Your classic soul song of the day is “You Are Everything” by the Stylistics. This track went to #9 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #10 on Billboard’s R&B Singles chart in 1971.
“You Are Everything” was written by Philly Soul legends Thom Bell and Linda Creed. It was the first of five singles by the Stylistics that hit the Billboard top ten, the others being “Betcha by Golly Wow,” “I’m Stone in Love With You,” “Break Up to Make Up,” and “You Make Me Feel Brand New.” During the four-year period from 1971 to 1974 they dominated the soul charts, with 12 consecutive R&B top ten hits. Truly remarkable.
Bell and Creed wrote the majority of the Stylistics’ hits, as well as hits for other Philly Soul groups such as the Delfonics and the Spinners. Along with Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler, and Bobby Martin, they created a sound that was the ’70s heir to the Motown sound of the ’60s. It was a smoother, more fully orchestrated sound, infused later in the decade with a disco beat, but always highly melodic with interesting chord changes. The Philly Soul sound was also defined by doo-wop-like harmonies and a high tenor or falsetto vocal—just like what you have with “You Are Everything.” It’s a perfect Philly Soul song.
The Stylistics were Russell Thompkins Jr. on lead, with compatriots Herb Morrell, Airron Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. They all hailed from Philadelphia and came together as a group in 1966. They recorded their first single in 1970, “You’re a Big Girl Now,” which was a regional hit at the time and got the attention of Avco Records. (It went to #7 on the national R&B chart when it was re-released in 1971.) The label assigned the group to producer Thom Bell and the rest is history.
Bell and the Stylistics went their separate ways in 1974, and the group never achieved the same level of success. Love and Murrell are still touring as the Stylistics, with some younger additions. Dunn and Smith left the group in 1980 and 1981, respectively, and lead singer Thompkins hung on until 2000 before he left to go out on his own. All five original members are still alive and in their 70s now, but betcha by golly, wow, they were really something back in the early ’70s. I love this stuff.
So I really love today’s daily bonus video of the day, the Stylistics performing “You Are Everything” live on TV back in 1973. Great stuff.
