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."
Hey There Lonely Girl
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Let me make your broken heart like new
Hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
Don't you know this lonely boy loves you?
Ever since he broke your heart
You seem so lost
Each time you pass my way
And say "don't cry i'll kiss your tears away"
Hey, hey, hey...
Lonely girl, my lonely girl
Let me make your broken heart like new
Hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
Don't you know this lonely boy loves you?
You think that only his two lips
Can kiss your lips
And make your heart stand still
But once you're in my arms you'll see
No one can kiss
Your lips the way i will
The way I will
Hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
Let me make your broken heart like new
Hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
Don't you know this lonely boy loves you?
Don't you know this lonely boy loves you?
The Stylistics’ song Hey There Lonely Girl is a ballad that speaks of heartbreak and love. The song has a message of hope for a woman who is experiencing heartache. It opens with the singer addressing the lonely girl and offering to help her mend her broken heart. The lyrics suggest that the girl had suffered a recent heartbreak and was still grieving. The singer watches her pass by and wishes to take her hand and assure her that he loves her and will wipe away her tears.
The song’s chorus reveals that the lonely boy is offering himself as a new love interest. He tells her that he loves her and is willing to make her broken heart as good as new. The singer tries to convince her to give him a chance by letting her know that his love is pure and sincere. He believes that he can offer her comfort and mend her broken heart.
Overall, Hey There Lonely Girl is a romantic song that empathizes with someone who is struggling with heartache. It encourages the listener to move on and trust in a new love that can offer comfort in difficult times.
Line by Line Meaning
Hey there lonely girl, lonely girl
Addressing the girl who seems lonely and lost.
Let me make your broken heart like new
I want to heal your broken heart and make it feel whole again.
Don't you know this lonely boy loves you?
Trying to express my love and affection towards the girl.
Ever since he broke your heart
I have noticed you feeling lost and lonely after your heartbreak.
You seem so lost
You appear to be struggling with your emotions and thoughts.
Each time you pass my way
Every time I see you, I feel drawn towards you.
Oh how I long to take your hand
I desire to hold your hand and comfort you.
And say "don't cry i'll kiss your tears away"
I want to reassure you that everything will be okay and offer you comfort and love.
You think that only his two lips
You believe that only your ex-lover's kiss can make you feel complete.
Can kiss your lips
You believe that only your ex-lover can make you feel loved and happy.
And make your heart stand still
You feel deeply in love with your ex, and still have strong feelings for him.
But once you're in my arms you'll see
If you give me a chance, I can show you that I can love you just as deeply.
No one can kiss
I can kiss you in a way that no one else can.
Your lips the way i will
My kisses will make you feel loved and cherished like no one else can.
Contributed by Abigail B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@positiveblues
sad to say, but i don't think we will ever get back to great songs like this.
@badboybaldy1
hi . the time has gone for these beautiful songs . but lets hope we keep them now forever bless
@MORNINGSTAR190
U crazy check out zzzunknown
@Johanna-xy9py
One of the best falsetto voices ever...Great song! Classic! ❤
@ronniewelch440
Beautiful song from 1969 by soulful singer Eddie Holman. Such an awesome voice. This timeless classic hit brings back so many memories.
@Janellbird
Great song! I wasn’t born til 1973, but I love old r n b, Motown
@stephanomarr6829
Eddie Holman, FROM Suffolk, va....a GREAT VOICE, SO MANY great memories seeing him in concert, HAD the VOICE OF an angel......
@miamiflutist
This man and song does not nearly get enough credit. Truly a legend
@mikec4834
We'll never have artists like Eddie and all of those great voices from the 60's and 70's again so glad to have grown up back then. And this style of music was loved by everyone . If we play more of this music maybe it would bring us all together . There was nothing but love coming from these songs something thats missing today.
@kenbergman
I am close to 80 and still growing up, I seen this fellow on a public station and he had was on and he aged and never missed a note