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."
You'll Never Get to Heaven
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And she said it's really a sin to be mean and cruel
So remember if you're untrue
Angels up in heaven are looking at you
You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
So be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart
I've been hearin' rumors about how you play around
Though I don't believe what I hear, still it gets me down
If you ever should say goodbye
It will be so awful, the angels would cry
You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
So be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart
Oh no
If you break my heart, break my heart
I can hardly wait for the day when we say I do
It's a day I've dreamed of so long now it's comin' true
You will promise to cherish me
If you break your promise the angels will see
You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
So be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart, heart heart
Oh no
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
The Stylistics hit âYouâll Never Get to Heavenâ is a beautiful yet sad song about heartbreak and the warning signs of an unfaithful lover. The lyrics describe a young man who was taught by his mother to always follow the golden rule and be kind, but his girlfriend seems to be untrue to him. He has heard rumors about her playing around with other guys, and even though he doesnât fully believe them, it still gets him down. The singer tells his lover that if she ever breaks his heart, she will never get to heaven because the angels above will be watching her.
The message in the song is simple yet powerful â be true to your lover and treat them kindly, or you will lose them forever. The lyrics are emotional and the melody is haunting, making it a memorable tune that audiences can relate to. The song was a huge success when it was released in 1973, and it remains a classic today.
Line by Line Meaning
Mother told me always to follow the golden rule
My mother taught me the importance of always treating others the way you'd like to be treated
And she said it's really a sin to be mean and cruel
She warned me that being mean or cruel is wrong and goes against the values of our religion
So remember if you're untrue
Therefore, if you are being dishonest or unfaithful
Angels up in heaven are looking at you
angels in heaven are taking notice of your actions
You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
If you cause me heartbreak, it will prevent you from going to heaven
So be very careful not to make us part
As a result, you should be very cautious to avoid breaking our relationship
Oh no
An expression of concern or alarm
I've been hearin' rumors about how you play around
I've heard gossip about you being unfaithful or playing with others' emotions
Though I don't believe what I hear, still it gets me down
Although I don't necessarily believe the rumors, they still make me feel sad and worried
If you ever should say goodbye
If you ever decide to leave me and end our relationship
It will be so awful, the angels would cry
The breakup would be so sad and painful that even the angels in the heavens would shed tears
I can hardly wait for the day when we say I do
I am very excited and eager for the day when we finally get married
It's a day I've dreamed of so long now it's comin' true
Getting married is something I have hoped for and looked forward to for a very long time, and now it's finally happening
You will promise to cherish me
As part of our marriage vows, you will make a commitment to always treasure and care for me
If you break your promise the angels will see
However, if you were to break that promise, the angels would bear witness to it
Never get to heaven if you break my heart (if you break my heart)
The repetition of this line emphasizes the importance of not causing heartbreak in order to get to heaven
Lyrics Š BMG Rights Management, Shemaroo Entertainment Limited
Written by: Burt Bacharach, Hal David, BURT F. BACHARACH
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Liza Morandi
Mother told me always to follow the golden rule
And she said it's really a sin to be mean and cruel
So remember if you're untrue
Angels up in heaven are looking at you
You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
so be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart
Oh no!
I've been hearin' rumors about how you play around
Though I don't believe what I hear, still it gets me down
If you ever should say goodbye
It would be so awful the angels would cry
You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
so be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart
Oh no!
(If you break my heart, break my heart)
I can hardly wait for the day when we say I do
It's a day I dreamed of so long now it's comin' true
You will promise to cherish me
If you break your promise the angels will see
You'll never get to heaven if you break my heart
So be very careful not to make us part
You won't get to heaven if you break my heart
Oh...
La, la, la, la, la, la, laaaaa
La, la, la, laaaaa
La, la, la, laaaaa
La, la, la, la, la, la, laaaaa
La. la, la, laaaaa
La, la, la, laaaaa
La, la, la, la, la, la, laaaaa
La, la, la, laaaaa...
gabriel halston
Another Burt Bacharach masterpiece! The Stylistics do it best!
DanielJosephWells
Burt wrote so many classics, for the carpenters and Herb Alpert to name a few.
Shirley Butler
FOR THOSE WHO MISSED THAT ERA MY CONDOLENCES! !
Karl24-7
My sentiments also, Shirley!
jayson biggs
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John Harris
It's ok, cuz I was born in a wonderful musical era. #90sRB #00sRB
Jose LeBeero
So true Shirley x
Melchor Chan
Those who missed that era can still take a second chance - thanks to Youtube!
Forever5thDimension
The instrumental intro alone is spine-tingling...leading to heavenly excellence.
RF Johns
Their music sets you at ease and brings happiness!