Russell Thompkins was the best lead singer ever for the Stylistics. Russell was vocally pure, smooth, and sang on key. I have several Stylistics favorites. I have amazing memories of them as a Latino kid in the Bronx, in the 70's!
Man you be KILLING it! I'm 52 years old, and I grew up to them, and all of the 70's artists like Bill Withers, and so many others. Keep doing your thing Young blood, because I'm reliving the GOOD OL' DAYS.
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🤩🤩I Loovveee The Fabulous Stylistics!!🥰I had the honor of seeing them perform here in Detroit “back in da day!”🤩These guys sounded absolutely AMAZING!! I mean, they sounded better than the record!! Thank u sooo much for covering this!! It’s about time!!👌🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🤩🤩💖
Couldn't have sounded better than the revord. Because love, Murrell, Smith and Dunn never sang on any of the records in first 3 albums and 12 top hits. The background on the records was sung by Thom Bell himself, Linda Creed herself, Bunny Seigler, and members of MFSB studio singers.
I am from Philly and really enjoyed learning about the information you have provided. Obviously you have put in a lot of time and effort to prepare and present your videos. I have also enjoyed the other videos on all the other artists you have offered. I would like to see a video about Tavares who in my opinion is also underrated. Thank you for your hard work. I appreciate your efforts. 💜
I listened to an interview Producer Thom Bell did where he said he didn't like how the other Stylistics sounded in the studio so on most of if not all Stylistic recordings he only allowed Russell Thompkins Jr & Airrion Love to sing in the studio..the background vocals on those records were usually provided by himself, Linda Creed & Love
You forgot to mention that once they got with Thom Bell, the only Stylistic to sing on their recordings were Russell Thompkins Jr. Thom Bell & Gamble and Huff provided the background vocals.
Linda Creed sang background also as did Daymond Johnson who has been with group since 79. He still sings with Russell Thompkins Jr and new Stylistics in concert still in 2024.
The Stylistics debut LP was the BEST R&B ALBUM EVER to me from start to finish along with The Isley Brothers “ The Heat is On”. As a former DJ with thousands of R&B and Funk LPs and a former record shop owner that was my evaluation. Russell Thompkins and Michael Jackson had the best falsetto voices ever to me.
I don't remember how I found your channel but your commentary is always very informative. And adding snippets to some classics just takes me down memory lane. Keep up the good work!👏🏽🙌🏽👏🏽🙌🏽 your voice sounds like you weren't even born when the artists you speak on were successful.. I could be wrong though. Good work. 👏🏽🙌🏽
All the going back and forth and all the new and old members coming and going..its really crazy...omg..the only names I really know are Russell Thompkins Jr. and Airrion Love..lol..I had no idea the group had gone thru so many changes..thanks for this video..
They do indeed belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Daryl Hall (of "Hall & Oats") said as much at the podium as he and John Oats were inducted a few years back.
I'll say put them in the Hall of Fame as well with a resume like that they definitely belong their. Russell has worked very hard to keep the group alive and on the chart
You got decent content bro, really you do! But, pronounce folks names properly. Thom=(Tom), Dionne=(Dion) Warwick. My surname as well as 1st name gets mispronounced far too many times, so, it's something I notice. It's a respect thing. And it's so much info available that I'm quite sure there are videos of people properly speaking Dionne's and Thom's name😉 I just had to mention that. Otherwise, you got good stuff. Keep up the content✊️!
All the gold singles and albums of gold platinum were sung by Russell Thompkins alone. Airion only sang on 2 of the 14 top hits. He sang duo on them With Russell. " You Make Me feel Brand new" and " You are Everything".
My favorite group of all time. I first seen them in Toronto back in 85, seen them in Buffalo NY several times. Seen them in DC and Seattle. Been following these guys for over 25 years. RIP Thom Bell.
I always thought the lyrics of the Stylistics songs were so profound & their style romantic. There's another group I would consider unsung, The Mad Lads of Stax Records of which I would appreciate a documentary done about them.
My good man , My guy , My brother . one thing ok ? Let me tell you , The Spinners are from Detroit . They only had the Philly Soul Sound .....Produced by Mr. Bell but came from Motown Records . Marvin Gaye was a session drummer and back up singer for them .
The Stylistics are wonderful one of my favorites. Russell Thompkins Jr is one of the best falsetto singers ever. But what people don't know is that Russell and Arrion were the only one's that actually sung on the Thom Bell produced records. He didn't like the voices of the other members.
Great little informative vid. Glad I found this channel. Fuck, the Stylistics should be in any Hall of Fame going! Isn’t the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame about anybody who has a significant impact upon any genre? It’s certainly not about the traditional definition of Rock n Roll, not for a long time. Rock n Roll just means sexy, happenin music nowadays, a general thing, otherwise no one since Buddy Holly would’ve qualified, never mind that Beatles band, or whatever they were called. The Stylistics? Come on, look at their song catalogue and the sweetest falsetto voice of all time!
They Should Tour All Together Like The Temps!!!"Get Some New Music And As You Said They If Their Not In The Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame Let's Take A Vote For The Ceremonious Hollywood Walk Of Fame By All The Years Served!!!"Hooray,Congratulations To All Members Past And Present!"🎉🎉😊😊🎉🎉
It should be noted the Stylistics DID have hit singles on the H&L label: :"Can't Help Falling In Love With You" (#4UK), "Sixteen Bars" (#7UK) & "$7000 And You" (#24UK)
Good coverage but you made a few errors in dates Dunn and Smith left and when they did, Raymond Johnson started with the group. And you missed some Untold Truths About the group also.
Good story. And there is a bit of a history there which is at 1:55. Avco Records started in the 1970’s, originally was a TV broadcasting company where it owned WLW-AM and WLW-TV at the time when it was Crosley Broadcasting in the 1930’s. Crosley bought the Aviation Corp. in the 1940’s where it shortened to Avco. In 1968, Avco bought Embassy Pictures, an independent studio founded by Joseph Levine in the 1950’s and merged into both Avco Embassy Pictures and Avco Embassy Television. And then formed their own record label which was founded by Hugo & Luigi which were producers for all of their RCA Victor albums during the 1950’s and 1960’s. They produced Sam Cooke, Little Peggy March, The Isley Brothers and more while they were at RCA. They later went on to produced the Stylistics, Softones and Van McCoy where he had his big hit “The Hustle” in 1975. By 1976, Avco was renamed to H&L Records where they remained until the late 1970’s. Avco Embassy Pictures was renamed to Embassy pictures by the 1980’s and then Embassy Television after that and also formed Embassy Home Entertainment in 1983 after the failed Blay Video in 1982. 3:22 was a classic song. A little fun fact. This song was originally recorded by singer/actress Connie Stevens, best known for her classic “Sixteen Reasons” and “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)” in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It was originally titled “Keep Growing Strong” in 1970, but they changed the title to “Betcha By Golly Wow” and became their breakthrough hit two years later.
Why did The Stylistics stop working with Thom Bell and Linda Creed as their song writers and producers and start working with Hugo & Luigi as their song writers and producers?
Who knows? But it was a mistake, those first three albums were their best. Maybe Thom Bell thought he had done all he could with them. I liked some of their later stuff, but it was more pop/disco rather than soul to me. @@JGHOUL-oy6xb
Russell Thompkins was the best lead singer ever for the Stylistics. Russell was vocally pure, smooth, and sang on key. I have several Stylistics favorites. I have amazing memories of them as a Latino kid in the Bronx, in the 70's!
Timeless classics!! No one will ever be able to duplicate the sounds of philly. Thanks for the documentary 👍
Man you be KILLING it! I'm 52 years old, and I grew up to them, and all of the 70's artists like Bill Withers, and so many others. Keep doing your thing Young blood, because I'm reliving the GOOD OL' DAYS.
Glad you made this. The Stylistics don't get the love and recognition they deserve.
Thom Bell was the producer /songwriter that made them legends.
With Linda Creed. Who wrote lyrics with Thom Bell.
The Stylistics are one of my favorite groups ever. Russell Thompkins Jr. has one of the best male falsettos in the world.
I totally agree. No one's voice could ever come close to Russell Thompson Jr .My favorite song ,,You Are Everything And Everything is You,,!
@@carlospurdy9982 You Are Everything & Betcha By Golly Wow are my Top 2.;
He has the best falsetto of all time in my opinion.
ITA!
@@valeriewhite3542 hi Val.... checking these facts out???
Ha
I totally agree with you on the fact that they should be in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I love the Stylistics. Always have and always will
Forgot just how much influence Thom Bell had. What a writer!
I'M SO GLAD I LOOKED TO RIGHT AND SAW THIS VIDEO AND CLICKED ON IT.THANKS FOR THE POST.
Absolutely well done 👍👍👍
One of My Favorite Groups. Very underrated in the history of music!
👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🤩🤩I Loovveee The Fabulous Stylistics!!🥰I had the honor of seeing them perform here in Detroit “back in da day!”🤩These guys sounded absolutely AMAZING!! I mean, they sounded better than the record!! Thank u sooo much for covering this!! It’s about time!!👌🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽🤩🤩💖
Went to the DTE back in the day to see this show Amazing vocal skills 🤗 Sounded just like the record🎤
Couldn't have sounded better than the revord. Because love, Murrell, Smith and Dunn never sang on any of the records in first 3 albums and 12 top hits. The background on the records was sung by Thom Bell himself, Linda Creed herself, Bunny Seigler, and members of MFSB studio singers.
@@nancywood9531 thanks for the info!!👍🏽🙌🏽🫶🏽I never knew this😆
Great group. Great sound. 👍 🎶
I am from Philly and really enjoyed learning about the information you have provided. Obviously you have put in a lot of time and effort to prepare and present your videos. I have also enjoyed the other videos on all the other artists you have offered. I would like to see a video about Tavares who in my opinion is also underrated. Thank you for your hard work. I appreciate your efforts. 💜
great job
As a teenager growing up in Chicago stepping was a must n I fell in love with Hurry up this way again 🥰🥰🥰
Stylistics make some of my favorite music of all time. Great music
I listened to an interview Producer Thom Bell did where he said he didn't like how the other Stylistics sounded in the studio so on most of if not all Stylistic recordings he only allowed Russell Thompkins Jr & Airrion Love to sing in the studio..the background vocals on those records were usually provided by himself, Linda Creed & Love
@lh12cat-xd7wt yup!
You forgot to mention that once they got with Thom Bell, the only Stylistic to sing on their recordings were Russell Thompkins Jr. Thom Bell & Gamble and Huff provided the background vocals.
Linda Creed sang background also as did Daymond Johnson who has been with group since 79. He still sings with Russell Thompkins Jr and new Stylistics in concert still in 2024.
Great work Salamander
Round two album yours right as rain was an awesome song did it chart?
You and me was a jam on that album too!
Thom Bell was clearly one of the best R&B producers from the late 60s to the mid 70s.
He also produced the Spinners, Delfonics and Johnny Mathis where he did an album called “I’m Coming Home” 1974 with his collaborator.
I love this group the stylistics has classic after another. People make the world go is one of my favs.😂😂
Deborah Cox also sampled You Are Everything for Things Ain't Just The Same
Great job King. I know Mr. Bell's first name is spelled with a Th, but it is still pronounced as Tom. Keep it up!
Absolutely...who is Dom??? Lol
You are the man, the Stylistic was a great group and they definitely have some jams.
This had always been my Favorite Oldie Group Thanks For This
The Stylistics debut LP was the BEST R&B ALBUM EVER to me from start to finish along with The Isley Brothers “ The Heat is On”. As a former DJ with thousands of R&B and Funk LPs and a former record shop owner that was my evaluation. Russell Thompkins and Michael Jackson had the best falsetto voices ever to me.
Please, include the great Sylvester here as well!
Payback is a dog is an all time favorite
I don't remember how I found your channel but your commentary is always very informative. And adding snippets to some classics just takes me down memory lane. Keep up the good work!👏🏽🙌🏽👏🏽🙌🏽 your voice sounds like you weren't even born when the artists you speak on were successful.. I could be wrong though. Good work. 👏🏽🙌🏽
Your Right I’m Only 23 But I Love Music So Much
@@WBPTV wow..God Bless you 🙏🏽and your love ❤️of History of Music.
Love the Stylistics... Thom (pronounced Tom) Bell was one of the Hottest producers to me !!
Not to mention the lovely philly girl the late Linda Creed.
voice more clear, you've been working my friend
I Agree, With ALL Those Hit Songs THEY Should be in The Hall of Fame..
This is a master piece
Yep
They should have cemented a place in the rock and roll hall of fame
All the going back and forth and all the new and old members coming and going..its really crazy...omg..the only names I really know are Russell Thompkins Jr. and Airrion Love..lol..I had no idea the group had gone thru so many changes..thanks for this video..
You are sosossoo talented
That's My Group, To This Day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
You are a legend
Great group and the production quality of their records is top tier!
Loving your content...new subscriber here💜
Welcome Aboard
Black music at its finest.❤
You are so sosososo smooth
You keep saying "Donny Warwick" It DIONNE (DEE-ON) IJS
You are so sosososo brilliant
WELL DONE!!!!!
The Spinners were not from Philadelphia.
never knew Love In This Club was a sample of The Stylistics
It doesn't really sound like it to me though
It’s the song You Are My Everything that Usher sampled it could be something very simple as using the snap drum etc
You are a genius
One of my favorites by them is " only for the children" RIP Linda Creed.
You are sosososo underrated
They do indeed belong in the Rock and Roll Hall of fame. Daryl Hall (of "Hall & Oats") said as much at the podium as he and John Oats were inducted a few years back.
They really changed a lot of lead singers, infact I have all the Hugo and Luigi songs on 💿 and some of them make me cry, happy 😊 tears 😭 of course.
I'll say put them in the Hall of Fame as well with a resume like that they definitely belong their. Russell has worked very hard to keep the group alive and on the chart
You are the man
You got decent content bro, really you do! But, pronounce folks names properly. Thom=(Tom), Dionne=(Dion) Warwick. My surname as well as 1st name gets mispronounced far too many times, so, it's something I notice. It's a respect thing. And it's so much info available that I'm quite sure there are videos of people properly speaking Dionne's and Thom's name😉
I just had to mention that. Otherwise, you got good stuff. Keep up the content✊️!
Memories of the talent shows at recreation centers at 25 and master.
You are so sosososo deep
All the gold singles and albums of gold platinum were sung by Russell Thompkins alone. Airion only sang on 2 of the 14 top hits. He sang duo on them With Russell. " You Make Me feel Brand new" and " You are Everything".
Airion would also sing on the middle of You're A Big Girl Now
You are so sosososo amazing
You are sosossoo amazing
You are so sosososo fantastic
You are so sosososo awesome
One of my favorite groups and they should be in the rock and roll hall of fame, or develop
a rock and roll hall of fame for groups from the 70's.
My favorite group of all time. I first seen them in Toronto back in 85, seen them in Buffalo NY several times. Seen them in DC and Seattle. Been following these guys for over 25 years.
RIP Thom Bell.
35 years*
I always thought the lyrics of the Stylistics songs were so profound & their style romantic. There's another group I would consider unsung, The Mad Lads of Stax Records of which I would appreciate a documentary done about them.
My good man , My guy , My brother . one thing ok ? Let me tell you , The Spinners are from Detroit . They only had the Philly Soul Sound .....Produced by Mr. Bell but came from Motown Records . Marvin Gaye was a session drummer and back up singer for them .
I love your voice
When ya gonna do The Delfonics?
Thom Bell whom was Jamaican by the way needs more recognition. His contributions to music is so underrated
You are sosososo bless
You are so sosososo pure
The Stylistics are wonderful one of my favorites. Russell Thompkins Jr is one of the best falsetto singers ever. But what people don't know is that Russell and Arrion were the only one's that actually sung on the Thom Bell produced records. He didn't like the voices of the other members.
I feel you
Thank you Bell 🛎️
I do agree. The Stylistics should be in the Rock and roll Hall of Fame 👍🎶
Tom belle and linda Creek was the sold writers of the stylistic great writers
You missed one single. First Impressions. It was only two or three minutes, but it was hot.
You are sosososo superb
Arion love of the stylistic is my wife's first cousin.
No body can't never ever take your place
Man they had some hits !!
R.I.P Thom Bell great song writer
Great little informative vid. Glad I found this channel. Fuck, the Stylistics should be in any Hall of Fame going! Isn’t the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame about anybody who has a significant impact upon any genre? It’s certainly not about the traditional definition of Rock n Roll, not for a long time. Rock n Roll just means sexy, happenin music nowadays, a general thing, otherwise no one since Buddy Holly would’ve qualified, never mind that Beatles band, or whatever they were called. The Stylistics? Come on, look at their song catalogue and the sweetest falsetto voice of all time!
They Should Tour All Together Like The Temps!!!"Get Some New Music And As You Said They If Their Not In The Rock N' Roll Hall Of Fame Let's Take A Vote For The Ceremonious Hollywood Walk Of Fame By All The Years Served!!!"Hooray,Congratulations To All Members Past And Present!"🎉🎉😊😊🎉🎉
You kill this jam
please wbptv the four tops legends of motown
They need to tour together- they were awesome
You are the real deal
It should be noted the Stylistics DID have hit singles on the H&L label: :"Can't Help Falling In Love With You" (#4UK), "Sixteen Bars" (#7UK) & "$7000 And You" (#24UK)
You are so superb
The Spinners were actually from Detroit.
Good coverage but you made a few errors in dates Dunn and Smith left and when they did, Raymond Johnson started with the group. And you missed some Untold Truths About the group also.
The group had been together for a long time.
Thom Bell made the Stylistics. his string arrangements made the Philly sound 😊
There is no Stylistics without Russel.
You go
I believe Thom Bell's name is pronounce "Tom"
Good story. And there is a bit of a history there which is at 1:55. Avco Records started in the 1970’s, originally was a TV broadcasting company where it owned WLW-AM and WLW-TV at the time when it was Crosley Broadcasting in the 1930’s. Crosley bought the Aviation Corp. in the 1940’s where it shortened to Avco. In 1968, Avco bought Embassy Pictures, an independent studio founded by Joseph Levine in the 1950’s and merged into both Avco Embassy Pictures and Avco Embassy Television. And then formed their own record label which was founded by Hugo & Luigi which were producers for all of their RCA Victor albums during the 1950’s and 1960’s. They produced Sam Cooke, Little Peggy March, The Isley Brothers and more while they were at RCA. They later went on to produced the Stylistics, Softones and Van McCoy where he had his big hit “The Hustle” in 1975. By 1976, Avco was renamed to H&L Records where they remained until the late 1970’s. Avco Embassy Pictures was renamed to Embassy pictures by the 1980’s and then Embassy Television after that and also formed Embassy Home Entertainment in 1983 after the failed Blay Video in 1982.
3:22 was a classic song. A little fun fact. This song was originally recorded by singer/actress Connie Stevens, best known for her classic “Sixteen Reasons” and “Kookie, Kookie (Lend Me Your Comb)” in the 1950’s and 1960’s. It was originally titled “Keep Growing Strong” in 1970, but they changed the title to “Betcha By Golly Wow” and became their breakthrough hit two years later.
Why did The Stylistics stop working with Thom Bell and Linda Creed as their song writers and producers and start working with Hugo & Luigi as their song writers and producers?
Who knows? But it was a mistake, those first three albums were their best. Maybe Thom Bell thought he had done all he could with them. I liked some of their later stuff, but it was more pop/disco rather than soul to me. @@JGHOUL-oy6xb
You are sosossoo unique
I'm an Eban Brown fan.