The Stylistics

Emerging as the premier Philly soul act guided by Thom Bell after the Spinners and the O'Jays, the Stylistics rose quickly to prominence. Throughout the opening years of the 1970s they notched twelve consecutive Top Ten hits, among them "You Are Everything," "Betcha by Golly, Wow," "I'm Stone in Love With You," "Break Up to Make Up," and "You Make Me Feel Brand New." Relative to their contemporaries, the group stood out for its exceptionally smooth and sweet sound. Every one of their successes took the form of a ballad lifted by Russell Thompkins, Jr.'s soaring falsetto and by Bell's richly textured yet elegant arrangements, establishing the Stylistics among the most commercially potent soul ensembles of the decade's first half.

The Stylistics came together in 1968 when members of two Philadelphia soul outfits, the Monarchs and the Percussions, united after each band dissolved. Thompkins, James Smith, and Airrion Love came from the Monarchs, while James Dunn and Herbie Murrell arrived from the Percussions. In 1970 the newly formed group recorded "You're a Big Girl Now," a track co-written by their road manager Marty Bryant and Robert Douglas of the backing band Slim and the Boys; the single scored a regional hit on Sebring Records. Larger label Avco Records soon signed the Stylistics, and the record climbed to number seven by early 1971.

Once on Avco, the group began working with producer and songwriter Thom Bell, whose earlier credits included the Delfonics. The Stylistics quickly became Bell's central focus, and together with lyricist Linda Creed he shaped a string of hits whose impact rested equally on Thompkins' falsetto and on the intricately layered, sumptuous production. Every single Bell helmed for the group reached the Top Ten on the R&B charts, and several—"You Are Everything," "Betcha by Golly, Wow," "I'm Stone in Love With You," "Break Up to Make Up," and "You Make Me Feel Brand New"—also crossed over to the pop Top Ten.

After issuing "You Make Me Feel Brand New" in spring 1974, the Stylistics parted ways with Bell and began collaborating with Van McCoy, whose guidance nudged the group toward a softer, easy-listening direction. In 1976 they departed Avco and signed with H&L. Although their American sales tapered off, the band retained strong popularity in Europe, especially Great Britain, where "Sing Baby Sing" (1975), "Na Na Is the Saddest Word" (1975), "Can't Give You Anything" (1975), and "Can't Help Falling in Love" (1976) each reached the Top Five. The Stylistics kept touring and recording through the latter half of the 1970s even as their audience gradually shrank. Dunn exited in 1980 due to health concerns, and Smith followed later that same year. The remaining members continued performing as a trio on oldies bills into the 1990s.