The Stylistics
'The Ultimate Collection'
Universal/Mercury Records
Released in the UK March 2005
Here's a nice two CD package that arrived unexpected and out of the blue and was a great tonic for a dreary Monday morning. Well what can one say about the Stylistics?. During the 1970's they were rarely out of the public eye in the UK where their sweet harmonies and immaculately produced singles set the standards for many other soul groups to follow - the truth is though that no-one ever matched their style (although many tried) nor their chart success. Born out of Philadelphia during the latter part of the 1960's the producers at Philly were quick to spot the talented five singers although as the sleeve notes indicate that lead singer Russell Thompkins' falsetto voice was much too high and needed bringing down a notch or two. Advice I am sure he will agree was the best he'd ever received.

Philadelphia had been a hot bed for soul music throughout the 1960's and I guess the nearest comparison you can make would the fabulous Delfonics who it must be said that the Stylistics sounded so much like. Whilst the opening track on this package 'Your A Big Girl Now' is not quite as polished as their subsequent recordings you can easily spot a super group in the making. The group were assigned Thom Bell & Linda Creed whose wonderful song writing and production talents catapulted the group into super stardom during early part of the decade and the rest as they say is history. Competing as they were during that period in an ever changing musical market they held their own until around 1976 when 'disco' finally trounced every other style in sight and many of the real singers/groups who refused to follow the carrot found themselves sitting on the sidelines without a hit record.

The group were famous for their sweet soul ballads and this ultimate collection has them all including the 'b' sides as well. Catch a listen to their original version of Marvin Gaye/Diana Ross' 'Stop, Look, Listen' and the gorgeous 'You Are Everything' to see what I mean. Then listen to those cover versions which did the original versions justice and remained almost unchanged. Regular TV spots in the UK and indeed on US Soul Train the group were untouchable during their glory years and their records sold millions where they became the most successful US soul group in the UK at that time. When it came to increasing the tempo on selected songs they delivered the goods indeed and hit singles 'Can't Give You Anything' 'Funky Weekend' and 'Sing Baby Sing' and 'Rockin' Roll Baby' but to name just four received massive plays on UK radio and the 70's club DJ's loved them as well.

As with so many records that were recorded by soul acts in the 70's the 'b' sides contained some cracking stuff too and this ultimate collection is crammed from start to finish with hit material. If singers like Johnny Mathis and Dionne Warwick see fit to record their songs as singles then that speaks volumes in itself. I recall Universal Music once telling me that their biggest selling title on their Spectrum label was the Stylistics collection (still available) but if need to make a decision which to go for then this double set is absolutely essential and will appeal to a very wide audience indeed.

The group still tour the UK and I was very privileged back in 1994 to interview Russell Thompkins Jr. on my radio show. After the hits on H & L Records and AVCO the group appeared to bounce back with 'Hurry Up This Way Again' issued here on TSOP Records and was a stark reminder of their glory days but as we hear so often these days it failed to sell in sufficient numbers and we heard little more of the group. When the history books on the 1970's music scene are written one thing is sure and that is that this group will be right up at the top with the likes of the late Barry White, O'Jay's, Three Degrees, and Tavares etc. They don't make songs like these anymore - more's the pity.

Rating 11/10