THE STYLISTICS



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JANICE'S BLUES ALLEY PRESENTS



THE STYLISTICS



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THE STYLISTICS



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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



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LINKSTITLEYEAR
Christmas1992
Love Talk1991
Love Hits1985
Stylistics - Best Of Volume 21985
Some Things Never Change1985
19821982
Closer Than Close1981
All About Love1981
Hurry up This Way Again1980
All-Time Classics1979
Black Satin1979
Love Spell1979
In Fashion1978
Wonder Woman1978
Spotlight1977
Sun & Soul1977
Once upon a Juke Box1976
Fabulous1976
Best Of Stylistics1975
From the Mountain1975
You Are Beautiful1975
Thank You Baby1975
Let's Put It All Together1974
Heavy1974
Rock'n'Roll Baby1973
Round 21972
Original Debut Album1971


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Christmas 1992

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



Love Talk 1991

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


Love Hits 1985

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



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Stylistics - Best Of Volume 2 1985

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


Some Things Never Change 1985

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



1982 1982

Closer Than Close 1981

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


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All About Love 1981

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


Hurry up This Way Again 1980

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


All-Time Classics 1979

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


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Black Satin 1979

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


Love Spell 1979

In Fashion 1978

Wonder Woman 1978

Spotlight 1977

Sun & Soul 1977

Once upon a Juke Box 1976

Fabulous 1976

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


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Best Of Stylistics 1975

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


From the Mountain 1975

You Are Beautiful 1975

Thank You Baby 1975

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


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Let's Put It All Together 1974

Heavy 1974

Rock'n'Roll Baby 1973

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


Round 2 1972

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


Original Debut Album 1971

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



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