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."
Mine All Mine
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's song Mine All Mine is a heartfelt tribute to a loved one who has had an immense impact on the singer's life. The song is about a deep and abiding love that is difficult to express in words. The singer starts by acknowledging how hard it is to find words that can do justice to the depth of their feelings. They know that mere words are not enough to explain the precious love they have received from their loved one.
The second verse talks about how this love has helped the singer grow as a person. The loved one has held the singer's life in their hands, creating everything they are today. They have been a friend who cares deeply, someone who has believed in them through thick and thin. The singer is grateful for this love and expresses their gratitude through this song to the person who has made them feel brand new.
Overall, the song is a celebration of love and gratitude for a special person in the singer's life who has helped them become the best version of themselves. It is a testament to the transformative power of love and the impact that one person can have on another's life.
Line by Line Meaning
My love
Addressing the subject of the song as 'my love'
I'll never find the words, my love
Expressing the inability to convey emotions through words
To tell you how I feel, my love
Stating the difficulty in communicating emotions
Mere words could not explain
Acknowledging the limitations of language to express feelings
Precious love
Reiterating the importance of the love being described
You held my life within your hands
Describing the significant role the subject played in the singer's life
Created everything I am
Attributing some part of the singer's identity to the subject
Taught me how to live again
Acknowledging the guidance the subject provided in difficult times
Only you care when I needed a friend
Recognizing the support system provided by the subject
Believed in me through thick and thin
Appreciating the unwavering belief the subject had in the artist
This song is for you and with gratitude and love
Introducing the song as a tribute to the subject with feelings of gratitude and affection
God bless you
Wishing the subject well with divine blessings
You make me feel brand new
Expressing the rejuvenating effect the subject has on the singer's life
For God blessed me with you
Attributing the subject's presence in the singer's life to a higher power
I sing this song 'cause you
Explaining the motivation behind the tribute
Make me feel brand new
Reiterating the rejuvenating effect the subject has on the artist
Whenever I was insecure
Introducing a time of vulnerability in the artist's life
You build me up and made me sure
Describing the subject's supportive role during tough times
You gave my pride back to me
Acknowledging the subject's contributions to the singer's self-esteem
Precious friend
Highlighting the value of the subject's friendship
With you I always had a friend
Stating the reliability of the subject as a friend
You're someone who I can depend
Affirming the dependability of the subject
To walk a path that sometimes bends
Stating the importance of the subject's support in navigating tough times
Without you
Introducing the subject's potential absence
Life has no meaning or rhyme
Describing the negative impact of the subject's absence
Like notes to a song out of time
Comparing the negative impact to musical discordance
How can I repay you for having faith in me
Acknowledging the debt the singer owes the subject for their belief in the singer
God bless you
Reiterating the subject's importance and wishing them well
You make me feel brand new
Repeating the sentiment of the subject's rejuvenating effect
For God blessed me with you
Repeating the idea that the subject's presence is divinely ordained
I sing this song 'cause you
Reiterating the tribute's purpose
Make me feel brand new
Repeating the idea that the subject is a source of renewal for the artist
Writer(s): Dexter Wansel, Cynthia Biggs El
Contributed by Jordyn Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Concerned
These are NOT the lyrics to this song in any language or version.
Manuel Morillo
This music never gets old. I could listen to this on repeat.
Salwa Shabazz
I’ve always loved the Stylistics and this song is one of my faves 💙. It may be a “Chi-stepping” song but the music and instruments are ALL TSOP BABY!! 🎶 We’re in the building...Philly stand up!! ✌🏾😊
Michael Perry
Philly had lots of good steppers music. Chi Town just happens to be steppers capital of the world.
Terry Wayne Stewart
You're forgetting CALI Cha Cha style
Mary Theresa
One of my all-time favorite Stylistics songs. Great tune PERIOD!!!!!!
allymc88
What a classic...the stylistics were so underrated!
boomerang905
I have been a Stylistics fan since my brother went to the service in 1971 and Stop, Look, Listen was playing as he left. Better-sweet memories for sure. Each year they come to Chi-town, I make a point to see them. So far, three concerts I've attended in five years. They are brilliant on stage and the new lead sounds exactly like the original. This is actually my favorite out of all their superb music.
Michael Perry
Euban sings just as good as Russell.
Tina Thomas
Chicago stepper's classic here. One of the many I watched my Pops/Moms step to or was taught. What a great tune!