The Best of The Stylistics – The Stylistics [1975]

AVCO Records 9109 003

The Best of The Stylistics is a recent purchase from my local record store. I don’t have many Greatest Hits compilation albums, usually it’s because if I like an artist I’ve probably already purchased many of the tracks as singles. I do have some singles by The Stylistics but they are from the period just after this album was released in 1975. I do remember at the time the album was very well received in the UK. It peaked at #1 for nine non consecutive weeks and was the biggest selling album of the year. It spent 57weeks on the top 100 albums with the lowest placing being #60 in its final week.

This release helped maintain the groups popularity in UK, however in their native US, singles and album sales were slowing down and less common place after constantly placing high in the R&B, Adult Contemporary and main Billboard Top 100 charts. In 1976 they released a volume 2 of hits in the UK which also peaked at #1 in the album charts.

Side One Track Listing

Like many vocal harmony groups, line up’s often change. For the ten tracks included on the album the personnel of the group were: Airrion Love, Herb Murrell, Russell Thompkins, Jr. (Lead vocalist), James Dunn & James Smith. The group were formed in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA in 1968. They were known for the falsetto vocals of Russell Tompkins Jr.

The singles featured are from 1971 to 1974.

Side one opens with “You make me feel brand new”. The back cover has a credit that says “Featuring Airrion Love & Russell Tompkins Jr. Released in early 1974 it was their eleventh single and to that point, their most successful release making #2 in both US Billboard chart and UK Singles chart. Also in the US the song was placed at #1 on the rival Cashbox chart. It earned their fifth gold disc in US and for the first time a silver disc in the UK. It reached #3 in Canada and Australia and #5 and #6 in Brazil and South Africa.

“Betcha by golly, wow” was their fourth single released 1972 in the US and the first to chart in the UK peaking at #13. In Canada it reached #20 but was less successful in Australia only making #80. In the US they faired much better peaking at #3 in the Billboard chart and #2 on the R&B chart. They were awarded a second gold disc for sales in the US.

“Rockin’ roll baby” was a tenth single released at the end of 1973 under their name. It was the first hit to be higher placed on the charts in the UK than in the US. In the UK it was their best selling single up to that point, peaking at #6, whilst in the US Billboard chart they managed a top twenty hit but continued their run of top ten’s in the R&B charts making #3.

Side Two Track Listing

“Break up to make up” was released in 1973 and became their seventh top ten R&B charted single out of seven reaching #5. It also reached #5 in the US Billboard chart, #37 in Canada and #34 in the UK. They were awarded their fourth gold disc for sales in the US.

The first side closes with “You’re a big girl now”, their first hit single which was recorded in 1970 and probably the least known of all ten tracks. It peaked at #73 on the US Billboard chart and #7 on the US R&B chart in early 1971.

Side two begins with “I’m stone in love with you” and their sixth single release which also earned them a third gold disc in the US in late 1972. It peaked at #10 on the US Billboard chart and #4 on the R&B chart. It became the first top ten single in Canada and UK numbers #8 and #9 respectfully. It crept into the Australian chart at #92.

“Stop, Look, Listen (To your heart)” released as their second single in 1971 and the song peaked at #39 in the US Billboard chart and #6 on the R&B chart. The song also peaked at #60 in Canada.

Let’s put it all together” their twelfth single released in 1974. It placed higher in UK where their popularity was about to score them another six top ten singles in the next two years. It peaked at #9 in UK and #18 on both the Canadian chart and the US Billboard chart. It was another top ten on the US R&B charts. It was a minor hit in Australia (#80)

“You are everything” was released as their third single in 1971. It was their first top ten song on the US Billboard chart peaking at #9 and #10 on the R&B chart. Internationally it was also a hit in Australia #17, Canada #25 and Ireland #18. They were awarded their first gold disc for sales in the US in early 1972.

“People make the world go round” is the final track of the album. It was the fifth single, released in 1972. It managed to get into the top thirty in the US Billboard chart and #6 on the R&B chart. It failed to chart in the UK. It was a top forty hit in Canada.

Out of their first twelve releases “You’ll never get to heaven (if you break my heart)” (1973) their eighth single and nineth single “Peek-a-Boo” are missing. “You’ll never….” was not released in UK until 1976 when issued as part of an E.P., The US release peaked at #23 on the US Billboard chart and #8 on the US R&B Charts, a higher placing than the original version sung by Dionne Warwick. “Peek-a-Boo” (1973) peaked at #35 in the UK, however the single either did not chart in US or did not have an official release.

The label on side one does not credit Kenneth Gamble for “Break up to make up”, but the back cover does.

1975 would see them have a UK #1 single with “Can’t Give You Anything (But My Love)“.

As a greatest hits album, this truly is a set of songs that deserve the accolade of being the best of hits.

Four Bacharach & David Songs (E.P.) – Deacon Blue [1990]

CBS Records  DEAC 12

Deacon Blue are a rock pop band that hail from Glasgow, Scotland and have had success in the UK with such albums as “When the world knows your name”, “What ever you say, say nothing” and “City of love”

They were formed in 1985 and by 1987 had established themselves enough to record their debut album, “Raintown”.

As the title of the Extended Play suggests, these are four popular and well known Bacharach and David songs all of which have been covered by multiple artists. Dionne Warwick was probably Bacharach and David’s main artist to sing their songs alongside Cilla Black and Dusty Springfield. At the time the E.P. was recorded, the main band members were; vocalists Ricky Ross and Lorraine McIntosh, keyboard player James Prime, drummer Dougie Vipond, Guitarist Graeme Kelling (4 April 1957 – 10 June 2004) and Ewen Vernal.

Side One

“I’ll never fall in love again” was recorded in different versions in 1969 by Johnny Mathais, Bobby Gentry, and Dionne Warwick.

Deacon Blue’s version [2:46] is a very slow duet between Ricky and Lorraine. The first two verses are taken by Ricky. In a form of response, Lorraine comes in on the line…. “Don’t tell me what’s it all about, ‘Cause I’ve been there…..” The next verse is again Ricky with the odd word and harmony from Lorraine. The final seconds of the track they both sing alternate lines … “What do you get when you fall in love” … and song fades into a finish.

“The look of love” was recorded as an instrumental in 1966 by Stan Getz, but the first vocal version was made for the movie Casino Royale in 1967 by Dusty Springfield.

Deacon Blue’s version [3:35] sticks very much to Dusty’s Bossa Nova tempo with the lead vocal by Ricky and harmony vocals by Lorraine. A variety of backing instruments can be heard from drums, guitars, piano, organ, and full orchestra giving the song depth. Probably my favourite of all the tracks.

Side Two

“Are you there (with another girl)”  was recorded by Dionne Warwick in 1965.

Deacon Blue’s version [3:22] is faster and has a fuller sound than the original and almost feels like an original song written by the band. The main vocal is by Lorraine. I love the brass and strings.

“Message to Michael” was recorded in various versions from 1964-1965 as Message to Martha/Michael by Lou Johnson, Adam Faith, which charted but the most well known version is that of Dionne Warwick in 1966.

Deacon Blue’s version [3:58] has almost a blues feeling because of the Hammond organ and brass section of orchestra. Ricky takes the lead vocals with harmony from Lorraine.

Production was by Jon Kelly and Engineered by Robin Rankin

The first track, “I’ll Never Fall in Love Again”, was the main radio track for the EP, and received extensive play in the United Kingdom and peaked at No. 2 in both the Irish and UK singles chart and it also managed to break into the Dutch chart and peak at #72. This is the highest performing chart single of their career as of 2023.

Up to 2020, it is purported that Deacon Blue’s total album sales stood at seven million, with twelve UK top 40 singles, along with two number one albums in the UK.