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."
Let's Put It All Together
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
My arms are meant to hold you
Your arms and my arms
What more is there to say
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all togetherGirl, 'cause lovin'is there is
Your lips can thrill me just touching my cheek
My lips are meant to kiss you
Your lips and my lips
What more is there to say
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Girl, 'cause lovin'is there is
Love like this never happened before
Perfect and true
Day by day we been feeling it more
You love me (you love me) and I love you
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Girl
, 'cause lovin'is there is
In this song, The Stylistics are expressing their deep love and connection with their significant other. They use the metaphor of their arms and lips to describe how their physical connection translates into emotional intimacy. The lyrics suggest that they are meant to be together and that their love is complete when they are in each other's arms. They urge their partner to join them in putting it all together, which could mean fully committing to the relationship or acknowledging the depth of their love.
The use of repetition in the chorus emphasizes the importance of their connection and reinforces the idea that their love is all-encompassing. The line "girl, 'cause lovin'is there is" implies that their love is the core of their relationship and that they don't need anything else as long as they have each other. The final verse declares that their love is unique and perfect, and that it has grown stronger over time.
Overall, "Let's Put It All Together" is a soulful love song that celebrates the power of physical and emotional intimacy in a relationship. It highlights the importance of being present and fully committed to one's partner and suggests that true love can bring a sense of completeness and fulfillment.
Line by Line Meaning
Your arms around me are tender and warm
I feel safe and comfortable when you hold me
My arms are meant to hold you
I want to hold you close and keep you close to me
Your arms and my arms
Together, our arms create a space of security and comfort
What more is there to say
Our actions speak louder than words, our love is undeniable
Let's put it all together
Let's combine our love and all that we have to create a meaningful and fulfilling relationship
Girl, 'cause lovin'is there is
Our love is all that matters, it is the foundation of our relationship
Your lips can thrill me just touching my cheek
Your touch is electric, even the simple gesture of you brushing my cheek with your lips thrills me
My lips are meant to kiss you
I want to express my love and desire for you through passionate kisses
Your lips and my lips
Our lips coming together is a symbol of our love and intimacy
Love like this never happened before
Our love is unique and special, unlike any other we've experienced before
Perfect and true
Our love is genuine and authentic, flaws and all
Day by day we been feeling it more
Our love grows stronger with each passing day
You love me (you love me) and I love you
Our mutual love and affection create a bond that cannot be broken
Lyrics © MUSIC SALES CORPORATION
Written by: GEORGE DAVID WEISS, HUGO PERETTI, LUIGI CREATORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Let's put it all together .
Your arms around me are tender and warm
My arms are meant to hold you
Your arms and my arms
What more is there to say
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Girl. cause loving is all there is
Your lips can thrill me just touching my cheek
My lips are meant to kiss you
Your lips and my lips
What more is there to say
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Girl, cause loving is all there is
Love like this never happened before
Perfect and true
Day by day we been feeling it more
You love me ( You love me ) and I love you
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Let's put it all together
Girl
@slimbell5195
What we had in the 70s will never be back again...I have all the 70s downloaded on my phone
@donaldbryant8679
I am in my 60's now and, more often than before, I find the NEED to put Today on hold and retreat back to the times when Life and this World seemed to be kinder. This song gently carries and inserts me back into that place in time. With the condition of the world being as it is today, I find that I find myself needing a little more "back then" right now!! Let's put it ALL together!!
@feeltheforce10
I agree with you.Time has gone too fast and i often go back to kinder days in my mind and feel those happy days.Life now is not good and unkind and people seem so selfish and totally different to back in the day.
@johnetheridge5833
I was born in 1961 this is one of my many 1970’s childhood favorites.
@jmrodas9
One of the most beautiful songs of intimacy, without vulgar or dirty words, it is indeed a piece of art, everthing can be said, if it is expressed correctly, as they do in this song, and the rhythm is very good and the voices are excellent.
@anthonyglennmollicasr.425
I had not heard this song since it came out in 74, I was 11yo. Today for no reason it just popped in my head and I started humming it😄 That's what brought me here today lol. Great songs never fade away! They last the test of time.
@christianrodsanjuan7667
Hi. I have a new band and most of our songs right now is from stylistics. Maybe soon we'll post it here in yt. I hope you can watch us soon.
@lugiakane470
me too
@jeffreyarnold9013
Born in 67 still play this type of music... REAL MUSIC
@dnealgail8244
Absolute perfection ... The Stylistics ruled the summer of 1974!