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 Make Feel Brand New
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
Only you
Cared when I needed a friend
Believed in me through thick and thin
This song is for you
Filled 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 built me up and made me sure
You gave my pride back to me
Precious friend
With you I'll always have 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 for you
The lyrics of the song "You and Me" by The Stylistics express deep gratitude and love towards a person who has had a profound impact on the singer's life. The first verse acknowledges the difficulty of finding words to adequately express the depth of the singer's feelings towards their significant other. The second verse speaks to the way that this person has shaped the singer's life, holding their very existence in their hands and teaching them how to live again. The chorus repeats the sentiment of gratitude, thanking God for the blessing of this person and for how they make the singer feel brand new.
The third verse acknowledges how this person has been a steadying influence in the singer's life, building them up and giving them pride. The fourth verse solidifies the importance of this relationship as a deep friendship, one that will endure regardless of the twists and turns of life. The final chorus repeats the gratitude of the previous chorus, expressing wonder at how this person has had faith in the singer and providing a loving tribute through the song itself.
Overall, the lyrics of "You and Me" are a love letter to a person who has made an indelible impact on the singer's life. Through gratitude and admiration, the singer acknowledges the ways in which this person has shaped them and celebrates the deep bond between them.
Line by Line Meaning
My love
An opening statement expressing love towards the intended recipient.
I'll never find the words my love
The singer is struggling to express the depth of their love through language.
To tell you how I feel my love
Desire to convey the depth of their love to the recipient.
Mere words could not explain
Words alone cannot adequately express the level of emotion the singer feels towards the recipient.
Precious love
Addressing the recipient as a valuable and cherished love interest.
You held my life within your hands
The recipient has had a profound impact on the singer's life and is responsible for their well-being.
Created everything I am
The recipient has played a crucial role in shaping the singer's identity.
Taught me how to live again
The recipient has helped the singer find joy in life once more.
Only you
The recipient is the only one who has shown the kind of love and support that the singer has received.
Cared when I needed a friend
The recipient was there for the singer during difficult times, acting as a friend as well as a lover.
Believed in me through thick and thin
The recipient has consistently provided support and faith in the singer's abilities, regardless of the circumstances.
This song is for you
The singer is dedicating this song to the recipient.
Filled with gratitude and love
The song is meant to express the singer's immense gratitude towards the recipient, as well as their undying love.
God bless you
A wish for the recipient to be blessed by a higher power.
You make me feel brand new
The recipient has a transformative effect on the singer's life, making them feel renewed and revitalized.
For God blessed me with you
The singer sees the recipient as a blessing from a higher power.
I sing this song 'cause you
The singer is expressing that they are singing the song for the recipient exclusively.
Whenever I was insecure
The singer has been insecure in the past and the recipient has helped them overcome those insecurities.
You built me up and made me sure
The recipient has provided emotional support to the singer, boosting their confidence and self-assurance.
You gave my pride back to me
The recipient has helped the singer regain their dignity and sense of self-worth.
Precious friend
An expression of gratitude towards the recipient for being a cherished friend as well as a lover.
With you I'll always have a friend
The singer is expressing that the recipient will always be there for them, as a friend and support system.
You're someone who I can depend
The singer knows that they can rely on the recipient without hesitation.
To walk a path that sometimes bends
The singer acknowledges the ups and downs of life and expresses gratitude towards the recipient for standing by them.
Without you
Acknowledging that life without the recipient would be drastically different and difficult.
Life has no meaning or rhyme
The singer is expressing that without the recipient, life would lack purpose and direction.
Like notes to a song out of time
Life without the recipient would be like a song that is out of rhythm or sync.
How can I repay you
The singer acknowledges the significant role the recipient has played in their life and wants to know how they can return the favor.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: LINDA DIANE CREED, THOMAS RANDOLPH BELL
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@geoffgane7550
Sir,
My deepest sympathy and condolences to you for your loss, truly the most painful loss one can suffer. I also lost my Mother the same year, but 3 days afterwards.
And like you, I am still waiting for a special lady to come into my life. Where are they?
I may not be into Soul, in fact I'm very much into hard rock, prog and metal. But this is REAL brilliant music which is so sadly lacking today.
Thank you, Stylistics, for making EVERYONE feel brand new.
Best wishes, bro', and take care.
@Eyemallfunkedup
Let me tell you a story. It was 1976 and I was in the 6th grade. Back in those days, we had time for things in school. We had birthday parties , recess, and dances. You could buy ice cream after school from the ice cream man that parked right by the school. We walked home together, or alone, without fear. We listened to some of the best music ever made. and we carried books home without backpacks.
On the last day of school, we had a goodbye dance. After all, we were graduating to junior high. I spent pretty much the whole time just looking at my friends dancing to mostly Disco, Funk, and dance type songs. But the very last song played, the only slow song played, was this song. I thought the 6th grade was all over, but the sun shined on me brightly this day.
I was standing by the record player, helping put records back in their jackets, when I felt a tap on the shoulder. It was one of the girls in my class; a tall, hazel eyed, auburn haired, beautiful young lady that pretty much stayed to herself. She wore bell bottoms, and beads around her neck. She wasn't part of my group, or any other group, and never would be. She only spoke with her eyes, and her smile. She's probably a famous doctor now ,or a rocket scientist or something now.
She looked at me straight in the eyes for the first time all year. She didn't say a thing, but I knew what she was saying anyway. The next thing I know, we're locked in an indescribable embrace, and I was nowhere near Earth. This was the first time I'd ever been close enough to a girl to feel her breath, and hair on my face. Yes, boys and girls, back in those days we did this in school.
My arms are around her hips, locked behind her, and her arms are hanging over my shoulders. Her long auburn hair is touching the tops of my hands, and her cheek is touching mine. She 's not wearing perfume, but she smells like I imagine heaven does. Her hair is touching the front of my face, and I can barely hear the music now.
We keep this embrace, and move slowly back and forth, "my love...I'll never find the words, my love". The song seems to last forever, and I feel like my entire soul is inside of her. I feel like I haven't taken a single breath. My heart melts into hers, like vanilla ice cream over a cone on a hot day...until it's over...way too soon.
I remember this day like it just happened yesterday. Every time I hear this song, it takes me back right to that day. The colors, the emotions, the smells, the breath, the hair touching my face...the escaping soul...my melted heart. As long as I've lived, and loved, I've never been able to recapture how I felt that day. My entire body, buzzing, and my mind scattered everywhere like sun rays coming through a cloud. I never saw her again.
Just wanted to say thanks to the Stylistics.
@geezitscold
It was the summer of 74..I was 15 working as a dish washer in the back kitchen of a very busy restaurant..I'd work sometimes until 3am..it was gruling..but the radio playing this song and others at that time helped me thru the long hours..now 65 it takes me back to my young life,those memories are priceless..I don't understand why music has changed so radically different..send me back to that time period..I'd be so happy
@jonbuehler2429
You called it perfectly, I am two years ahead of ya!
@user-hk4cz5ig3j
The best music in the 70s. ❤
@madubukomadubuko1719
I’m 82 and this song still sends me into a trance. Love
@sharonwarthen8026
Oldie BUT Goodie
@user-vf5bv6vo4b
And now you have 84 likes!
@monicatannehill9241
When I was 19 I called the radio station and dedicated this to my mom. When my mom had just weeks left I held her in my arms while they played this song for us in church. I lost her in January. This is my first mother's day without her....😭😭😭
@maryziegler8000
God bless you
@anthonyrodriguez3355
Stay strong bro
@ruthielee5294
I am so sorry
😢