Ian Thomas

Not only did Ian Thomas score Canadian Top 40 hits with "Liars" and "Right Before Your Eyes," but he also gave the whole of the Goodnight Mrs. Calabash album enough strong material to make it his best album. The title track is a feel-good piece that represents Thomas' fondness for the old movies and their stars, while songs like "Don't Want to Love You" and "For What You Are" were never released but show a big improvement in his ability to create a moving melody with an ear-catching chorus. The angry guitar chug of "Liars" helps Thomas to reveal his outright displeasure with the music business and the people who run it, resulting in one of his meatiest rock songs, while "Right Before Your Eyes" is a wonderfully constructed ballad that was covered rather fittingly by America in 1983. With an equal balance of well-written love songs and favorable pop/rock, Goodnight Mrs. Calabash sold well in Canada and had helped to replenish Thomas' notoriety in his own country. ~ Mike DeGagne, All Music Guide