Customer Reviews

The Original Debut Album

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This is one of the truly great soul album achievements. Hats off to producer Thom Bell and his writing partner on so many significant songs, Linda Creed. This album is a must-buy for any fan of Sweet Soul. All nine cuts shine, and the album just flows from cut to cut. It's almost impossible to start playing it and not play the whole album, and it's almost as great a challenge to not play the whole thing twice! This stellar effort from 1971 has its origin in Philadelphia in 1969. Five young men (Herb Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, James Dunn, and Russell Thompkins, Jr.) who had been part of two competing groups, joined to form the Stylistics. They entered a small Philly studio with no more than drums, bass, guitar, and organ, and with their sweet harmonies soaring toward the heavens, they cut the now-classic, "You're A Big Girl Now." The single appeared on the tiny Sebring label (owned by the single's producer, Marty Bryant), but it caused quite a stir, especially on the East Coast. The single led to the group signing with Avco/Embassy Records and hooking up with Thom Bell. Bell was best known at that time for his work with The Delfonics and The Intruders, but he was about to make an even bigger name for himself. He took the boys on for their self-named first album, and hit after hit followed. "Stop, Look, Listen" was some way to announce that a group had arrived! But even bigger hits followed, like "Betcha By Golly, Wow" and "You Are Everything." The release of "People Make The World Go 'Round" as a single was forced, since requests for airplay for the song went through the roof! (The song is still a big fan favorite at their concerts to this day. It's sung as a medley with "Hurry Up This Way Again," and never fails to bring the house down!) The addition of "You're A Big Girl Now" to the package, two years after the fact, just helped to seal the deal. The other four cuts have all become cult favorites in their own rite. It's safe to say that this was a greatest hits album all by itself. (Bell would do the same the next year for The Spinners.) The next Stylistics album, "Round 2" nearly equalled the first, which is saying a lot. And the group's biggest single, "You Make Me Feel Brand New," first appeared on their third album (Rockin' Roll Baby), the last one produced by Bell. The group is down to a threesome (Thompkins, Love, and Murrell), but they are still going strong in concerts to this day, based mainly on the success they had with their first producer, the great Thom Bell.

Back in the true days of singles I forked over many bucks to buy four of the nine tracks featured here on this album. I was in college and no one did it better than the Stylistics; they had harmony, romantic lyrics, and top-notch production from Thom Bell and Linda Creed.

Although I had the edited version of the masterful "People Make the World Go Round," I wanted the full version that I heard on a college dorm mate's turntable. Finally, the original debut album was re-released and I have the full 6:26 cut.

Good music never goes out of style. I suppose that's why they called themselves THE STYLISTICS!

Who of a certain age can listen to the oboe introduction to "Betcha By Golly Wow" and not have it send them through the roof? Wonderful to listen to the uncut versions of these songs, too. Radio always seemed to butcher them badly, like they did with Hall and Oates' "Sarah Smile". Anyway I'd forgotten about that extra groove break in "Golly Wow". I wore out a lot of purple 45s listening to these people. Russell Thompkins Jr. IS the Stylistics, just like Levi Stubbs IS the Four Tops; the other guys just back them up and could be anybody.

I was about twelve when this came out, and I remember I couldn't very well bring Stylistics covers home because of the artwork! The debut album was tame, though, and I miss Philly soul so much, it almost makes me cry. I miss Thom Bell and his sound. Always starting a song slower than it ended up. Well-orchestrated finger-poppers: "Country Living" is a new favorite, with it's unconventional Bacharach-style line breaks. "You're A Big Girl Now" seems awfully familiar to me, I was awful young when that came out, I could have absorbed it back then. To think that was the song that started it all. It's unique amongst the Stylistics songs in that you hear someone else trade leads with Russell, and thus, it doesn't sound quite "Stylistic" enough. And what can you say about "People Make The World Go Round", from back in the day when songs lasted forever! LOL! Ah, the extended groove break...kids would have no patience for that nowadays (what! Three extra minutes of MUSIC?!)!

I don't think you can go wrong with all three of the Stylistics' Thom Bell albums. Thom Bell produced two albums for Johnny Mathis that was fabulous (yes, Johnny Mathis), and he of course masterminded the Spinners' best work with Phillipe Wynne and Bobby Smith. The arranger is the one who takes the raw material and composes the masterpieces you remember. Case in point look what happened to them when they signed with "Hugo & Luigi". Look what happened to the others when they were no longer under the spell of Bell. The arranger makes all the difference. I love this album, and thank you to whomever for finally making it available on CD and download.

I saw one of those TJ Lubinski doo-wop shows that had the Stylistics on with a young fellow trying to be Russell, I about choked and turned it off, man. Don't ever do that again. I was glad to hear from another reviewer that the real deal is back together.

I hope You aren't one of those People that simply seeks out an Artist's Greatest Hits Release, thinking You will get the Necessary Tunes with the least amount of Cash outlay; I suspect that in the case of the Stylistics, most Fans have purchased "Best of" and overlooked the Original Stylistics Debut CD; But since You are here reading, I can say that the Songs here ARE the Best of the Stylistics, this is one of the Greatest Debut releases by ANYONE, EVER! Let Me Break it down:
(1)Stop, look, listen...A Stunningly Beautiful Opener, great melody, Moving...and not found on "Best of", despite charting at Number 39 on the Billboard Singles (2) Point of no return...Upbeat, strong melody, almost danceable (3) Betcha By Golly Wow...One of the most Romantic and Gorgeous Songs EVER, one of My 10 Favorite Songs of All-Time; Brings Goose Pimples to My Arms When I hear it to this Day (4) Country Living...another swinging upbeat Tune, strong melody, well placed in the rotation (5) Your'e a Big Girl...2 Lead Singers in Counterpoint, very Soulful and moving (6) You are Everything...another sweetly sung Ballad, Top 10 Hit (7)People Make the World...Social Message, haunting Vocals, beautiful melody, included on "Best of", but the 6 Minute Plus version here has a much longer Marimba/Flute Finish compared to the 3 Minute version on "Best of"; This Version is Much Better (8) Ebony Eyes...uptempo, good chorus (9) if I Love You...Another good chorus and Time signature, Brilliant Vocals
Ok, You are done in Half an Hour listening to this CD, BUT what a Stupendous 30 Minutes! Not a Wasted Note anywhere, and The Gorgeous Vocals of The Supremely Underrated Russell Thompkins Jr. and the Heavenly Arrangements/Production of the Wonderkind Thom Bell Grace each Track....My Highest Reccomendation!

This was one of my mother's favorite LPs when she was a teenager. I was delighted to discover it was available and I bought it for her for Mother's Day. Watching her face as she listened to it was the high point of Mother's Day. Great Purchase [...]!

This is an auspicious debut. At the time it was quite unique. I remember that while many of the elements present in this recording were in some part in other styles of R&B, no where was there a better combination of a sophisticated symphonic sound, with rich vocal harmony, a first rate, falsetto lead and evocative songs.

This is romantic elegance at it's height. This was one of the recordings that heralded the coming of that "Philly" style of soul, that to that point had not gotten wider exposure or at least the exposure that it deserves.

The songs are song of longing, love lost and found. There is even one long expansive piece, "People Make The World Go 'Round' that makes an attempt at social relevance.

Virtually a every piece is a winner. Everyone could've been a top-40 hit. Practically all were. My personal favorite is "Stop, Look, Listen" for it's rich orchestration, it's sense of yearning, strong harmonies and a sense of placement.

The pieces all ebb and flow and in the right places.

Other favorites are "You Are Everything", "You're A Big Girl Now", "Point Of No Return", "Betcha By Golly Wow" and "People Make The World Go 'Round".

This is a well orchestrated and crafted recording. For the romantics at heart out there.

The Stylistics sound will live on 4ever.I have everything that they ever made. I purchse the Original Debut Album and when I heard the song "If I Love You" that song just bought back so many memories for me. Russell Thompkins Jr has the best music voice that I ever heard

I must say, that I have listened to the Stylistics for years, and when I hear the opening oboe solo in Betcha By Golly Wow it takes me back to an afternoon in 1971 in a particular NE Philadelphia house on a street named after a woman actress whose last name was Young - and it makes me feel "Young" again.

Not many groups can have a first album like this one,it's like a greatest hits album no weak songs here.They just don't make music like this anymore.It would be foolish not to but it.

1971, The Stylistics,a legendary Philly soul group drops the debut, a 9 track classic full of wonderful harmony-driven soul from the center of the heart. Russel Thompkins Jr. has one of the coolest, goosebump inducing fasetto voices around (like The Delfonics' William Hart, it digs deep down in you and evokes a lotta emotion. My first musical love is rap and hip-hop (I am considerably younger: mid 20's), but since I have expolred some of these old-school treasures, I am really getting into soul music with a passion. My favorite joint here is "You Are Everything" (one of my favorite soul songs of all time). It has such an airy, heavenly feel to it, and I like how the verses build up to great chorus and sweet harmonizing. "You Make Me Feel Brand New" and "Betcha By Golly Wow" do the same exact thing; I get goosebumps evertime I hear them and repeat them time after time. There is real emotion behind these songs. "Ebony Eyes" has a cool funky vibe with a small guitar twang. Russel hits some high notes from time to time. "If I Love You" has such an exciting upbeat vibe, and is a great mood lifter. I love the nice, funky rolling beat of "You're A Big Girl Now." The song deals with a young love interest coming of age. "People Make The World Go Round" has a neat socio-political edge with a sweet funk-soul beat, and Russel really hits the right notes in the chorus and hook. I cannot sing enough praise for this early 70's gem. I recommend that any youngster get up on what real soul music is all about.