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."
Painted On the Sky
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A lonely man behind the veil
Keeping to myself
Then you rescued me
You touched me in a special way
I threw my mask away
Now all I can do is tell the world just how I feel
Shout it from the mountains, write it on the heavens canvas to reveal
Written on the clouds above
Show the universe your love touched my heart.
(Love is) Painted on the sky
There can never be no doubt
I could never live without your sweet love.is painted on the sky.
Everyone can see
There's a change inside of me
All because of you
When I speak your name
the love inside burns like a flame always shinning through
Now all I can do is tell the world just how I feel
Shout it from the mountains, write it on the heavens canvas to reveal
(Love is) Painted on the sky
Written on the clouds above
Show the universe your love touched my heart
(Love is) Painted on the sky
There can never be no doubt
I could never live without your sweet love
You're every song that I sing
The star of my dreams
From the ends of the earth to infinity
(Love is) Painted on the sky
Written on the clouds above
Show the universe your love touched my heart
(Love is) Painted on the sky
There can never be no doubt
I could never live without your sweet love... is painted on the sky... love is painted on the sky
Is painted on the sky.
The Stylistics's song "Painted On the Sky" talks about how the singer used to be a mystery, a lonely man who kept to himself, until he was rescued by someone who touched him in a special way. This person helped him let go of his mask and be true to his feelings. The singer now wants to shout from the mountains and write on the heavens canvas to reveal how he feels about this person. Love is then compared to being "painted on the sky" and "written on the clouds above" as a symbol of how universal and permanent it is. The singer cannot imagine living without this person, and their love has changed him to the point where everyone around him can see the difference.
The lyrics of "Painted On the Sky" explore the transformation that love can bring to someone's life. The singer was once guarded, but the love he feels for this person has made him open himself up to the world. He wants to share his feelings with everyone, as love is something that can't be kept hidden. The idea of love being "painted on the sky" is a powerful one, as it shows how love is something that is beyond human control and can be seen by all. It's interesting to note the repetition of the phrase "painted on the sky" throughout the song, as it emphasizes how important this concept is to the singer.
Line by Line Meaning
I was a mystery
I was an enigma, a puzzle that nobody could solve.
A lonely man behind the veil
I was a solitary man who kept his true self hidden from the world.
Keeping to myself
I preferred to be alone and avoided interacting with others.
Then you rescued me
You saved me from my lonely existence.
You touched me in a special way
You touched my heart in a way that was unique and poignant.
I threw my mask away
I discarded the facade that I used to keep others at a distance.
Now all I can do is tell the world just how I feel
My love for you is so strong that I can't keep it to myself any longer.
Shout it from the mountains, write it on the heavens canvas to reveal
I want to proclaim my love for you to everyone around me, from the highest peaks to the vast expanse of the sky.
(Love is) Painted on the sky
Our love has left an indelible mark on the world.
Written on the clouds above
Our love has been etched into the fabric of the universe.
Show the universe your love touched my heart.
I want the entire cosmos to know how deeply you have affected me.
There can never be no doubt
There is no uncertainty when it comes to our love.
I could never live without your sweet love.
My life would be incomplete without your affection.
Everyone can see
Others can see the difference you have made in my life.
There's a change inside of me
You have transformed me into a happier, more fulfilled person.
When I speak your name, the love inside burns like a flame always shinning through
My feelings for you are so intense that they are always visible, even in the way I say your name.
You're every song that I sing
My love for you is so all-consuming that it pervades every aspect of my life.
The star of my dreams
You are the central figure in all of my deepest desires.
From the ends of the earth to infinity
My love for you extends beyond all conceivable boundaries.
Is painted on the sky.
Our love is a monumental force that has left an everlasting impression on the world.
Contributed by Eva C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Gavin VON MEYER
Great track.