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."
stay
The Stylistics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
With me tonight my love
There's no all ?? my love
Now that we both feel this way
Stay stay
Don't take your love away from me
Oo oo
Oo oo oo oo oo
I only know that you must stay
Forever close to me
That's how it suppose to be
Love me now
Oh, love me now
Stay stay
Don't take your love away from me
Oo oo
I need you baby stay with me
Oo oo oo oo oo
Wise men through the ages
Never could explain
What makes two people fall in love
So who am I to question
What wise men can't explain
I only know my love
I only know that you must stay
And love me tenderly
Come, let your heart cling to me
Say you spend your life with me
Stay stay
Don't take your love away from me
Oo oo
I need you baby stay with me
Oo oo oo oo oo
Don't take your love away from me
Oo oo
(I only know that you must stay)
Don't take your love away from me
Oo oo
(I only know that you must stay)
The Stylistics’ song “Stay” is a heartfelt plea to a lover to remain close and not take their love away. The opening lyrics express a powerful need for the lover to be by their side, and the repetition of the word “stay” emphasizes the urgency of the request. The singer acknowledges that they don’t know everything about love and its mysteries, but they know one thing for sure – that the object of their affection must remain with them.
The song’s chorus is simple but effective, with the repeated refrain of “don’t take your love away from me” capturing the fear and anxiety of a lover who’s afraid of being left alone. The second verse expands on this theme, with the singer asking the object of their affection to love them tenderly and spend their life with them. The emotions on display in “Stay” are raw and affecting, and it’s easy to imagine the song resonating with anyone who’s ever been afraid of losing someone they love.
In the final analysis, “Stay” is a testament to the power of love and the depths of emotion it can evoke. The singer may not be able to explain why they feel the way they do, but they know that their love is real and that they need the other person to stay with them. It’s a beautiful sentiment that’s expressed in a moving and memorable way.
Line by Line Meaning
I only know that you must stay
I strongly believe that you should remain by my side
With me tonight my love
Spend the night with me as my beloved
There's no all ?? my love
I am not sure what the future holds, but for now, stay with me
Now that we both feel this way
Since we both share this intense emotion, let's stay together
Don't take your love away from me
Please do not break my heart by leaving me
I need you baby stay with me
I depend on you, my love. Please remain with me
Forever close to me
Stay with me, be permanently near me
That's how it suppose to be
This is how things are meant to be between us
Love me now
Love me at this very moment
Oh, love me now
Love me deeply and passionately right away
Wise men through the ages
Throughout history, the wisest individuals
Never could explain
Were never able to comprehend or clarify
What makes two people fall in love
Why two people end up falling in love with each other
So who am I to question
If those wise individuals couldn't answer it, why should I doubt it?
And love me tenderly
Show me affection in a gentle and caring way
Come, let your heart cling to me
Embrace me fully and let our hearts be tightly bound
Say you spend your life with me
Promise me that you will spend your entire life with me
Lyrics © CONCORD MUSIC PUBLISHING LLC
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@donaldscott1954
Timeless Music I love this one
@laurajones7735
Another cool song’ I realize sometimes what i want is what i can’t have sometimes in life, so people won’t think ur playing around this song reminds me of - The Whispers another cool group! (Love is where you find it). Classics love them all the time!
@user-is1xd3fd3u
最高だぜ❤