Nicky Thomas

Nicky Thomas

Also known as: Cecil Nicholas Thomas

Cecil Thomas (30 May 1944 - 1990), known as Nicky Thomas, was a Jamaican-born reggae singer who enjoyed considerable chart success in Jamaica and in the United Kingdom at the start of the 1970s.

Early life
Cecil Thomas was born and raised in Portland Parish, Jamaica. He began work as a labourer in Kingston where he worked alongside future members of The Gladiators. His opportunity to cut some records came when the former Jiving Junior and producer, Derrick Harriott wrote and produced "Run Mr Nigel Run" for Thomas. A huge Jamaican hit, the song led to him being known as Mr Nigel for a time. He was also successful with "Come Home" a song from the same session. This was followed by a successful association with producer Joel Gibson better known as Joe Gibbs, for whom Thomas recorded the plaintive "Running Alone" and "Lonesome Road" issued in 1969 as by Cecil Thomas, as well as a version of "Let It Be" credited to Nicky Thomas. Thomas' collaboration with Gibbs resulted in a number of hits including "Don't Touch Me", "Mama's Song" and "God Bless The Children". Thomas and Gibbs also covered a number of well regarded R&B hits that included Tyrone Davis' "Turn Back the Hands of Time" and "(Baby) Can I Change Your Mind" and Tony Joe White's "Rainy Night in Georgia". He topped the Jamaican charts in 1970 with "Have a Little Faith", a record that reputedly sold 50,000 copies on its release in the UK. It failed to chart in the UK because the sales were largely through specialist music shops and not statistically counted by the official chart compilers.

Career
In mid-1970, Nicky Thomas' interpretation of the Winstons' version of "Love of the Common People" resulted in a UK hit. The record reached number nine in the UK Singles Chart, leading in turn to a European tour and a relocation to the United Kingdom. The original Jamaican mix (without additional strings) issued on early copies as by Cecil Thomas sold 50,000 copies in Jamaica and 175,000 in the UK. The success of "Love of the Common People" ensured an album of the same name released on Trojan Records, that featured tracks previously cut with Joe Gibbs in Jamaica. Thomas followed up with a successful interpretation of Chris Andrews' "Yesterday Man" from his self-produced album Tell It Like It Is, recorded in London in 1971. The title track of this album was also released as a single, with a stinging attack on the BBC on the flip-side. Thomas objected to the low profile the public broadcaster was giving to reggae and in an interview with Carl Gayle vented his frustration comparing the playing of reggae on radio as akin to the use of a whore. By 1973, Thomas was being produced by Dandy Livingstone, releasing a third album called Images of You that included a version of his former Jamaican hit "Have a Little Faith" and a cover of Joe Simon's "Doing The Moonwalk". In 1973 he supported Desmond Dekker on a short London tour and, in 1974, backed by Misty in Roots he successfully toured the UK. In 1976 he released the poignant "London", a song about the desperation of an immigrant's life in London and featured in an ITV television documentary recording What Love Is at studios in north London. By the early 1980s, he was recording in a roots reggae style. In 1980 he recorded "Trow Mi Corn-No Portion of Gal" for Joe Gibbs' US distributed JGM Records. In 1983, the singer Paul Young took "Love of the Common People" back into the UK chart reviving interest in Thomas's version of the song that in turn resulted in Trojan reissuing it as a 12-inch single that included an extended remix version.

Death
He died in about 1990. According to his record company, "the precise circumstances surrounding his death seem confused to this day - the most common account tells of the singer suffering a broken heart and subsequently taking his own life."

Discography (5)

Credits & Appearances (2)

Production
Producer 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Tell It Like It Is Nicky Thomas Tell It Like It Is TRLS 25 LP Trojan 1971 1971
Musicians
Vocals 1
Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Love Of The Common People Nicky Thomas Love Of The Common People TBL 143 LP Trojan 1970 1970

Also Appears On (54)

Artist Album Release Type Label Rec Rel
Trojan Reggae Rarities Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Rarities Box Set TJETD 215 CD Trojan 1966-77 2004
Explosive Rock Steady Various Artists Explosive Rock Steady CDHB 72 CD Heartbeat 1967-73 1991
Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years Various Artists Joe Gibbs Scorchers From The Early Years VPCD 4151 CD 17 North Parade 1967-73 2009
No Baptism The Ethiopians & The Tribe No Baptism CLP 17 LP Crystal 1967-75 1991
Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Brothers Box Set TJETD 072 CD Trojan 1967-77 2003
Love Of The Common People Various Artists Love Of The Common People CDTRD 448 CD Trojan 1967-79 2000
History Of Trojan Records 1968-71 Various Artists History Of Trojan Records 1968-71 CDTAL 700 CD Trojan 1968-71 1995
Joe Gibbs Mood Various Artists Joe Gibbs Mood CDTRL 394 CD Trojan 1968-71 1998
Trojan British Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan British Reggae Box Set TJETD 070 CD Trojan 1968-72 2002
Tighten Up Various Artists Tighten Up TJBDD 011 CD Trojan 1968-74 2002
Young Gifted And Black Various Artists Young Gifted And Black TJDDD 006 CD Trojan 1968-75 2002
Trojan Singles Box Set Various Artists Trojan Singles Box Set TRBCD 012 CD Trojan 1968-78 1999
In Memoriam Various Artists In Memoriam JGECD 012 CD Crazy Joe 1968-80 2008
A Tribute To The Beatles Reggae Style Various Artists A Tribute To The Beatles Reggae Style CDTALL 501 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2001
Ska & Reggae Classics Various Artists Ska & Reggae Classics TJTCD 572 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2018
The Best Of Reggae Various Artists The Best Of Reggae DBCDX 081 CD Doctor Bird 196X-7X 2022
The Story Of Trojan Records Various Artists The Story Of Trojan Records 2775354 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2011
Trojan Beatles Tribute Box Set Various Artists Trojan Beatles Tribute Box Set TJETD 220 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2004
Trojan Club Reggae Box Set Various Artists Trojan Club Reggae Box Set TRBCD 020 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2000
Trojan Originals Box Set Various Artists Trojan Originals Box Set TJETD 098 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan Producer Series Box Set Various Artists Trojan Producer Series Box Set TRBCD 010 CD Trojan 196X-7X 1999
Trojan Records Sampler 2002 Various Artists Trojan Records Sampler 2002 TJPCD 001 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2002
Trojan Reggae Chill Out Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Chill Out Box Set TJETD 115 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2003
Trojan Reggae Country Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae Country Box Set TJETD 365 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2007
Trojan UK Hits Box Set Various Artists Trojan UK Hits Box Set TJETD 010 CD Trojan 196X-7X 2002
Trojan Reggae For Kids Box Set Various Artists Trojan Reggae For Kids Box Set TJETD 262 CD Trojan 196X-8X 2005
Reggae Chartbusters Vol 2 Various Artists Reggae Chartbusters Vol 2 TBL 147 LP Trojan 1970 1970
Reggae Chartbusters Vol 2 Various Artists Reggae Chartbusters Vol 2 2711331 CD Trojan 1970 2009
With A Flick Of My Musical Wrist U Roy & Various Artists With A Flick Of My Musical Wrist CDTRL 268 CD Trojan 1970-73 1994
Reggae Strings Vol 1&2 Johnny Arthey Orchestra & Various Artists Reggae Strings Vol 1&2 DBCDD 063 CD Doctor Bird 1970-74 2020
The Music  Got Mo 'Soul Various Artists The Music Got Mo 'Soul WESA 848 CD Westside 1970-74 2003
Uptown Top Ranking Various Artists Uptown Top Ranking CDTRL 392 CD Trojan 1970-78 1998
Hot Shots Reggae Chartbusters '71 Various Artists Hot Shots Reggae Chartbusters '71 LP 85597ZT LP Trojan 1971
Reggae Chartbusters Vol 3 Various Artists Reggae Chartbusters Vol 3 TBL 169 LP Trojan 1971 1971
Reggae Chartbusters Vol 3 Various Artists Reggae Chartbusters Vol 3 2711939 CD Trojan 1971 2009
Trojan Reggae Party Various Artists Trojan Reggae Party TBL 172 LP Trojan 1971 1971
The Heptones & Friends vol 1&2 The Heptones & Friends The Heptones & Friends vol 1&2 CDTRL 357 CD Trojan 1971-72 1995
Club Reggae Vol 4 Various Artists Club Reggae Vol 4 TBL 188 LP Trojan 1972 1972
Original Reggae Greats Various Artists Original Reggae Greats SHM 786 LP Hallmark 1972 1972
Trojan's Greatest Hits Vol 2 Various Artists Trojan's Greatest Hits Vol 2 TBL 190 LP Trojan 1972 1972
Tighten Up Vol 7 Various Artists Tighten Up Vol 7 TBL 196 LP Trojan 1973 1973
Hit Me With Music Various Artists Hit Me With Music TRLS 82 LP Trojan 1974 1974
60's Hits Reggae Style Various Artists 60's Hits Reggae Style CD Castle Pulse 197X 2007
Club Reggae Vol 5 Various Artists Club Reggae Vol 5 TBL 205 LP Trojan 197X 1971
Here Comes That Feeling Various Artists Here Comes That Feeling TJDDD 140X CD Trojan 197X 2004
Just My Imagination Vol 2 Various Artists Just My Imagination Vol 2 CDTRL 298 CD Trojan 197X 1992
Original Reggae Greats Vol 2 Various Artists Original Reggae Greats Vol 2 SHM 827 LP Hallmark 197X 1974
Reggae Chartbusters Vol 6 Various Artists Reggae Chartbusters Vol 6 2711953 CD Trojan 197X 2009
Soul Power Various Artists Soul Power TJDCD 263 CD Trojan 197X 2005
Sounds Of The Seventies Various Artists Sounds Of The Seventies CDTRL 321 CD Trojan 197X 1993
Trojan Seventies Box Set Various Artists Trojan Seventies Box Set TJETD 192 CD Trojan 197X 2004
Trojan Singles Collection Various Artists Trojan Singles Collection CDTRL 367 CD Trojan 197X 1996
70's Hits Reggae Style Various Artists 70's Hits Reggae Style CD Castle Pulse 197X-8X 2007
Out Of Many Various Artists Out Of Many VPCD 1962 CD VP 19XX 2012
5 albums
2 credits
2 labels
1970 - 1973