The Stylistics (album)
Encyclopedia
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…".
and #3 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
.
Singles
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B group The Stylistics
The Stylistics
The Stylistics are a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, and were composed of lead Russell Thompkins, Jr., Herbie Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All of their US hits were ballads, graced by the...
, released in November 1971 on the Avco
Avco Records
Avco Records was a record label started in 1968 by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore and Joseph E. Levine as Avco Embassy Records. In the late 1960s, they released a psychedelic rock album by the group Bead Game, titled Welcome. The Embassy name was dropped in 1971 making the label Avco Records...
record label. It was produced by Thom Bell
Thom Bell
Thomas Randolph "Thom" Bell is an American songwriter and producer, best known as one of the creators of the Philadelphia style of soul music in the 1970s. He moved to Philadelphia as a child.-Biography:...
and recorded at Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios
Sigma Sound Studios is an American music recording studio in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania founded by recording engineer Joseph Tarsia in 1968.Located at 212 N. 12th Street in Philadelphia, it was the second studio in the country to offer 24-track recording and the first in the country to use console...
in Philadelphia. The album has been called "a sweet soul landmark…".
History
The album reached #23 on the Billboard 200Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and #3 on the R&B albums chart
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999...
. It features the hit singles "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "You Are Everything
You Are Everything
Another cover was by one-time Motown singing duo, Diana Ross & Marvin Gaye. Released as the second UK single from their Diana & Marvin album, the song reached #5 in the UK Singles Chart in April 1974. It also reached #13 on the Dutch charts and #20 on the Irish Singles Chart...
", "People Make the World Go Round", "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)
Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)
"Stop, Look, Listen " is a soul song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed that was originally recorded by the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics.-The Stylistics version:...
", 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
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Track listing
Personnel
- Russell Thompkins, Jr.Russell Thompkins, Jr.Russell Allen Thompkins, Jr. is an American soul singer. Noted for his high-pitched tenor and falsetto vocals, Thompkins is the former lead singer of the Philadelphia soul vocal group The Stylistics.-Career:...
– lead vocals - Airrion Love, James Smith, Herb Murrell, James Dunn – vocals
- Linda CreedLinda CreedLinda Creed also known by her married name Linda Epstein, was an American singer-songwriter and lyricist who teamed up with songwriter-producer Thom Bell to produce some of the most successful Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s.-Career:Born in Philadelphia in 1949, Creed was raised in the...
, Barbara IngramBarbara IngramBarbara Jane Ingram was an American R&B singer-songwriter, who was active throughout the early 1970s until the mid-late 1980s, enjoying modest success a backup singer for almost two decades.-Career:...
– background vocals - Norman HarrisNorman HarrisNorman Harris was an American guitarist, producer, arranger and songwriter associated with Philly soul. He was a founding member of MFSB and one-third of the production trio of Baker-Harris-Young...
, Roland Chambers – guitar - Ronnie BakerRonnie BakerRonnie Baker was a famous record producer, bassist, arranger and songwriter. He participated on many Gamble and Huff recordings and was one-third of the production team of Baker-Harris-Young. He was one of The Trammps, who had a #5 UK/#35 US hit with Hold Back The Night....
– bass - Earl YoungEarl Young (drummer)Earl Young is a Philadelphia-based drummer who rose to prominence in the early 1970s as part of the Philly Soul sound. Young is best known as the founder and leader of The Trammps who had a hit record with "Disco Inferno". Young, along with Ronnie Baker and Norman Harris, was the owner of the...
– 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
Album| Year | Album | Peak position | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
US R&B Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
||
| 1971 | The Stylistics | 23 | 3 |
Singles
| Year | Single | Peak position | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
US R&B Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, is a chart released weekly by Billboard in the United States.The chart, initiated in 1942, is used to track the success of popular music songs in urban, or primarily African American, venues. Dominated over the years at various times by jazz, rhythm and blues, doo-wop, soul,... |
US A/C |
UK UK Singles Chart The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ... |
||
| 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 | — | |
External links
- The Stylistics at DiscogsDiscogsDiscogs, short for discographies, is a website and database of information about audio recordings, including commercial releases, promotional releases, and bootleg or off-label releases. The Discogs servers, currently hosted under the domain name discogs.com, are owned by Zink Media, Inc., and are...