Tag Archives: The Stylistics

THOM BELL-DIDN’T I BLOW YOUR MIND? THE SOUND OF PHILADELPHIA 1969-1983.

Thom Bell-Didn’t I Blow Your Mind? The Sound Of Philadelphia Soul 1969-1983. Label: Kent. Format: CD. During the late-sixties and seventies, Thom Bell was one of the architects of Philly Soul, and worked with everyone from The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Spinners to M.F.S.B., The O’Jays, Three Degrees and New York City. Artists came …

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READY OR NOT-THOM BELL’S PHILLY SOUL ARRANGEMENTS AND PRODUCTIONS 1965-1978.

Ready Or Not-Thom Bell’s Philly Soul Arrangements & Productions 1965-1978. Label: Kent Soul. Format: CD. In the late-sixties and seventies Thom Bell was one of the architects of Philly Soul, and worked with everyone from The Delfonics, The Stylistics and The Spinners to M.F.S.B., The O’Jays, Three Degrees and New York City. Artists came from …

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YESTERDAY HAS GONE-THE SONGS OF TEDDY RANDAZZO.

Yesterday Has Gone-The Songs Of Teddy Randazzo. Label: Ace Records. The name Teddy Randazzo means different things to different people.  To some, he’s the singer who had Billboard 100 hits with 1958s Little Serenade, 1960s The Way Of A Clown and Big Wide World in 1963. He featured in  rock revues alongside Chuck Berry and …

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THE STYLISTICS-ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY.

THE STYLISTICS-ROCKIN’ ROLL BABY. Often, when a group decide to change producer, this can mark a change in their fortunes. This is even more risky when the producer has co-written some of your biggest hits. Forty years ago, The Stylistics were about to release their third album Rockin’ Roll Baby. Their two previous albums, 1971s …

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THE STYLISTICS-ROUND 2.

THE STYLISTICS-ROUND 2. Just under year since The Stylistics released their debut album The Stylistics in November 1972, which was certified gold, and featured five top ten US R&B singles, The Stylistics released their sophomore album Round 2 in October 1973 on Avco Records. Like The Stylistics, it was produced by Thom Bell, who cowrote …

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THE STYLISTICS-THE STYLISTICS.

THE STYLISTICS-THE STYLISTICS.  Often, when people mention the Philly Sound, they immediately think of Gamble and Huff. That’s doing a huge disservice to another of the architects of the Philly Sound, Thom Bell. He worked with some of the most successful groups of the Philly Sound. The Detroit Spinners, The Delfonics and The Stylistics were …

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THE STYLISTICS-CLOSER THAN CLOSE.

THE STYLISTICS-CLOSER THAN CLOSE. What never ceases to amaze me is how sometimes, a group can go from being one of the biggest and most successful groups in soul music, to almost the forgotten men of soul music. It seems that fame is indeed temporary. Some people may say that form is also temporary, and …

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THE STYLISTICS-HURRY UP THIS WAY AGAIN.

THE STYLISTICS-HURRY UP THIS WAY AGAIN. The story of The Stylistics has some similarities with that of The Delfonics. Both groups were among the finest purveyors of the Philly Sound and both were produced by Thom Bell. However, when Thom stopped working with each group, their music never had the same depth or quality. Even …

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