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The Stylistics (album)

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The Stylistics
Studio album by
The Stylistics
ReleasedNovember 6, 1971
Recorded1970–1971
StudioSigma Sound Studios
(Philadelphia)
GenreR&B, soul, Philadelphia soul
Length29:24
LabelAvco
ProducerThom Bell
The Stylistics chronology
The Stylistics
(1971) 		Round 2
(1972)
Singles from The Stylistics
  1. "You're a Big Girl Now"
    Released: 1971
  2. "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)"
    Released: March 4, 1971
  3. "You Are Everything"
    Released: May 13, 1971
  4. "Betcha by Golly, Wow"
    Released: February 17, 1972
  5. "People Make the World Go Round"
    Released: 1972
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
BBC(favorable) [2]
Christgau's Record GuideA–[3]

The Stylistics is the debut album recorded by American R&B group The Stylistics, released in November 1971 on the Avco record label. It was produced by Thom Bell and recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia. The album has been called "a sweet soul landmark."[4]

Lead singer Russell Thompkins Jr. was the only Stylistic to sing on the records. Airrion Love, Herb Murrell, James Dunn, and James Smith were not allowed to sing on the records because producer Thom Bell hated their vocals, and he only wanted to work with Thompkins. The actual background vocals were done by: Thom Bell, Carl Hamm, Bunny Sigler, Kenny Gamble, and Phil Hurtt. The Sigma Sweethearts—Barbara Ingram, Yvette Benton and Carla Benson—also sang background on the songs. Russell also did some background vocals as well. This would continue on their next two albums, Round 2 and Rockin’ Roll Baby.

History

The album reached No.23 on the Billboard 200 and number three on the R&B albums chart. It features the hit singles "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "You Are Everything", "People Make the World Go Round", "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", and "You're a Big Girl Now". All five singles reached the top-ten on the R&B charts, beginning a stretch of twelve top-ten hits in a row. "Betcha by Golly, Wow" and "You Are Everything" also reached the top-ten on the Billboard Hot 100.

Track listing

All tracks are written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, except where noted

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)"2:54
2."Point of No Return"2:45
3."Betcha by Golly, Wow"3:47
4."Country Living"2:57
5."You're a Big Girl Now" (Marty Bryant, Robert Douglas)3:14
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."You Are Everything"2:55
7."People Make the World Go Round"6:26
8."Ebony Eyes"2:21
9."If I Love You"2:05

Personnel

  • Russell Thompkins, Jr. – lead vocals
  • Thom Bell,Carl Hamm,Bunny Sigler, Kenny Gamble,Phil Hurtt – background vocals
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram Yvette Benton,Carla Benson – additional background vocals
  • Norman Harris, Roland Chambers – guitar
  • Ronnie Baker – bass
  • Earl Young – drums
  • Larry Washington – congas
  • Vince Montana – percussion
  • Lenny Pakula – piano, organ
  • Joe DeAngelis, Stephanie Fauber, Robert Martin – French horn
  • Rocco Bene, Bobby Hartzell – trumpet
  • Jack Faith – alto saxophone, flute
  • George Shaw – flute
  • Vincent Forchetti, Bob Moore, Richard Genevese – trombone
  • Don Renaldo, Tony Sinagoga, Albert Berone, Rudy Malizia, Angelo Pretrella, Romeo Di Stefano, Charles Apollonia, Davis Barnett, Richard Jones, Herschel Wise – strings
  • Mary Gale – harp
  • Fredric Cohen – oboe

Charts

Chart (1971/72) Peak
[5]
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 23
U.S. Billboard Top LPs 23
U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs 3
Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions
US
[5] 		US
R&B
[5] 		US
A/C
[5] 		UK
[7]
1971 "You're a Big Girl Now" 73 7 — —
"Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" 39 6 — —
"You Are Everything" 9 10 24 —
1972 "Betcha by Golly, Wow" 3 2 7 13
"People Make the World Go Round" 25 6 25 —

References

  1. ^ Wynn, Ron. The Stylistics review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  2. ^ Easlea, Daryl. "The Stylistics review". BBC Music. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
  3. ^ Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 – via robertchristgau.com.
  4. ^ BBC Music Review by Daryl Easlea. The album was featured on Trevor Nelson's Radio 2 show, 1 December 2010
  5. ^ a b c d "US Charts > The Stylistics". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  6. ^ Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 299. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
  7. ^ "UK Charts > The Stylistics". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-09-28.
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