Photo: Soul Train, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons
Our top 10 Stylistics songs list looks back at a great pop soul group that featured angelic style vocals and harmonies from the heavens above. No one sounded like The Stylistics. Led by Russell Thompkins, Jr.’s superman falsetto, the Philadelphia based group released their first album in 1971. The group was produced by Thom Bell who had been known for his success with The Delfonics and his development of the Philadelphia sound. Thom Bell would later go on to work with The Spinners along side The Stylistics. The group The Stylistics had great chart success with Thom Bell behind the boards in the early 1970s. From 1971 to 2010 the group released twenty three studio albums and fifty singles.
# 10 – Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)
We open up our Top 10 Stylistics songs list with a great one from the group. The song “Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love),” was a very stylistic departure for the group(pardon the pun). The group’s early success and in fact the most success they ever had was with their producer and chief songwriter, the great Thom Bell. However, the group split from Thom Bell in 1974 and went in a very different direction which is evident on the song “Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love).”
# 9 – Let’s Put It All Together
Continuing with our Top 10 Stylistics songs list we turn to the follow up single to “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” called “Let’s Put It All Together.” The song was released on the band’s third album also titled Let’s Put It All Together. This great tracks was released as the second single from the album. It was a top 20 hit for the group as it peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100.
# 8 – Hurry Up This Way Again
Released during the end of the disco era, The Stylistics “Hurry Up This Way Again,” echoes the grooves of the time period and yet still defines the sound of the group so wonderfully with their characteristic vocal sound. “Hurry Up This Way Again,” was the last top 20 hit the group had on the Billboard R&B Charts. The song was written by Cynthia Biggs and Dexter Wansel.
# 7 – I’m Stone in Love with You
How could anyone not love this song. Listen to those harmonies at the end of the hook. Oh baby, just so sweet. And that lead vocal is simply out of this world. The Stylistics “I’m Stone In Love With You” was released on their 1972 album Round 2. The song was written by Thom Bell, Linda Creed, and Anthony Bell
# 6 – Rockin’ Roll Baby
With a groove a bit similar to The Temptations “Then Came You,” this great Stylistics song “Rockin’ Roll Baby,” was released on the album entitled Rockin’ Roll Baby. The record was released in 1973. The song “Rockin’ Roll Baby,” was the only single released from the album. It broke the Billboard Hot 100’s Top 20 list peaking at number 14. It had even more success on the Billboard R&B Chart as it reached all the way up to number 3. The Stylistics song was written by Linda Creed and Thom Bell.
# 5 – You Are Everything
As we enter the second half of our top 10 Stylistics songs list we turn to the band’s single “You Are Everything.” Released in 1972, “You Are Everything,” became the group’s first single to break the Billboard Mainstream Top 10 charts. Over the years , the song has been covered by artists such as Michael McDonald, Rod Stewart, and a great duet between Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross.
# 4 – Break Up To Make Up
The Stylistics song “Break Up To Make Up,” was released in 1973. The song was issued as the second single from their second album titled Round 2. “Break Up To Make Up,” was a big hit for The Stylistics. The song broke the Billboard Top 10 pop charts peaking at number five. The song has a bit of a Burt Bacharach feel to it. However, it was written by Thom Bell, Linda Creed and Kenneth Gamble.
# 3 – People Make The World Go Around
“People Make the World Go Round” has always been one of our favorite Stylistics songs. While the Stylistics had many artists cover the next two songs on this list, this great track “People Make the World Go Round” is probably their most covered song because it has been covered not just by pop artists but also by many jazz artists. It’s just that type of song that lends itself well to interpretation because it is so well written. Jazz artists such as Herb Alpert, Ramsey Lewis, Freddie Hubbard and so many more have also recorded “People Make the World Go Round.”
# 2 – Betcha By Golly, Wow
As we come close to the end of our top 10 Stylistics songs list we turn to the group’s second most successful songs of their career. “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” hit number three on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1972. The song was released on the group’s debut album entitled simply The Stylistics. The song was written Thom Bell and Linda Creed. The song opens with that beautiful Thom Bell strings and orchestration sound setting the stage for those angelic vocals that would melt any one’s heart.
# 1 – You Make Me Feel Brand New
We close out our Top 10 Stylistics songs list with the band’s most popular song. “You Make Me Feel Brand New” was released in 1974. It was the only single issued from the group’s 1974 album entitled Let’s Put It All Together. “You Make Me Feel Brand New” was the Stylistics’ highest charting single. It just missed hitting number one stalling at number two on the Billboard Hot 100. Nonetheless, the song’s legacy has remained throughout the years as the song has been covered by hundreds of artists making “You Make Me Feel Brand New” a true pop standard. The song was written by Linda Creed and Thom Bell.
Top 10 Stylistics Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
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