Timmy Thomas, born in Evansville, Indiana, USA on 13th Nov 1944, passed away 11th March 2022 (aged 77) still asking his famous question from 1972, some fifty years later in 2022.
“Why Can’t We Live Together”, a song centered around one note and recorded in mono, when most studios by the early 70’s were all recording in stereo, which is why the organ and that totally unique drum groove, cut through the speakers so cleanly, no matter the medium, radio, record player or streaming platform. As mono it also perfectly represents the song’s timeless message, that we are all in fact (mono) one species as human-beings.
The song stayed with Timmy Thomas for the rest of his life and will do so into human infinity because of its powerful message sung with real compassion, in my opinion easily up there with Marvin Gaye’s ’72 classic “What’s Going On”..
Sade recorded the song in 1984 on her Diamond Life album and Jimmy Smith a decade earlier in ’74 on his Blacksmith album, plus lesser known covers from Illusion (’82), Mike Anthony (’82), Pluto (’90), MC Hammer (’91) and a cool remake by Late Nite Tuff Guy in (2016).
In 2015 Canadian rapper Drake sampled a break off the original ’72 Timmy Thomas recording for his “Hotline Bling” song on the hugely successful “Views” album. “Hotline Bling” has over 1.8 Billions views on Youtube and 1.1 Billion spins on Spotify to-date. Keeping Timmy’s dollars and cents flowing.
In 2021 Dr Lonnie Smith (RIP) recorded a latin lounge version, with Iggy Pop on vocals, of “Why Can’t We Live Together” for the Blue Note Records album “Breathe”, which the acid jazz aficionados love.
I first heard “Why Can’t We Live Together” on the B-side of a 1974 compilation released by the Dutch label K-Tel Int. It was track 6 sandwiched between Cymande “The Message” and Aretha Franklin’s “Mockingbird” but it’s groove and earnest vocal never left me, even to this very day.
DJ DiscoCat and myself also conceptualized a 2018 Timmy Thomas ft Martin L King & Marvin Gaye “Why Can’t We Live Together” (Difficult Days Ahead) tribute for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day every 22nd Jan. Featuring quotes from MLK, JFK and RFK to underline the gravity and the fight for peace, because it’s a continual battle that humanity faces. Sadly. www.youtube.com/watch?v=58QAoq_3mJ8
For Timmy Thomas, “Why Can’t We Live Together” was his “Imagine” and he was still singing the song live at the organ well into his late 70’s.
Here from Sep 26, 2017 is a live in-store performance of “Why Can’t We Live Together (2017 Reprise)” Books & Books, Coral Gables, lookin well. www.youtube.com/watch?v=szSXcI5_eJo