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."
Is There Something on Your Mind
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'll never find the words, my love
To tell you how I feel, my love
Mere words could not explain
Precious love
You held my life within your hands
Created everything I am
Taught me how to live again
Believed in me through thick and thin
This song is for you and with gratitude and love
God bless you
You make me feel brand new
For God blessed me with you
You make me feel brand new
I sing this song 'cause you
Make me feel brand new
My love
Whenever I was insecure
You build me up and made me sure
You gave my pride back to me
Precious friend
With you I always had a friend
You're someone who I can depend
To walk a path that sometimes bends
Without you
Life has no meaning or rhyme
Like notes to a song out of time
How can I repay you for having faith in me
God bless you
You make me feel brand new
For God blessed me with you
You make me feel brand new
I sing this song 'cause you
Make me feel brand new
The Stylistics' song "Is There Something on Your Mind" is a soulful love song that expresses the singer's gratefulness for their partner who has been their constant support through thick and thin. The singer acknowledges that mere words are not enough to explain the depth of their feelings and how their partner has held their life in their hands, creating everything they are and teaching them how to live again. This person is the one who understands them the best and has believed in them even when no one else has.
The song emphasizes the importance of a strong bond between two people in a relationship. The singer's insecurities are quelled by their partner who builds them up and gives them their pride back. They have been a constant friend, someone the singer can rely on to walk a path that sometimes bends. The absence of this person in their life would leave them with no meaning or rhyme, like notes to a song out of time. The singer expresses their gratitude and love towards their partner, singing that they make them feel brand new.
The song is a testament to a deep love that has stood the test of time. It conveys the message that true love is not only about the surface but also about a deep emotional connection between two people who are willing to go through thick and thin for each other. Through its lyrics, the song speaks to the universal theme of the importance of love, empathy, and compassion in our lives.
Line by Line Meaning
My love
I want to express my feelings to the one I love
I'll never find the words, my love
It’s hard to find the right words to explain how much I love you
To tell you how I feel, my love
I want to convey the depth of my feelings for you
Mere words could not explain
There are no words that can adequately express my love for you
Precious love
My love for you is invaluable and one of a kind
You held my life within your hands
You have had a significant impact on my life
Created everything I am
You have played a crucial role in shaping who I am today
Taught me how to live again
You have shown me how to live my life in a better way
Only you care when I needed a friend
You have been there for me when I needed someone to lean on
Believed in me through thick and thin
You have had faith in me through all the ups and downs of life
This song is for you and with gratitude and love
I wrote this song to express my gratitude and love for you
God bless you
May God bless you for all that you have done for me
You make me feel brand new
Your love has rejuvenated me and made me feel new again
For God blessed me with you
I feel blessed to have you in my life thanks to God's grace
I sing this song 'cause you
I wrote this song because of the significant impact you have had on my life
Make me feel brand new
Your love inspires me and makes me feel renewed every day
Whenever I was insecure
When I lacked confidence, you were always there to reassure me
You build me up and made me sure
You have helped me regain my confidence and self-assurance
You gave my pride back to me
You helped me restore my self-esteem and dignity
Precious friend
You are not only my love but also my precious friend
With you I always had a friend
I know I can always count on you to be there for me and support me
You're someone who I can depend
I trust you completely and know that I can always depend on you
To walk a path that sometimes bends
Even in the tough times, you are always there to walk alongside me
Without you
My life would be incomplete without you
Life has no meaning or rhyme
Without you, life would be empty and meaningless
Like notes to a song out of time
Without you, my life would be like a song without a melody
How can I repay you for having faith in me
I am grateful for the faith you have in me and wonder how I can ever repay you
Writer(s): Brown, Price, Jordan
Contributed by Caroline R. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Concerned
on Mine All Mine
These are NOT the lyrics to this song in any language or version.
Neil Aspin
on Me - U = Blue
Wonderfull
Melvin Miles
on Could This Be The End
Love the song