The stylistics

The Stylistics is an American vocal ensemble that enjoyed particular success in the first half of the 1970s. The group is one of the most famous representatives of the Philly sound .

Band history

The founding members of the Stylistics in 1966 were Russell Thompkins Jr., Airrion Love and James Smith (previously on "The Monarchs") and Herbie Murrell and James Dunn (previously on "The Percussions"). At Avco Records , the band was produced by Thom Bell , who had previously been successful with the Delfonics . Linda Creed wrote the lyrics for the songs .

The stylistics' biggest hit was You Make Me Feel Brand New in 1974 . A remarkable series of hits in the US charts followed between 1971 and 1976 , all of which were recorded at Sigma Sound Studios in Philadelphia.

In 1974, The Stylistics parted ways with Bell. For this, the collaboration began with the production team Hugo & Luigi and the musician and arranger Van McCoy . In 1976 the record company changed. At that time, success in the United States was waning. In Europe there were a few more top hits, most notably I Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) , number 1 in Great Britain in 1975 .

From 1980 there were various line-up changes, but the band still performs live today (2008). In 2004 Russell Thompkins Jr. founded New Stylistics.

Awards

In 2004, The Stylistics were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of Fame .

Discography

Albums

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)				Remarks
		DE	UK	US	R&B
1972	The stylistics	-	-	US23 gold (38 weeks)US	R&B3 (40 weeks) R&B
	Round 2: The Stylistics	-	-	US32 gold (38 weeks)US	R&B3 (37 weeks) R&B
1974	Rockin 'roll baby	-	UK42 (3 weeks) UK	US66 (44 weeks) US	R&B5 (25 weeks) R&B
	Let's Put It All Together	-	UK26th silver (14 weeks)UK	US14th gold (31 weeks)US	R&B4 (30 weeks) R&B
	Heavy / From the Mountain (UK)	-	UK36 silver (1 week)UK	US43 (16 weeks) US	R&B8 (14 weeks) R&B
1975	Thank you baby	-	UK5 gold (23 weeks)UK	US72 (13 weeks) US	R&B9 (12 weeks) R&B
	You are beautiful	-	UK26th silver (9 weeks)UK	US99 (11 weeks) US	R&B12 (11 weeks) R&B
1976	Fabulous	-	UK21st silver (5 weeks)UK	US117 (6 weeks) US	R&B32 (4 weeks) R&B
1977	Once Upon a Jukebox	-	-	-	R&B45 (4 weeks) R&B
1978	In fashion	-	-	-	R&B43 (7 weeks) R&B
1980	Hurry Up This Way Again	-	-	US127 (12 weeks) US	R&B11 (26 weeks) R&B
1981	Closer than close	-	-	-	R&B44 (7 weeks) R&B
1984	Some Things Never Change	-	-	-	R&B63 (8 weeks) R&B
1991	Love talk	-	-	-	R&B65 (8 weeks) R&B

More albums

1977: Sun & Soul 1977: Wonder Woman 1977: Spotlight 1978: The Lion Sleeps Tonight 1979: Love Spell 1979: Black Satin 1979: Live in Japan 1982: 1982

1985: A Special Style 1992: Christmas 1996: Love Is Back in Style 2004: Never Can Say Goodbye 2005: Live 2008: In Concert 2005 2010: That Same Way 2013: Cover with the Stylistics

Compilations

year	title	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes)				Remarks
		DE	UK	US	R&B
1975	The best of the stylistics	-	UK1 platinum (57 weeks)UK	US41 (30 weeks) US	R&B13 (11 weeks) R&B
1976	The Best of the Stylistics - Vol. 2	-	UK1 gold (20 weeks)UK	-	-
1992	The Greatest Hits of the Stylistics	-	UK34 (3 weeks) UK	-	-
2007	Very best of	-	UK30th gold (10 weeks)UK	-	-
2013	SOUL: The Stylistics	-	-	-	R&B121 (1 week) R&B

More compilations

1974: The Best of the Stylistics 1976: The Best of the Stylistics Volume II - Weekend 1977: Spotlight on the Stylistics (2 LPs) 1978: Greatest Hits 1979: The Hits 1979: The Best of the Stylistics 1979: Love Always 1981: Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) 1981: All About Love 1983: The Great Love Hits 1985: The Best of the Stylistics Volume II 1985: All-Time Classics 1988: The Best of the Stylistics

1990: The Great Love Hits 1991: Spotlight on the Stylistics 1992: The Greatest Hits of the Stylistics - Let's Put It All Together 1993: Setting the Scene 1996: The Best of the Stylistics (UK:platinum) 2005: The Ultimate Collection 2005: The Very Best of the Stylistics ... and More! (2 CDs) 2008: The Greatest Hits and More ... (2 CDs) 2011: The Best of the Stylistics 2012: The Streetwise Recordings 2013: The Very Best of the Stylistics

Singles

year	Title album	Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements (Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes)				Remarks
		DE	UK	US	R&B
1971	You're a Big Girl Now The Stylistics	-	-	US73 (7 weeks) US	R&B7 (15 weeks) R&B
	Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart) The Stylistics	-	-	US39 (16 weeks) US	R&B6 (12 weeks) R&B
	You Are Everything The Stylistics	-	-	US9 gold (16 weeks)US	R&B10 (17 weeks) R&B
1972	Betcha by Golly Wow The Stylistics	-	UK13 (12 weeks) UK	US3 gold (16 weeks)US	R&B2 (13 weeks) R&B	feat. Russell Thompkins Jr. Original: Connie Stevens - Keep Growing Strong, 1970
	People Make the World Go Round The Stylistics	-	-	US25 (11 weeks) US	R&B6 (10 weeks) R&B
	I'm Stone in Love with You Round 2	-	UK9 (10 weeks) UK	US10 gold (13 weeks)US	R&B4 (15 weeks) R&B
1973	Break Up to Make Up Round 2	-	UK37 (5 weeks) UK	US5 gold (14 weeks)US	R&B5 (11 weeks) R&B
	You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart) Round 2	-	UK24 (9 weeks) UK	US23 (10 weeks) US	R&B8 (9 weeks) R&B	Authors: Burt Bacharach , Hal David Original: Dionne Warwick , 1964
	Peek-a-Boo Round 2	-	UK35 (6 weeks) UK	-	-
	Rockin 'roll baby, rockin' roll baby	-	UK6th silver (9 weeks)UK	US14 (18 weeks) US	R&B3 (18 weeks) R&B
1974	You Make Me Feel Brand New Rockin 'Roll Baby	-	UK2 silver (14 weeks)UK	US2 gold (25 weeks)US	R&B5 (16 weeks) R&B
	Let's Put It All Together Let's Put It All Together	-	UK9 (9 weeks) UK	US18 (12 weeks) US	R&B8 (14 weeks) R&B
	Heavy fallin 'out heavy	-	-	US41 (11 weeks) US	R&B4 (15 weeks) R&B
1975	Star on a TV Show Heavy	-	UK12 (8 weeks) UK	US47 (7 weeks) US	R&B13 (12 weeks) R&B
	Thank You Baby Thank You Baby	-	-	US70 (6 weeks) US	R&B7 (12 weeks) R&B
	Sing Baby Sing Thank You Baby	DE31 (9 weeks) DE	UK3 silver (10 weeks)UK	-	-
	Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) Thank You Baby	DE34 (5 weeks) DE	UK1 gold (11 weeks)UK	US51 (6 weeks) US	R&B18 (12 weeks) R&B
	Na Na Is the Saddest Word You Are Beautiful	-	UK5 silver (10 weeks)UK	-	-
	Funky Weekend You Are Beautiful	-	UK10 (7 weeks) UK	US76 (9 weeks) US	R&B23 (11 weeks) R&B
1976	You Are Beautiful You Are Beautiful	-	-	US79 (7 weeks) US	R&B17 (10 weeks) R&B
	Can't Help Falling in Love Fabulous	-	UK4 (7 weeks) UK	-	R&B52 (7 weeks) R&B	Original: Elvis Presley , 1961
	Sixteen Bars Fabulous	-	-	US7 (9 weeks) US	-
	Because I Love You, Girl Fabulous	-	-	-	R&B43 (9 weeks) R&B
1977	7,000 Dollars and You Sun & Soul	-	UK24 (7 weeks) UK	-	-
	I'm Coming Home Sun & Soul	-	-	-	R&B90 (3 weeks) R&B	feat. Airrion Love and Russell Thompkins, Jr.
	Shame and Scandal in the Family Sun & Soul	-	-	-	R&B87 (2 weeks) R&B
1978	First impressions in fashion	-	-	-	R&B22 (14 weeks) R&B
1979	Love at First Sight Love Spell	-	-	-	R&B93 (4 weeks) R&B
1980	Hurry Up This Way Again Hurry Up This Way Again	-	-	-	R&B18 (22 weeks) R&B
1981	And I'll See You No More Hurry Up This Way Again	-	-	-	R&B70 (4 weeks) R&B
	What's your name? Closer than close	-	-	-	R&B79 (4 weeks) R&B
1985	Love Is Not the Answer Some Things Never Change	-	UK91 (2 weeks) UK	-	-
1990	Me - U = Blue Love Talk	-	-	US78 (4 weeks) US	-	Glenn Medeiros feat. The stylistics

More singles

1971: You Gotta Have Soul 1975: Disco Baby 1976: Only You (And You Alone) 1977: Satin Doll 1977: Fool of the Year 1977: I Plead Guilty 1977: I'm Coming Home 1977: I Run to Him 1978: Wonder Woman 1978: You're the Best Thing in My Life 1979: The Lion Sleeps Tonight

1980: I Feel Lucky Tonight 1980: Driving Me Wild 1981: Mine All Mine 1981: I've Got This Feeling 1981: What's Your Name? 1984: Give a Little Love 1985: Love Is Not the Answer 1985: You Are Everything 1985: Some Things Never Change 1985: I'm Stone in Love with You 1986: Let's Go Rockin '(Tonight)

Awards for music sales

Note: Awards in countries from the chart tables or chart boxes can be found in these.

Country / Region	silver	gold	platinum	Sales	swell
Awards for music sales (country / region, awards, sales, sources)
United States (RIAA)	-	8 × gold8th	-	6,500,000	riaa.com
United Kingdom (BPI)	8 × silver8th	4 × gold4th	2 × platinum2	2,640,000	bpi.co.uk
All in all	8 × silver8th	12 × gold12	2 × platinum2

literature

• Stambler, Irwin: The Encyclopedia of Pop, Rock And Soul . 3rd revised edition, New York City, New York: St. Martin's Press, 1989, pp. 656 - ISBN 0-312-02573-4 .

swell

1. ↑ ^{a b c} Chart sources: Singles Albums UK US
2. ↑ ^{a b} The Billboard album by Joel Whitburn , 6th Edition, Record Research 2006, ISBN 0-89820-166-7 .
3. ^ Joel Whitburn : Top R&B Albums 1965–1998, ISBN 0-89820-134-9 .
4. ^ Joel Whitburn: Hot R&B Songs. Billboard 1942-2010. 6th edition. Record Research Inc., Menomonee Falls 2010, p. 628.

Web links

• Official website of the Stylistics (English)
• The Stylistics at Allmusic (English)
• The Stylistics at Discogs (English)
• The Stylistics on the website of the Vocal Group Hall of Fame (English)
• The official fan club of the Stylistics in Europe (English)