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."
Baby Don't Change Your Mind
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whatcha gonna do when he comes around
And he starts going through his head
And he begs you to take him back
Will your love for me remain intact
Or will you run to him
Baby, my love is on the line
Be strong, girl leave the past behind
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
Don'tcha change it
You say your love is true
Whatcha gonna say when he looks at you
Will the second thought in your head
Make you take back the things you said
Will you give in and ……………. what's left
Or will you stay with me
Baby, my love is on the line
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
Be strong, girl leave the past behind
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
Don'tcha change it
I will exit and take my bow
But I don't wanna lose you now
So I'm praying some way, somehow
Baby you'll stay with me
Baby, my love is on the line
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
Be strong, girl leave the past behind
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
Baby, my love is genuine
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
You know he's not the staying kind
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
Baby, my love is on the line
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
Be strong, girl leave the past behind
Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it
The Stylistics' "Baby Don't Change Your Mind" is a love song that explores the fear and insecurity that sometimes accompany love. The song is addressed to a woman who has recently broken up with her ex and has started a new relationship. The singer knows that the ex is back in town and is worried about the woman's loyalty. He wonders if she will go back to her ex if he asks her to or if she will stay with him.
The lyrics are emotionally-charged and poignant, reflecting the vulnerability of the singer as he pleads with the woman not to change her mind. He affirms his love for her and stresses the importance of her staying loyal to his affection. The chorus, "Baby don't change your mind, don'tcha change it," is a refrain that drives home the message and serves as a reminder to the woman that her choices have consequences.
Overall, "Baby Don't Change Your Mind" is a heartfelt plea for a woman's devotion, underscored by a soulful melody and The Stylistics' sweeping harmonies.
Line by Line Meaning
Your ex is back in town
What will you do when your ex returns?
Whatcha gonna do when he comes around
What actions will you take when your ex returns?
And he starts going through his head
And he begins to reconsider his choices
And he begs you to take him back
And he pleads with you to give him another chance
Will your love for me remain intact
Will your feelings for me stay strong?
Or will you run to him
Or will you go back to your ex?
You say your love is true
You claim that your love for me is genuine
Whatcha gonna say when he looks at you
What will you tell your ex when he sees you with me?
Will the second thought in your head
Will you change your mind at the last minute?
Make you take back the things you said
Will you retract the promises you made to me?
Will you give in and ……………. what's left
Will you succumb to your feelings for your ex and abandon our relationship?
Or will you stay with me
Or will you remain committed to our relationship?
I will exit and take my bow
I will gracefully walk away from this situation
But I don't wanna lose you now
But I don't want to lose you as a partner right now
So I'm praying some way, somehow
So I'm hoping for some miracle to keep us together
Baby you'll stay with me
Please don't leave me, my love
Baby, my love is on the line
My love for you is at stake
Be strong, girl leave the past behind
Stay strong and forget your past with your ex
Baby, my love is genuine
I truly love you
You know he's not the staying kind
You know your ex is not reliable
Don'tcha change it
Don't change how you feel about us
Lyrics © VAN MCCOY MUSIC, INC.
Written by: VAN MCCOY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Brasileiro do Vale
Nessa madrugada ouvindo esse clássico The Stylistics 💗
chocolate smile
Awesome song
James Hogan
I have heard many versions of this song throughout the decades, but this one remains my personal favourite.
Jerry Ratliffe
Pure greatness is this.
Martin Roche
This should have been a single back in the seventies. I also like Gladys Knight and the Pips version but for me you can't better Russell's vocals
Loretta De Herrera
I SURE LOVE THIS....💞💞💞💞💞💜💜💜💜💜
Cliff Edwards
Wow😎
Sylvia Rodriguez
love im still here i was just playing some music that was all i feel u i just dont want drama can we talk if you want we still have time for better understanding i know it takes time just write it down or tell me how things like that its ok if you want if not just let me know so i can move im started to pack a few things reach out live from far