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."
I Got Time On My Hands
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
What's the use of goin' all by myself.
Hang around the corner,
Feelin' low & lonely, feelin' like a broken toy on a shelf.
I got time, time on my hands, lots of time, time on my hands,
Nothing but time on my hands.
Since you've been gone(ooh), I got time on my hands
Watchin' all the happy lovers go by.
Can't believe you left me,
Can't believe it's over, everytime I think about you I Cry.
I got time, time on my hands. Lots of time on my hands.
Nothing but time,
Time on my hands since you've been gone, I got time on my hands.
Never wanna get up in the morning,
Never get around to sleepin' at night,
Maybe what I did was wrong but two wrongs don't make a right.
I got time, time on my hands. Lots of time,
Time on my hands. Nothing but time, time on my hands.
Since you've been gone, I got time on my hands(repeat)...end.
The lyrics of The Stylistics' song "I Got Time On My Hands" express the feelings of a person who has been left by their lover and now feels lonely, isolated, and without direction. The singer of the song has no interest in social engagements like movies or parties because they have no one to share these activities with. Instead, they spend their time hanging around the corner feeling lost, like a broken toy on a shelf. The person seems to have lost all enthusiasm for life since their significant other left them.
The pain of watching happy lovers go by as the singer remains alone is described in the lyrics. They can't believe that their lover left them, and every time they think about it, they cry. The lyrics also express the singer's lack of motivation since being left behind. They never want to get up in the morning, and they never get around to sleeping at night. Although they acknowledge that they may have done something wrong, the pain they're feeling is not justifiable.
In essence, the lyrics of "I Got Time On My Hands" express the emotions of someone who has been abandoned by their lover and is unable to move on from their pain. It is a poignant and moving portrait of heartbreak and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Haven't seen a movie, haven't gone to parties,
I haven't been doing things that used to make me happy like going to the movies or parties.
What's the use of goin' all by myself.
I don't see the point in doing things alone.
Hang around the corner,
I loiter around on the street corner.
Feelin' low & lonely, feelin' like a broken toy on a shelf.
I feel sad and alone, like a discarded toy on a shelf.
I got time, time on my hands, lots of time, time on my hands,
I have a lot of free time on my hands.
Nothing but time on my hands.
I have nothing else to do with my time.
Since you've been gone(ooh), I got time on my hands
I have all this free time since my significant other left me.
Looking out the window, watching all the people,
I spend my time watching people out the window.
Watchin' all the happy lovers go by.
It pains me to see happy couples walk by.
Can't believe you left me,
I'm still struggling to accept that my partner left me.
Can't believe it's over, everytime I think about you I Cry.
I can't believe the relationship is over, and I still cry when I think about it.
Never wanna get up in the morning,
I have no motivation to get up in the morning.
Never get around to sleepin' at night,
I struggle to sleep at night.
Maybe what I did was wrong but two wrongs don't make a right.
Perhaps I made mistakes in the relationship, but that doesn't justify my partner leaving me.
Since you've been gone, I got time on my hands(repeat)...end.
Ever since my partner left me, I have a lot of free time and don't know what to do with myself.
Writer(s): George David Weiss, Hugo, Luigi
Contributed by Ellie A. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Stylistics Blue Magic
so uplifting and relaxing at the same time...that's why the 70s ruled...
Stylistics SoulGroove
in my opinion,any song these guys would do should have went no.1...simply the best group ever...and Russell thompkins,jr. will forever be the king of R&B soul...
Linny Johnson
What a great song but a sad one, but it speaks the truth. Heartache is a very powerful thing. The stylistic are great for the heart and soul they put into their music.
Robbie-G
Was a Junior in High School when this released. I remember Me and my Best Friend Dennis, (now deceased), walking down the street singing this to the top of our lungs after our girlfriends left us. (Smile)...Doesn't hurt so bad anymore...Fabulously done by Russell T. and the guys...
David Panetta
I always read the comments from other people. Your comment touched me. It brought back some similar feelings I experienced when I was that age.
kddog88
I've seen the Stylistic in concert numerous times. I was listening to some of their music videos on You Tube and stumbled across this It brought back a lot children hood memories. It's a great album with all great songs.
Antonio Mendes
I admire the Stylistics for ages.
Nice falsetto voice.Angelic kind.
Marco Antonio Ribeiro
The stylistics são excelentes muito bons
crystal reynolds
Always loved this one! Haven't heard it in years!
Herman Coulter
I love this song the Stylistics are my favorite group.