The Stylistics' 10 greatest songs, ranked

9 February 2025, 08:00

The Stylistics in 1974. (Photo by Koh Hasebe/Shinko Music/Getty Images). Picture: Getty

By Thomas Edward

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They're the epitome of 'Philly Soul'.

Formed from two Philadelphian former groups, The Percussions and The Monarchs, the Stylistics shot to fame throughout the 1970s.

Characterised by lead singer Russell Thompkins Jr.'s dreamy falsetto, the vocal group ensured that their lovelorn brand of soul was ever-present in the US charts, making waves in the UK too.

The Stylistics achieved twelve consecutive top ten singles on the US Billboard R&B charts from 1971 to 1974, though their fortunes faded from then onwards.

Their sound was largely shaped by Philly Soul super-producer Thom Bell, who was also the man behind groups like The Delfonics and The Spinners, though he cut ties with The Stylistics in 1974.

Still, they still had successes as disco ensnared the music world, thanks to their immaculate harmonies.

Original members Airrion Love and Herb Murrell still continue with The Stylistics today, though Thompkins Jr. left in 1980 and tours as The New Stylistics himself.

Despite their rival factions, there's no doubting the group's timeless body of work. Here are the ten very best Stylistics songs:

'You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)'

The Stylistics - You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)

'You'll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart)' is a song originally written by Burt Bacharach and recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1964.
Nearly a decade later however, The Stylistics put their spin on Bacharach's ballad, released as the third and final single from their second album, Round 2.
Their version was an even greater hit that Warwick's, rising to a lofty No.23 in the US charts in 1973.
'Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)'

The Stylistics - Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)

'Stop, Look, Listen (to Your Heart)' was only The Stylistics' second ever single release, but it established them at the forefront of Philly Soul.
That was thanks to Thom Bell, who penned the song alongside Linda Creed, guided the group's vocals gorgeously.
The first track from their debut album broke the top 40 in 1971, but was a bigger hit for Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross who covered the yearning ballad and took it to No.25 in the UK charts three years later.
'Can't Help Falling In Love With You'

The Stylistics - Can't Help Falling In Love

One of the more adventurous offerings in The Stylistics catalog was a groove-heavy reimagining of Elvis Presley's 'Can't Help Falling In Love'.
The hypnotic rhythm is a far cry from Presley's croon, and is somewhat indistinguishable from the original. British audiences didn't mind however, propelling their cover to number four in the UK charts.
In covering 'Can't Help Falling In Love', The Stylistics joined a pantheon of fellow greats to try the same trick, including Bob Dylan, UB40, Shirley Bassey, Engelbert Humperdinck, Doris Day and Andy Williams.
'Rockin' Roll Baby'

The Stylistics - Rockin' Roll Baby (Official Lyric Video)

'Rockin' Roll Baby' tells a sort of fairytale story that a lot of Black Americans living in the 1970s would've felt some connection to.
The lyrics details a hard-working musician who attributes his success to his infant son, a child prodigy with a "funky walk in his little orthopaedic shoes" who drives him to achieve everything he wants and needs to.
It was a hit, reaching number three in the US Billboard R&B charts and number six in the UK charts in 1973.
'I'm Stone In Love With You'

I'm Stone in Love with You - The Stylistics | The Midnight Special

Penned by Thom Bell - who else - and his brother Tony Bell, 'I'm Stone In Love With You' was a song about giving everything up in favour of love.
Reinforcing the idea of "stoned" being a word to describe sincere and total devotion (rather than the other thing...), 'I'm Stone In Love With You' joined ranks with The Supremes' 'Stoned Love' and various others.
A top ten hit on both sides of the pond for The Stylistics, Johnny Mathis even scored a top ten hit himself in the UK after covering the song in 1975.
'Break Up To Make Up'

Break Up to Make Up - The Stylistics | The Midnight Special

Another trademark Thom Bell ballad, 'Break Up To Make Up' is really all about Russell Thompkins Jr.'s shimmering falsetto.
"First you love me then you hate me, that's a game for fools" the lyrics detail, though anybody that's been in a loving long-term relationship knows it's never an easy ride throughout. The couple in question know that they have to tear themselves apart just for a new perspective. It's a relatable scenario.
So relatable in fact, that 'Break Up To Make Up' reached number five on the US Billboard R&B charts and sold over a million copies, marking the group's fourth gold disc.
'You Are Everything'

The Stylistics - You Are Everything (Official Lyric Video)

Like many of The Stylistics early songs - which lead singer Thompkins Jr. explained in several interviews over the years - the remainder of the group didn't actually sing the harmonies on the recordings.
Nevertheless, they still sounds as sumptuous as sin, especially on 'You Are Everything' which scored The Stylistics a top ten hit on the US Billboard R&B chart.
Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross worked their magic on this song too – the pair covered it for their sizzling 1974 album Duets, taking it to number five in the UK charts and inspiring further covers by Billy Ocean and Elaine Page as well as soul singer Melanie Williams and Joe Roberts.
'Betcha By Golly, Wow'

The Stylistics - Betcha By Golly, Wow (Official Lyric Video)

'Betcha By Golly, Wow' is one of the most beautiful songs in The Stylistics' repertoire, reason why it's so beloved by artists and fans alike in generations since its original release.
Typically, the song's narrator is wildly in love, but is so besotted he can't quite express his overwhelming devotion to his lover so sings a variety of random words instead. Still, you get the idea.
The song was originally recorded by singer Connie Stevens in 1970 before The Stylistics gave it a whirl the following year, taking 'Betcha By Golly, Wow' to a lofty number three on the US Billboard charts.
It was revived in 1996 when Prince released it as a rare cover in tribute to his wife Mayte Garcia and their late baby who died a week after he was born due to a rare skull disorder.
'Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)'

I Can't Give You Anything - The Stylistics (1975) HD

After the group split from producer Thom Bell, The Stylistics worked with George Weiss (who also wrote Elvis Presley's 'Can't Help Falling In Love') who penned 'Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)'.
With a new songwriter in tow they pursued a different direction, embracing a discotheque groove with this song which began to alienate their native audience.
Still, their UK fans were the opposite, warmly embracing the hip-shaking number which propelled 'Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)' to number one - their first and only UK number one single.
The sign of a good song? When you're singing along before it's even finished, precisely what The Stylistics achieved with this glossy, foot-tapping, dance-floor ready ballad.
'You Make Me Feel Brand New'

The Stylistics - You Make Me Feel Brand New (Official Lyric Video)

An ode to the restorative qualities of finding love again, or falling in love all over again, you can't look any further than 'You Make Me Feel Brand New' for The Stylistics' greatest song.
Written by Linda Creed, she confessed years later that: "I was so happy while I was writing that song. Each line I was jumping up and down saying 'I love it!'"
Her intuition was proved right, when 'You Make Me Feel Brand New' leapt to number two in the US Billboard charts in 1972, cementing The Stylistics as one of the most talented vocal groups of their generation.
It was the only song that Russell Thompkins Jr. and tenor Airrion Love share lead vocals. He told The Guardian in an interview: "It was the first time I'd sung lead on a record. I went into the studio, did two takes and wanted to change it, but Thom was like: 'No, no, leave it alone.'"
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"When Linda first sang the melody to 'You Make Me Feel Brand New', I thought: 'Wow, that's a nice-sounding song.' I used to ask her: 'What have you gone through to come up with these words?' They were simple lyrics but everyone could relate to them."
The ballad also became enormously influential, leading the emergence of the "Quiet Storm" style where artists would combine stirring emotional lyrics with sensuous arrangements, resulting in seductive songs that infiltrated mainstream radio.
Roberta Flack, Boyz II Men, Simply Red and countless others have covered 'You Make Me Feel Brand New', a song that gains a new life with every listen.