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."
Thank You Baby
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Just another guy who never knew
The right time from the wrong
His left foot from his right
Who'd sleep all day and hang around all night
Before you
Who was I
If I make them laugh how proud I would be
Though the jokes were on me
Now it's you and me
You and me
And the worlds a better place
Thank you, baby
Thank you, baby
Thank you, baby
Thank you, baby
What a change love can bring
Put a different light on everything
An ordinary day
Is filled with something new
And suddenly I feel that I can do
Anything
You, my love
Are the meaning of my life
You're the reason
And the light of my life
I'm so grateful you're mine
Now it's you and me
You and me
And the worlds a better place
Thank you, baby
Thank you, baby
Thank you, baby
Thank you, baby
You and me
You and me
The lyrics of The Stylistics' song Thank You Baby express profound gratitude for the transformative power of love. The song is a tribute to a lover who has changed the singer's life completely, making it richer, more meaningful, and more joyful. Before meeting this person, the singer was lost, aimless, and lacking in direction. He didn't know the right time from the wrong or his left foot from his right. He slept all day and hung around all night with no purpose or motivation. He was just another guy in the crowd, a joker who made people laugh but ultimately ended up being the butt of his own jokes.
However, everything changes when the singer meets his lover. Love puts a different light on everything and turns an ordinary day into something new and exciting. Suddenly, the singer feels that he can do anything, that he has a reason to be alive and thrive. He sees his lover as the meaning and the light of his life, someone who has given him direction, purpose, and happiness. He is grateful to have such a wonderful partner and acknowledges their contribution to making the world a better place.
The song's message resonates with the listeners who have experienced the transformative power of love. It reminds us that even the smallest acts of kindness and love can make a big difference in someone's life. It also celebrates the importance of gratitude, acknowledging the people who have helped us along the way.
Line by Line Meaning
What was I before you
I had no direction or purpose before I met you
Just another guy who never knew
I was like every other guy, clueless without a sense of direction or purpose
The right time from the wrong
I struggled to make the correct decisions in life, and always ended up choosing the wrong paths
His left foot from his right
I was confused about the simplest things, even distinguishing my left from my right
Who'd sleep all day and hang around all night
I had no ambition or drive, spending all day sleeping and nights socializing without direction
Before you
Before you came into my life and turned it around
Who was I
I had no identity before meeting you
Just the joker in the crowd
I was just another person, trying to fit in by constantly trying to make others laugh
If I make them laugh how proud I would be
I would feel accomplished if I could make others laugh, but it was always at my own expense
Though the jokes were on me
My attempts to be funny always ended up with me being the butt of the joke
Now it's you and me
Now we are together, and it's all thanks to you
And the worlds a better place
Our love has made the world a brighter, happier place for both of us
Thank you, baby
Thank you for being the one who turned my life around and made it better
What a change love can bring
Love has the power to transform everything and bring about a positive change
Put a different light on everything
Love shines a new light on even the most mundane, ordinary things
An ordinary day
A day that would have been just like any other
Is filled with something new
Now feels like something special, new, and exciting
And suddenly I feel that I can do
Love has given me the confidence to do anything I set my mind to
Anything
Anything at all, with you by my side
You, my love
You are the love of my life, my soulmate
Are the meaning of my life
You give my life a new purpose and meaning
You're the reason
You are the reason I wake up every morning with a smile on my face
And the light of my life
You bring light and joy into my life every day
I'm so grateful you're mine
I feel so lucky to have you in my life, to call you mine
You and me
Together, we are unstoppable
And the worlds a better place
Our love has the power to make a positive impact on the world around us
Thank you, baby
Thank you for loving me, and for being everything to me
Thank you, baby
I can never thank you enough for the happiness you bring into my life
Thank you, baby
Thank you for being my rock, my support system, my everything
Thank you, baby
Thank you for being the love of my life, always and forever
You and me
Forever and always, it will always be you and me
Lyrics © IMAGEM U.S. LLC
Written by: GEORGE DAVID WEISS, HUGO PERETTI, LUIGI CREATORE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@user-zx1bb8wt4s
Beautiful
@victormiranda.123
Qué Linda!!!!!! Canción de mi Grupo Favorito, los escucho desde qué llego a Mi Perú en l969 hasta Hoy..Música Hermosa.....
@GilbertoFerreira-ib1yw
ohla nada se tem apenas ohla observa a natureza o quanto ela é divina amém
@JustMe45704
Who ever came up during these times enjoyed some of the best music that stimulated relationships and made some of the best memories.❤🎶🌼🎶🌹🎶
@manoelinarosa4239
Linda
@juniorcaldas7568
Todos os dias ouço The Stylistics me trás paz. I love The Stylistics
@rickfarr8491
I was having a rough day when I first heard this now I’ll remember this as something that will always make my days better. No matter what mood I’m in I’ll never get tired of this song.
@nancywashington5313
I love me some Stylistics. They always have it going on with the songs they sing.
@foodhaulers
one of their greatest songs
@iamangelx
😍