They had their first U.S. hit in 1971 with "You're a Big Girl Now". Signing to Avco Records, The Stylistics began working with producer Thom Bell, who had already produced a catalogue of hits for The Delfonics, and songwriter Linda Creed. Bell imported the sweet soul techniques he had perfected with The Delfonics, and his arrangements worked perfectly with Thompkins' falsetto. The bittersweet lyrics from Creed were a key factor in creating hugely memorable music.
Their hits, distilled from three albums, from this period included "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "I'm Stone in Love with You", "You Make Me Feel Brand New" featuring a double lead with Love, "Stop, Look, Listen To Your Heart" and "You Are Everything". "You Make Me Feel Brand New" was the group's biggest U.S. hit, holding at #2 for two weeks in the spring of 1974, and was one of five U.S. gold singles the Stylistics collected. The Stylistics' smooth sound also found an easier path onto adult contemporary airwaves than other soul artists, and the group made Billboard magazine's Easy Listening singles chart twelve times from 1971 to 1976, with three entries, "Betcha By Golly, Wow," "You Make Me Feel Brand New," and "You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)" reaching the Top 10.
The group split with Thom Bell in 1974, and the split proved devastating commercially to the group's success in the USA. Just as with The Delfonics, The Stylistics were to some extent a vehicle for Bell's own creativity. They struggled hard to find producers who could come up with the right material, and partnerships with Hugo & Luigi and Van McCoy were notably less successful. They left Avco for H&L Records and the Stylistics' popularity rapidly declined in the U.S., though their British popularity continued for the rest of the 1970s.
In 1980, James Dunn departed due to health problems, and James Smith left shortly thereafter. The group continued, recruiting new member Raymond Johnson, and releasing the album Some Things Never Change, in 1985. Johnson departed shortly afterward, leaving the group a trio. Love, Murrell, and Thompkins continued to tour until 2000, when original lead Thompkins left. Love and Murrell brought in two new members, Harold "Eban" Brown, formerly of the Delfonics, as lead ( who sounds amazingly like a young Russell Thompkins), and tenor Van Fields. The present group is featured live on the DVD's "The Stylistics Live at the Convention Center" (2006), as well as along with other artists of the '70's on the DVD "The Big Show."
In 2004, Russell Thompkins, Jr. started a new group, the New Stylistics, with the returning Raymond Johnson, James Ranton, and Jonathan Buckson. They are featured on the DVD "Old School Soul Party Live!," which was part of the PBS "My Music" series.
The Stylistics' catalog of hits have been mined frequently by other artists in recent years. Notable examples include "Betcha By Golly, Wow" covered by Prince, "You Are Everything" remade by Vanessa Williams, and "You Make Me Feel Brand New" redone by Boyz ll Men Roberta Flack and Simply Red. Mary J. Blige also used the chief line from the chorus of "You Are Everything" ("You are everything, and everything is you") in her 1997 hit "Everything." In 2006, Letoya Luckett used a similar sample to the background track of "You Are Everything" for the music to her hit single "Torn."
07 peek a boo
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
As you pass this way
I know just what to say
But I can't find the words to tell you
Each and every day
My love grows and grows
More than before
So maybe, I'll just say
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's watching you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's loving you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's watching you?
Can't you realize
As you pass me by
The love that's in my heart
So what's keeping us apart
Even though I know
I will win your heart
I'll wait just one more day
Just to see you
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's watching you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's loving you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's watching you?
I'll wait just onne more day
Just to see you
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's watching you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's loving you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Guess who's watching you?
The lyrics to The Stylistics' song Peek-a-Boo express the singer's unrequited love for someone who they see every day but are unable to express their feelings to. The singer knows exactly what they want to say but cannot find the words to articulate their emotions. Their love grows each and every day, making it harder for them to keep quiet. The repetition of the chorus "Oh peek-a-boo, guess who's watching you?" suggests a playful and childlike tone, allowing the singer to express their love in a less confronting way. They hope that their constant presence in the other person's life will eventually win them over.
The use of the phrase "peek-a-boo" implies a hiding game, where the intent is to surprise or be surprised by someone. The singer sees themselves as watching the other person, but the question remains - are they watching them because they are in love with them or because they are hiding their true intentions? The line "what's keeping us apart" suggests that there may be something preventing the two from being together, but the singer is willing to wait just one more day to find out. The final repetition of the chorus confirms their determination to win the heart of the person they are in love with.
Line by Line Meaning
Every single day
Each day, consistently
As you pass this way
As you come by my presence
I know just what to say
I have the words to communicate
But I can't find the words to tell you
However, I can't seem to locate the right words to express myself
Each and every day
Each day, without exception
My love grows and grows
My affection expands more and more
More than before
Even more than previously
So maybe, I'll just say
Therefore, I might just say this
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's watching you?
Can you figure out who's observing you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's loving you?
Can you guess who's fond of you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's watching you?
Can you figure out who's observing you?
Can't you realize
Don't you comprehend
As you pass me by
As you cross my path
The love that's in my heart
The affection that I have in my heart
So what's keeping us apart
Therefore, what is causing the distance between us?
Even though I know
Despite the fact that I know
I will win your heart
I will capture your affection
I'll wait just one more day
I'll be patient just one more day
Just to see you
Simply to catch a glimpse of you
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's watching you?
Can you figure out who's observing you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's loving you?
Can you guess who's fond of you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's watching you?
Can you figure out who's observing you?
I'll wait just onne more day
I'll be patient just one more day
Just to see you
Simply to catch a glimpse of you
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's watching you?
Can you figure out who's observing you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's loving you?
Can you guess who's fond of you?
Oh peek-a-boo
Hey, look who's there
Guess who's watching you?
Can you figure out who's observing you?
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: Gregory Guess, Norman Knox
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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