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Stylistics

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Musicians

The Resume

    (1968- )
    Formed in Philadelphia
    From two Philadelphia groups, the Monarchs and the Percussions
    Original line-up:
    Recorded 'You Make Me Feel Brand New,' 'Betcha by Golly, Wow,' 'Rockin' Roll Baby,' 'Break Up to Make Up,' 'You're a Big Girl Now,' 'I'm Stone in Love With You,' 'Heavy Fallin' Out,' 'Let's Put It All Together,' 'You Are Everything,' 'People Make the World Go Round,' 'You’ll Never Get to Heaven,' 'Stop Look Listen to Your Heart,' 'Sing Baby Sing,' 'Na Na Is the Saddest Word,' 'Can't Give You Anything' and 'Can't Help Falling in Love'
    Russell Thompkins Jr. (March 21, 1951- , born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
    Airrion Love (August 8, 1949- , born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
    James Smith (June 16, 1950- , born in New York City, New York)
    Herbie Murrell (April 27, 1949- , born in Lane, South Carolina)
    James Dunn (February 4, 1950- , born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)

Why they might be annoying:

    Their first hit 'You're a Big Girl Now' cost their producer Bill Perry a little over $500 to make and release locally. A record company gave him $10,000 for the rights to the song, and the band never saw a nickel of it.
    Their new producer/songwriter Thom Bell created their biggest hits, and they showed their appreciation by leaving him in 1974.
    They then hooked up with Van 'The Hustle' McCoy and moved toward a softer, easy listening style. That's when their hits dried up.
    They are the only group to incorporate the words 'orthopedic shoes' into a Top 10 song ('Rockin' Roll Baby').
    Smith left the group in 1981 and wasn't replaced until they started touring as an oldies group in the '90s.
    In 2004, Thompkins formed and began touring with a new group, Russell Thompkins Jr and the New Stylistics.
    Murrell and Love are the only remaining original members left.

Why they might not be annoying:

    Along with the Spinners and the O'Jays, they helped create 'The Sound of Philadelphia.'
    During the early '70s, they had 12 straight Top 10 hits.
    'You Make Me Feel Brand New' was a #2 smash in both the US and UK (1974).
    When American record sales declined, they remained popular in Europe, particularly in England, where they scored four Top 5 hits (1975-76).
    Ill health forced Dunn to retire (1978).
    In 2000, Thompkins suffered from serious vocal problems and the band was forced to find a replacement for him.
    They continue to perform year round and around the world as one of the more popular headliners in classic oldies soul shows.

Credit: Scar Tactics


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 15 Votes: 20.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 24 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 34 Votes: 5.88% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 16 Votes: 31.25% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 7 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 13 Votes: 53.85% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 18 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 30 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 35 Votes: 45.71% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 21 Votes: 38.10% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 93 Votes: 46.24% Annoying
    In 2006, Out of 154 Votes: 44.16% Annoying
    In 2005, Out of 389 Votes: 44.73% Annoying