Not sure whether this is the right forum. But, anyway, I've been reminiscing a little tonight and thinking back to what got me started in soul music - way before i knew what northern soul was. It was these guys - The Stylistics, bought plenty of their albums as quite a young lad. A great introduction to the Philly sound - still sounds good to me today, they diid some great records. Anyone else a fan. I'll kick off with this cracker.

Peter

I think this is their first recording session ...very 60's !

At the time I think they were managed by Marty Bryant who was also responsible for the Precisions 45 on Hen-Mar

Andy

Not sure whether this is the right forum. But, anyway, I've been reminiscing a little tonight and thinking back to what got me started in soul music - way before i knew what northern soul was. It was these guys - The Stylistics, bought plenty of their albums as quite a young lad. A great introduction to the Philly sound - still sounds good to me today, they diid some great records. Anyone else a fan. I'll kick off with this cracker.

Peter

Same as me Pete, knew about and loved these guys in the early 70,s when I was in my early teens, Russell Tompkins is an absolute legend IMO, the early to mid 70,s was a fantastic period for the Sweet Soul sound, especially the Philly, New York, New Jersey region, every other region was well represented aswell, but I reckon the East Coast was the place to be, The Dells and Dramatics might have something to say about that though, great call Pete

Kev

I think this is their first recording session ...very 60's !

At the time I think they were managed by Marty Bryant who was also responsible for the Precisions 45 on Hen-Mar

Andy

And what a record that is Andy (Precisions on Hen mar "Take a good look") very scarce as it is, but brilliant

Kev

Edited October 23, 201510 yr by kev cane

 

Nice one Andy. 

Hope you are well Sir.

Peter 

I think this is their first recording session ...very 60's !

At the time I think they were managed by Marty Bryant who was also responsible for the Precisions 45 on Hen-Mar

Andy

Nice one Andy. 

I hope you are well Sir.I haven't seen you in yonks.Think you were still nursing back then - I remember Anita also.

Peter

 

Edited October 23, 201510 yr by Peter99

There's a lively track by them worth checking,"she did a number on me",not Russell on lead though.. interesting nonetheless.

 

Edited October 23, 201510 yr by Peter99

In 1972 I had to do a 6 month work assignment in Southampton. I didn't know a single person there and I saw in the local rag that they were advertising for bar staff at the Southampton Top Rank. I got taken on so used to do my day job then 3 or 4 nights a week at the Top Rank. There was such a good crack amongst the bar staff that we used to get together on Sunday nights and go to a different club. Anyway one of the big hits of that summer was Betcha By Golly Wow. The thought of how it used to echo round that huge Top Rank club still gives me shivers right down my backbone. I still remember it as one of the best times of my life and that record wraps it all up in one beautiful package. So sorry it's a bit mainstream but here goes . . . . . . . .

In 1972 I had to do a 6 month work assignment in Southampton. I didn't know a single person there and I saw in the local rag that they were advertising for bar staff at the Southampton Top Rank. I got taken on so used to do my day job then 3 or 4 nights a week at the Top Rank. There was such a good crack amongst the bar staff that we used to get together on Sunday nights and go to a different club. Anyway one of the big hits of that summer was Betcha By Golly Wow. The thought of how it used to echo round that huge Top Rank club still gives me shivers right down my backbone. I still remember it as one of the best times of my life and that record wraps it all up in one beautiful package. So sorry it's a bit mainstream but here goes . . . . . . . .

Nice one Mark - you have good taste. . Hope you're well boss. 

Peter 

Not sure whether this is the right forum. But, anyway, I've been reminiscing a little tonight and thinking back to what got me started in soul music - way before i knew what northern soul was. It was these guys - The Stylistics, bought plenty of their albums as quite a young lad. A great introduction to the Philly sound - still sounds good to me today, they diid some great records. Anyone else a fan. I'll kick off with this cracker.

Peter

Had it not been for the success of this great group,  I very much doubt the Falsetto lead would have had the same impact with in black music history. Falsetto and light tenor members became a must for most of the more successful groups. I still find it hard to get past ' I don't want to make you wait' as chestnut within their catalog. Good shout peter.

Andy

Obviously not northern, but People Make The World Go Round (especially the full length album version) is one of the all time classics...

 

Obviously not northern, but People Make The World Go Round (especially the full length album version) is one of the all time classics...

 

Great post. We like soul music.

Peter

 

 

Obviously not northern, but People Make The World Go Round (especially the full length album version) is one of the all time classics...

 

Good call, my favourite Stylistics track by a mile, although when Ali and Kaya start their stylistic-oke thay rarely get past betcha by golly wow.........

 

Trout Out

Great post. We like soul music.

Peter

 

 

In a nutshell Pete

Kev

https://dai.ly/xy2qyq

 

Maybe a bit 'poppy' but I'm sure this was played back in the day?

 

There's a lively track by them worth checking,"she did a number on me",not Russell on lead though.. interesting nonetheless.

Yes from the LP "Heavy" 1974 Avco lead vocal by Herb Murrell.

Am a big fan of The Stylistics don"t forget thier later Philly Int LPs either as NCFC has already mentioned with the nice dancer "We Should Be Lovers" also a version by Phyliss Hyman of this.

Cheers Paul

 

 

Love the Philly Sound and this is new from Earl Young on DSG  who played drums on most of their recordings. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjpJhSXBR2w 

Edited October 24, 201510 yr by Gary DSG

 

 

Love the Philly Sound and this is new from Earl Young on DSG  who played drums on most of their recordings. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjpJhSXBR2w 

Sounds like a Phlly classic !!!

Cheers Paul

Not sure whether this is the right forum. But, anyway, I've been reminiscing a little tonight and thinking back to what got me started in soul music - way before i knew what northern soul was. It was these guys - The Stylistics, bought plenty of their albums as quite a young lad. A great introduction to the Philly sound - still sounds good to me today, they diid some great records. Anyone else a fan. I'll kick off with this cracker.

Peter

Peter, don't know if you know this but they are on tour in UK , think they are at the parr hall in Warrington, in November ,not sure how many of the original line up are gonna be present though..Phil 

Peter, don't know if you know this but they are on tour in UK , think they are at the parr hall in Warrington, in November ,not sure how many of the original line up are gonna be present though..Phil 

Cheers Phil. I didn't know that. I could be wrong but I think there have been quite a few changes to the original line up.

Peter

On 2015-10-23 at 23:55, MBarrett said:

In 1972 I had to do a 6 month work assignment in Southampton. I didn't know a single person there and I saw in the local rag that they were advertising for bar staff at the Southampton Top Rank. I got taken on so used to do my day job then 3 or 4 nights a week at the Top Rank. There was such a good crack amongst the bar staff that we used to get together on Sunday nights and go to a different club. Anyway one of the big hits of that summer was Betcha By Golly Wow. The thought of how it used to echo round that huge Top Rank club still gives me shivers right down my backbone. I still remember it as one of the best times of my life and that record wraps it all up in one beautiful package. So sorry it's a bit mainstream but here goes . . . . . . . .

Beautiful Soul ballad, they just don't make them like this anymore. 

Love  The Stylistics.  This is my favourite track

 

Betcha By Golly Wow is a great tune, this is the original version -

 

The stylistics ( older sister ) & temptations ( older brother ) were played at home throughout the late 60s and 70s and is where my taste in music originated and I then heard Northern and that was that although I still love the Temps/motown. ! 

My sister went to see the stylistic a couple of times at the Batley variety club circa 1974 and got to talk with them after the show and she still talks about how great they were.

Great childhood memories every time the stylistic are mentioned so thanks Pete.

6 hours ago, petebangor said:

Betcha By Golly Wow is a great tune, this is the original version -

 

Thank you for posting Pete, Connie Stevens as in Tick Tock fame, what a distinctive voice she has.  

made some great records 

point of no return

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WdB4lY88aw

make it last

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tBX2tARl2WM

hey girl come and get it

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7tPn1sDRR3s

if i love you

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0byXdQJyMr8

and not forgettin their 1st 45 on sebring from 1970....a great 2 sider imo

youre a big girl now

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ZSo4fXyck

let the junkie bust the pusher

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hkswy7YKrEM

 

Edited May 20, 20178 yr by dave pinch

This is the flip side to their hit version of You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) from 1972  ... amazing how many modern soul enthusiasts are completely unaware of this great finger snapping dancer  ... 

 

 

Back in the 70t's if you took this LP round a girls (over 16) house 100% , you would let them  - top shagging record - however it doesn't beat the top top shagging record of MG and DR

3 hours ago, sunnysoul said:

This is the flip side to their hit version of You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart) from 1972  ... amazing how many modern soul enthusiasts are completely unaware of this great finger snapping dancer  ... 

 

 

Eloise Laws did a version of this, a Searling play as a new release.

 

On 2015-10-23 at 22:25, Peter99 said:

Not sure whether this is the right forum. But, anyway, I've been reminiscing a little tonight and thinking back to what got me started in soul music - way before i knew what northern soul was. It was these guys - The Stylistics, bought plenty of their albums as quite a young lad. A great introduction to the Philly sound - still sounds good to me today, they diid some great records. Anyone else a fan. I'll kick off with this cracker.

Peter

Huge Stylistics fan here Pete, love listening to their sounds while out and about in the 70's Lincoln.      

It took me years to appreciate them. The first time I was aware of them was when they had a hit with "$7000 and you". That, combined with the unfamiliar sound of falsetto, sent me running, especially as it seemed to get played all the time on the radio. Third rate cabaret.

So when I heard "Hey girl come and get it" on Shaun Robbins' Sunday Soul Selection centuries later, it was a real wake up call. And Paul Collins would also play this stellar tune on his excellent show: