50 Years of Soul Power

Posted February 20, 2013 by J Matthew Cobb in Features

The Stylistics
The Stylistics
(Avco; 1971)

Songwriter and producer Thom Bell and lyricist Linda Creed gave life to the smooth lush soul decorating the Stylistics, thanks to standout tracks like “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart),” “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “You’re a Big Girl Now” and “You Are Everything.” The sophisticated swagger of Russell Thompkins’ falsetto – a rarity in male r&b singers – even sounds great on B-side tunes like “Ebony Eyes” and the pre-disco gem “Point of No Return.” The album’s glowing apex is revealed on the social gospel of “People Make the World Go Round,” which sounds like Marvin Gaye’s What’s Going On dipped in a haunting Burt Bacharach-esque arrangement. Before the Spinners arrived on the scene with their 1972 comeback hit “I’ll Be Around,” they were able to find their way towards redemption using the Stylistics’ magnum opus.