Thunderthighs

{{Short description|British backing vocal group}} {{about|a singing trio|an album by Kimya Dawson|Thunder Thighs}} {{EngvarB|date=December 2017}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Thunderthighs | image = | image_size = | landscape =  | alt = | caption = | background = group_or_band | alias = | origin = United Kingdom | genre = | years_active = {{start date|1973}}–{{end date|1977}} | label = | website =  | current_members = | past_members = * Karen Friedman * Dari Lalou * Casey Synge }}

'''Thunderthighs''' (also known as "Thunder Thighs") were a British backing vocal group, who released records in their own right.

==Career== The female trio, consisting of Karen Friedman, Dari Lalou (American) and Casey Synge, provided the backing vocals to Lou Reed's hit single, "Walk on the Wild Side" (from his 1972 ''Transformer'' album) which became a top 10 hit in the UK.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://lmtribune.com/a_and_e/who-sang-backup-on-lou-reed-song/article_40b84a13-ad75-59cd-a7a9-d5469afc17d3.html|title=Who sang backup on Lou Reed song?|author=Bradford Brady and John Maron|date=2010-04-30|publisher=Lewiston Tribune}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/entertainment-arts-24697578|title=Lou Reed: 'Working with him was joyous and delightful'|date=2013-10-27|publisher=BBC News}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/charts/singles-chart/19730527/7501/|title=Official Singles Chart Top 50 | Official Charts Company|website=Officialcharts.com|access-date=22 May 2023}}</ref> It was around this vocal arrangement that singer-songwriter Lynsey de Paul wrote their first single, "Central Park Arrest", which reached number 30 in the UK Singles Chart in 1974.<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums">{{cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 559}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.officialcharts.com/artists/ |title=Thunderthighs |access-date=10 February 2008 |work=Official Charts Company }}</ref> It also reached number 3 on the Radio Northsea Toppers 20,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hitnoteringen.nl/start/radio-northsea-international-uk/radio-northsea-toppers-20/ |title=Radio Northsea Toppers 20 – 1974 – Hitnoteringen |website=Hitnoteringen.nl |access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> number 5 on the Swedish Poporama singles chart,<ref name="auto">Stefan Heiding: Poporama – Heta högen (1992) {{ISBN|91-971894-1-3}}</ref> number 24 on London's Capital Radio chart and number 25 on the Radio Luxembourg top thirty.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hitnoteringen.nl/start/radio-luxemburg/radio-luxembourg-top-20-30-40-1974/ |title=Radio Luxembourg Top 20 / 30 / 40 – 1974 - Hitnoteringen |access-date=28 January 2014 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140211174436/http://www.hitnoteringen.nl/start/radio-luxemburg/radio-luxembourg-top-20-30-40-1974/ |archivedate=11 February 2014 }}</ref> The single received critical acclaim, being listed in the ''New Musical Express'' as one of the best singles released in 1974 in the End of Year Critic List.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/1974.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060629131000/http://rocklistmusic.co.uk/1974.html |url-status=usurped |archive-date=29 June 2006 |title=Rocklist.net...NME End of Year Lists 1974 |website=Rocklistmusic.co.uk |date=9 May 1992 |access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> De Paul recorded her own version of the song which was released as the B-side to her hit single "No, Honestly" later that year. Dari Lallou performed all the speaking parts throughout the song, including "Book him" at the end, misheard at the time as being a similar sounding profanity and getting the record temporarily banned by the BBC, until it was re-voiced.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://rateyourmusic.com/release/single/thunderthighs/central_park_arrest___sally_wants_a_red_dress/|title=Central Park Arrest / Sally Wants a Red Dress by Thunderthighs|access-date=12 February 2019|website=Rateyourmusic.com}}</ref>

Further singles followed such as "Dracula's Daughter" (1974) (produced by Steve Rowland)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.angelfire.com/rebellion/70sinvasion/GALLERY.html |title=70s invasion; THUNDERTHIGHS |website=Angelfire.com |access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> that received a glowing review from ''Record and Popswop Mirror''<ref>Record review, 28/9/74. Record and Popswop Mirror</ref> and reached number 16 on the Swedish Poporama single chart.<ref name="auto"/> The song was also included on the 1975 compilation album, ''Ripper! 20 Original Smash Hits''. The trio changed label to EMI for their next single release "Stand Up and Cheer" and the Blue Inc label for their final single release "Loving You Ain't Easy", co-written by Dari Lallou Wynne. According to an interview with Karen Friedman, the trio also released "They'd Rather Be Making Money Than Making Love", another de Paul composed song, as a single in 1976.<ref>''Billboard'', 24 July 1976, p. 73</ref>

An album was recorded, but was shelved at the time since further hits were not forthcoming, although it is now available at BR Music and on iTunes.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.brmusic.nl/index.php/site/Original_Masters/thunder_thighs/ |title=Thunder Thighs – Original Masters – BR Music |website=Brmusic.nl |date=1 January 1983 |access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> The track listing is:- #"Central Park Arrest" #"Bronze Beach Hero" #"Dracula's Daughter" #"Great Male Robbery" #"Lady" #"Loving You Ain't Easy" #"Sally Wants a Red Dress" #"Shine Your Light on Me" #"So Fine" #"We've Got a Good Thing Going" #"Shake Sheik Shake"

They were, however, in demand and provided backing vocals for Mott the Hoople on the single version of their hit, "Roll Away the Stone" (although de Paul delivered the spoken bridge on the later ''The Hoople'' album version), and their 1974 single "Foxy, Foxy". Thunderthighs had already appeared on Mott the Hoople's earlier 1973 album, ''Mott'', on the track "Hymn for the Dudes". The trio provided backing vocals for Mick Ronson at his show at London's Rainbow Theatre in February 1974.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.guitarplayer.com/players/mick-ronson-the-rise-and-fall-of-glam-rocks-greatest-guitarist|title=Mick Ronson: the Rise and Fall of Glam-Rock’s Greatest Guitarist|author=Max Bell|date=17 May 2022|website=Guitarplayer.com|access-date=12 March 2026}}</ref>

They provided backing vocals for Elkie Brooks on two tracks on the 1975 original studio cast compilation album, ''Flash Fearless Versus The Zorg Women Parts 5 & 6''.<ref>''RPM Magazine'', 31 May 1975, p. 18</ref> They also provided backing vocals for Maggie Bell on her 1974 U.S. tour<ref>''Billboard'', 2 March 1974, p. 50</ref> that garnered positive reviews for Bell and for them.<ref>''Billboard'', 16 March 1974, p. 22</ref><ref>''Cash Box'', 16 March 1974, p. 46</ref> In 1981, they provided the backing vocals on "Solid Gold Easy Action", a cover version of the Marc Bolan song recorded and released by the group Department S.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ltmrecordings.com/department_s.html|title=LTM Recordings|website=Ltmrecordings.com|access-date=2 February 2022}}</ref>

In addition, Thunderthighs provided vocals for the following albums:<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/thunderthighs-mn0000764406 |title=Thunderthighs | Credits |website=AllMusic |access-date=22 March 2017}}</ref> *Jonathan Kelly (''Wait 'Til They Change The Backdrop'') (1973) *Jerry Lee Lewis (''The Session...Recorded in London with Great Artists'') (1973) *Go (''Go'') (1976) *Shusha (''Before the Deluge'') (1975) *John Verity (''John Verity Band'') (1974) *Alquin (''Nobody Can Wait Forever'') (1975) *The Crazy World of Arthur Brown (''Lost Ears'') (1976) *Adrian Wagner (''Instincts'') (1977) *Elephant's Memory (''Angels Forever'') (1974)

==Singles== *"Central Park Arrest" (June 1974) – Philips 6006 386 – UK singles chart – Number 30<ref name="British Hit Singles & Albums"/> *"Dracula's Daughter" (November 1974) – Philips 6006 413 *"Stand Up and Cheer" (1975) – EMI *"Loving You Ain't Easy" (1981) – Blue Inc

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== * {{AllMusic|id=mn0000764406}} *

Category:British vocal groups Category:British musical trios Category:British session musicians