“The Eyes of a New York Woman” was B.J. Thomas’ first solo hit, and it’s today’s classic song of the day. Released in June of 1968, this single charted as high as #28 on the Billboard Hot 100.
Chips Moman produced this track, which was penned by songwriter Mark James. James was also responsible for writing “Hooked on a Feeling” for Mr. Thomas, “Suspicious Minds” for Elvis Presley, and “Always On My Mind,” which eventually became a hit for Willie Nelson.
Billy Joe Thomas was born in Oklahoma but grew up in Houston, Texas. While in his teens, he started singing with his church choir, then later joined a band called the Triumphs. The Triumphs had a minor hit in 1966 with a cover of Hank Williams’ “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry” that sold more than a million copies; a follow-up, “Mama” also was a top thirty Billboard hit.
After that stint singing lead with the Triumphs, B.J. Thomas set off on his own and signed a deal with Scepter Records. That led to the release of his first album, On My Way, in 1968. That album contained two songs that became hit singles, “The Eyes of a New York Woman” and the later (and bigger) “Hooked on a Feeling.”
The following year, B.J. Thomas was picked by Burt Bacharach and Hal David to sing their song, “Raindrops Keep Fallin’ On My Head,” for the movie Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. More success followed, including the singles “Everybody’s Out of Town,” “I Just Can’t Help Believing,” “Rock and Roll Lullaby,” “(Hey Won’t You Play) Another Somebody Done Somebody Wrong Song,” and a cover of Brian Wilson’s “Don’t Worry Baby.” He later gravitated to the country music world and had several hits on the country charts. He kept recording and performing through the early part of the new century before passing away of lung cancer in 2021. He was 78 years old.
For your daily bonus video of the day, we turn back to 1968 and a local Cleveland television program called Upbeat. It’s B.J. Thomas lip-synching “The Eyes of a New York Woman,” which was a great start to a successful career.
