Everything - The Real Thing Story

Everything - The Real Thing Story is a 2019 music documentary featuring the iconic British band, The Real Thing. Directed by Simon Sheridan, this impacting documentary brings alive the tale of Britain's first black music sensations, and their rise to stardom from Liverpool's nightclubs to the glam of international stages.

The film casts an extensive lineup of star interviewees including Jacob Anderson, Eddie Amoo, and Chris Amoo. Through their compelling narratives, Everything, serves as a chronicle of the band's journey and the realities of aspiring black musicians in the United Kingdom during the 70s and 80s. Thus, it successfully provides a wholesome experience, intertwining the band’s journey and the socio-cultural scenario of the era.

The Real Thing band, the first all-black British band to achieve substantial success, is recognized for their smash hits like 'You To Me Are Everything,' 'Can't Get by Without You,' and 'Can You Feel the Force'. 'Everything - The Real Thing Story' allows viewers to witness the evolution of these Liverpool teenagers into international pop stars against the backdrop of racial tension and tectonic shifts in musical styles, cultures, and fashion.

The band's members, Eddie Amoo, Chris Amoo, and Dave Smith, take center stage with their unfiltered, insightful accounts of their journey, forming the crux of the film. Extended interviews with fans, music critics, friends, and other musicians of the era also paint a vivid portrait of the industry's trials and triumphs, and how The Real Thing surfed these waves.

While viewers might be aware of the band's success, what they tend to underestimate is the significance of The Real Thing's emergence in a racially tense Britain. The film delves into this context and charts the band's trailblazing role in breaking down many racial barriers in Britain's music industry. The band’s fight against prejudice, their experiences with racism, and their views on societal issues are brought to life, giving the documentary an extra layer of depth. This social commentary eloquently blends with the band's journey, making the film a profound statement about race, music, and culture.

Fans of The Real Thing will additionally appreciate the documentary’s wealth of archive material, including never-before-seen footage of concerts, photos, record sleeves and promos. The old school footages transport audiences back to the days of wild fashion and funky beats, adding nostalgia to the narrative. This documentary is a treasure trove filled with rare clips that evoke the band's golden era, and makes the viewers groove to their timeless classics.

Meanwhile, music enthusiasts will applaud the comprehensive detailing of the band's influence on the music scene, and their contribution to creating innovative music genres. The narrative's attention to the making of the group's defining hits is stirring, simultaneously providing a look into their distinctive musical style and lyrical genius.

The documentary has moments of joy and heartbreak, success and failure, which the director Simon Sheridan captures truthfully. His storytelling is authentic and honest, inviting audiences to celebrate The Real Thing's legacy while also empathizing with their struggles.

‘Everything - The Real Thing Story’ weaves together a tale of music, race, aspiration, and resilience. For fans of music history, culture, and biography, this documentary offers an immersion into an era of transformation in Britain's music scene through the lens of one of its most influential bands.

While nostalgia serves as a massive appeal for audiences familiar with The Real Thing, even viewers unfamiliar with the band will find themselves captivated by the triumph and turbulence of this groundbreaking ensemble. This film strikes an impressive balance between recounting their impressive musical journey and highlighting the socio-cultural impact the band had, cementing its place as a compelling and significant music documentary.