know what will, you've got to approach life with a bit of a wow factor, I think.
But you feel the pressure of being up there, and you've heard it a million times, the hand that feeds you becomes the hand that beats you. I'm much happier being with an independent record label because I dont really want to be in an environment where you've got a month to do well or you're out. With this record, I knew I was sitting on a lot of good material, and now I'm having this underground renaissance. It's about being in the game and putting the music out there.
Thinking About Your Love
Kenny Thomas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Thinking about your love
yeah...
Thinking about your love
tonight, today and always
I know it's hard sometimes
And you can get this courage
our working lives
are keeping us apart
Put your trust in me,
oh baby, don't you worry
And it won't be long now,
So we must be strong
There were times, I know
I let you down so badly
I never knew then
What losing your love would
mean to me
Ask for anything,
I'll give it to you gladly
'Cause you're part of me now
And you must believe that...
If you're hurt, I'm hurting too
And I'm thinking about your love
If you need someone to care,
I'll be there
You should know I'll never change
'Cause I'm thinking about your love
tonight, today and always
Thinking about you
Thinking abou...
Counting off the days,
until I'm there beside you
'Till I hold you in my arms again,
I find it hard to smile
So I'm asking you
be faithful to me, baby
'Cause I'm coming through
And I'll always love you
If you're hurt, I'm hurting too
And I'm thinking about your love
If you need someone to care,
I'll be there
You should know I'll never change
'Cause I'm thinking about your love
tonight, today and always
What you feel, I feel for you
Thinking about your love
I'll be counting off the days
Back to stay
'Till I hold you in my arms
'Cause I'm thinking about your love
tonight, today and always
Thinking about you
I'm thinking 'bout your loving, yeah
Thinking about you
Thinking about your love
yeah, yeah...
If you're hurt, I'm hurting too
And I'm thinking about your love
If you need someone to care,
I'll be there
You should know I'll never change
'Cause I'm thinking about your love
tonight, today and always
What you feel, I feel for you
Thinking about your love
I'll be counting off the days
Back to stay
'Till I hold you in my arms
'Cause I'm thinking about your love
tonight, today and always...
The lyrics to Kenny Thomas's "Thinking About Your Love" express a deep care and commitment to someone who is far away. The opening lines set the tone for the rest of the song, as the artist repeats "Thinking about your love tonight, today, and always." This repetition emphasizes the strength and constancy of his feelings.
The second verse suggests that the couple has faced difficulties in the past, with Thomas admitting that he let his partner down "so badly." However, he emphasizes his commitment to making things right and promises to give anything his partner needs. He makes it clear that the two of them are inseparable, a team that must trust and support one another.
The final verse suggests that distance is the biggest challenge in their relationship, as Thomas counts off the days until he can see his partner again. He urges his partner to be faithful and promises that he will always love them.
Overall, "Thinking About Your Love" is a love song that emphasizes the importance of trust, commitment, and support in a relationship. It explores the difficulties that distance and external pressures can place on a relationship, but ultimately celebrates the strength of love that can overcome these challenges.
Line by Line Meaning
Thinking about your love
Admitting that he constantly thinks of the person he loves
Thinking about your love
Continuing to admit that he constantly thinks of the person he loves
tonight, today and always
Affirming that he thinks of the person he loves all the time
I know it's hard sometimes
Acknowledging that sometimes it can be difficult to maintain their relationship
And you can get this courage
Admitting that his partner has the strength to persevere
When it seems as though
Describing how their busy work lives can interfere with their relationship
our working lives
Referring to their work schedules
are keeping us apart
Explaining how their work schedules cause them to physically be in two different places
Put your trust in me,
Asking for his partner's trust in him
oh baby, don't you worry
Attempting to comfort his partner and alleviate their concerns
And it won't be long now,
Promising that their time apart is only temporary
So we must be strong
Encouraging his partner to stay strong through their temporary separation
There were times, I know
Admitting that he has made mistakes in the past
I let you down so badly
Acknowledging that his past mistakes caused harm to his partner
I never knew then
Explaining that he didn't understand the consequences of his actions at that time
What losing your love would
Reflecting on how much he values and needs his partner's love
mean to me
Continuing to reflect on the importance of his partner's love in his life
Ask for anything,
Offering his partner anything they need
I'll give it to you gladly
Expressing his willingness to fulfill his partner's needs
'Cause you're part of me now
Stating that his partner is an integral part of his life at this point
And you must believe that...
Asking his partner to trust in their relationship and his feelings for them
If you're hurt, I'm hurting too
Emphasizing the depth of his empathy and love for his partner
If you need someone to care,
Offering his support and care to his partner
You should know I'll never change
Assuring his partner that he will always be there for them
'Cause I'm thinking about your love
Reiterating that he continues to think about his partner and their love
Counting off the days,
Anticipating the time until they are together again
until I'm there beside you
Describing how much he wants to be physically with his partner
'Till I hold you in my arms again,
Expressing the joy he feels when he is with his partner
I find it hard to smile
Admitting that he struggles with happiness without his partner
So I'm asking you
Requesting something from his partner
be faithful to me, baby
Asking his partner to remain faithful and committed to him
'Cause I'm coming through
Stating that he will be there for his partner soon
And I'll always love you
Reaffirming his love for his partner
What you feel, I feel for you
Expressing that he experiences emotions similar to his partner's
I'll be counting off the days
Continuing to eagerly anticipate the moment when they will be reunited
Back to stay
Implying his desire to stay with his partner permanently
Thinking about you
Reiterating that he is constantly thinking of his partner
I'm thinking 'bout your loving, yeah
Thinking of the love that he and his partner share
Thinking about you
Continuing to think of his partner
Thinking about your love
Affirming once more that he is thinking of his partner and their love
If you're hurt, I'm hurting too
Reiterating the depth of his empathy for his partner
If you need someone to care,
Offering his support and care to his partner
You should know I'll never change
Affirming his commitment to his partner
Thinking about your love
Continuing to think of his partner and their love
tonight, today and always
Emphasizing that he will always love and think of his partner
What you feel, I feel for you
Reiterating his deep feelings for his partner
Thinking about your love
Affirming that he is always thinking of his partner and their love
I'll be counting off the days
Anticipating the moment when they will be together again
Back to stay
Expressing his desire to remain with his partner permanently
'Till I hold you in my arms
Looking forward to the physical experience of holding his partner
'Cause I'm thinking about your love
Reiterating that he is constantly thinking of his partner and their love
tonight, today and always...
Concluding with reassurance that he will always love his partner
Contributed by John Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@clairerichardson2369
Reminds me of my family holiday at the Black cat holiday camp in north Wales 1990, who’s still here listening today 12.02.2024. Sending lots of hugs 🤗 🎵🤗❤️
@Arouahboerlis
Oh yes you have a point. It was about family holidays for me too... 🤔 Great song
@nubianqueen8685
I’m STILL LISTENING TO THIS SONG IN 2024!!!❤❤❤ I have always loved this song from the first time I heard it in 1992! ❤❤❤
@Localman9ja
If you're here in 2024 then remember I kept this space for you .... Let's meet in 2200 again
@AB-wr8vl
Getting ready for Christmas 2023, this WILL BE played.
Mr Thomas, TOP MAN!!!👌🏽👍🏽👏🏽
@salamlasege9373
May God bless you. I was just thinking about jamming this song on my wedding part at the reception. This song was released when I was in my mid-teens. I think I rocked it for a few years and now " I still wanna" 😅
@raed370z8
If you’re listening to this in 2024 you’re a music legend ❤
@jesperlungu2288
Iam
@fadhilrobin9217
I'm here
@johnsullivan2652
A most underrated singer.