The Stylistics were formed in 1968 from the fragments of two Philadelphia groups, the Monarchs and the Percussions, by Russell Thompkins Jnr. (b. 21 March 1951, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), Airrion Love (b. 8 August 1949, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA), James Smith (b. 16 June 1950, New York City, USA), Herbie Murrell (b. 27 April 1949, Lane, South Carolina, USA) and James Dunn (b. 4 February 1950, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA). The quintet's debut single, 'You're A Big Girl Now' was initially issued on a local independent, but became a national hit following its acquisition by the Avco label. The Stylistics were then signed to this outlet directly and teamed with producer/composer Thom Bell. This skilful musician had already worked successfully with the Delfonics and his sculpted, sweet-soul arrangements proved ideal for his new charges. In partnership with lyricist Linda Creed, Bell fashioned a series of immaculate singles, including 'You Are Everything' (1971), 'Betcha By Golly Wow' and 'I'm Stone In Love With You' (both 1972), where Simpkins' aching voice soared against the group's sumptuous harmonies and a cool, yet inventive, accompaniment. The style reached its apogee in 1974 with 'You Make Me Feel Brand New', a number 2 single in both the USA and UK. This release marked the end of Bell's collaboration with the group, who were now pushed towards the easy listening market. With arranger Van McCoy turning sweet into saccharine, the material grew increasingly bland, while Thompkins' falsetto, once heartfelt, now seemed contrived. Although their American fortune waned, the Stylistics continued to enjoy success in Britain with 'Sing Baby Sing', 'Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)' (both 1975) and '16 Bars' (1976), while a compilation album that same year, The Best Of The Stylistics, became one of the UK's bestselling albums. Despite this remarkable popularity, purists labelled the group a parody of its former self. Ill health forced Dunn to retire in 1978, whereupon the remaining quartet left Avco for a brief spell with Mercury. Two years later they were signed to the TSOP/ Philadelphia International stable, which resulted in some crafted recordings reminiscent of their heyday, but problems within the company undermined the group's progress. Subsequent singles for Streetwise took the Stylistics into the lower reaches of the R&B chart, but their halcyon days seemed to be over, even though they released new material in the mid-90s.
Encyclopedia of Popular Music Copyright Muze UK Ltd. 1989 - 1998
01. Little Drummer Boy 02. Christmas Song (Chestnuts Roasting on an open fire) 03. Silent Night 04. This Christmas 05. God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen 06. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas 07. When You've Got Love, It's Christmas All... |
08. I Wanna Be Wrapped in Your Arms This Christmas 09. What Are You Doing New Year's Eve? 10. Silver Bells 11. I'll Be Home for Christmas 12. Auld Lang Syne 13. Christmas Medley: Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is Coming to Town |
01. Love Talk 02. Me U Blue 03. Hang Your Teardrops Up To Dry 04. I Just Don't Know What To Do 05. I Don't Need This |
06. Hits Medley: Betcha, By Golly, Wow/You Are Everything 07. Always On My Mind 08. Let Me Show You What Love Is 09. You're My Woman, You're My Lady 10. Goin' Out Of My Head/Can't Take My Eyes Off You |
01. Love Is The Answer 02. Can't Help Falling In Love 03. Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) 04. I'd Rather Be Hurt By You (Than Be Loved By Somebody Else) 05. Because I Love You, Girl |
06. You Make Me Feel Brand New 07. Our Love Will Never Die 08. My Love, Come Live With Me 09. I Will Love You Always |
01. You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) 02. Hey Girl, Come And Get It 03. Sixteen Bars 04. The Miracle 05. You Are Beautiful |
06. Sing Baby Sing 07. Star On A T.V. Show 08. Na-Na Is The Saddest Word 09. Thank You Baby 10. Funky Weekend |
01. Some Things Never Change 02. Give a Little Love for Love 03. Don't Change 04. Girl in Yellow 05. Row Your Love |
06. Love Is Not the Answer 07. Hooked on Your Lovin' 08. When Will I Learn 09. Just the Two of Us |
01. What's Your Name? 02. I've Got This Feeling 03. Mine All Mine 04. Habit |
05. Searchin' 06. It's Only Love 07. Closer Than Close 08. Almost There |
01. I Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) 02. Star On A TV Show 03. Sing Baby Sing 04. Let's Put It All Together 05. Sixteen Bars 06. You Are Beautiful 07. Funky Weekend |
08. Can't Help Falling In Love 09. Na-Na Is The Saddest Word 10. $7.000 And You 11. Jenny 12. A Honky Tonk Cafe 13. I Plead Guilty 14. I Will Love You Always |
01. Driving Me Wild 02. And I'll See You No More 03. Found a Love You Couldn't Handle 04. Maybe It's Love This Time |
05. Hurry up This Way Again 06. It Started Out 07. I Have You, You Have Me 08. Is There Something on Your Mind |
01. The Great Pretender 02. I Got It Bad And That Ain't Good 03. Only You (And You Alone) 04. Don't Get Around Much Anymore 05. My Funny Valentine |
06. Don't Worry 'Bout Me 07. Unchained Melody 08. Satin Doll 09. After The Lights Go Down Low 10. Send For Me |
01. Could This Be the End 02. Country Living 03. Doin' the Streets 04. I Won't Give Up 05. It's Too Late 06. Keeping My Fingers Crossed 07. Let Them Work It Out 08. Love Comes Easy |
09. Make It Last 10. Only for the Children 11. Payback Is a Dog 12. Point of No Return 13. Satin Doll 14. There's No Reason 15. You'll Never Get to Heaven 16. You're as Right as Rain |
01. Because I Love You, Girl 02. Can't Help Falling In Love 03. Maybe It's Because You're Lonely 04. You Are 05. It's So Good |
06. Sixteen Bars 07. Baby, Don't Change Your Mind 08. I Will Love You Always 09. Starvin' For Love 10. You Ought To Be With Me |
01. You Make Me Feel Brand New 02. Betcha By Golly, Wow 03. Rockin' Roll Baby 04. Break Up To Make Up 05. You're A Big Girl Now |
06. I'm Stone In Love With You 07. Heavy Fallin' Out 08. Let's Put It All Together 09. You Are Everything 10. People Make The World Go Around |
01. Thank You Baby 02. Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) 03. What Goes Around Comes Around 04. I'd Rather Be Hurt by You 05. Disco Baby |
06. Tears and Souvenirs 07. Honky Tonk Cafe 08. I'm Gonna Win 09. Stay 10. Sing Baby Sing |
01. Only for the Children 02. Could This Be the End 03. Let Them Work It Out 04. Make It Last 05. Payback Is a Dog |
06. Love Comes Easy 07. There's No Reason 08. Rockin' Roll Baby 09. You Make Me Feel Brand New 10. I Won't Give You Up |
01. I'm Stone In Love With You 02. If You Don't Watch Out 03. You And Me 04. It's Too Late 05. Children Of The Night |
06. You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) 07. Break Up To Make Up 08. Peek-A-Boo 09. You're As Right As Rain 10. Pieces |
01. Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) 02. Point Of No Return 03. Betcha By Golly, Wow 04. Country Living 05. You're A Big Girl Now |
06. You Are Everything 07. People Make The World Go Round 08. Ebony Eyes 09. If I Love You |