Thom Bell crafts a masterpiece

Here’s why this album should be in your collection!

The Stylistics followed their successful debut album with one that was aptly titled, Round 2. Most of the album’s singles dominated the charts in 1973, although it had been released the previous year.

Producer Thom Bell and his creative partner Linda Creed crafted a masterpiece with support from MFSB, instrumentalists for Bell’s legendary “Philly Soul” sound. Every track on Round 2 became a solid or Top Ten hit single because of broad popularity on pop and/or R&B radio playlists. The crossover hits are “I’m Stone In Love With You,” You’ll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart),” a soaring remake of Dionne Warwick’s hit, and “Break Up To Make Up,” an impassioned plea for reconciliation set to music.

R&B radio stations also played “You’re as Right as Rain,” “Peek-A-Boo,” and “Children of the Night.” It’s been speculated that the song’s haunting message about searching for companionship has darker meanings. But the loneliness it echoes is universal. In 1980, The Jones Girls released a memorable cover version.

Stylistics lead singer Russell Thompkins Jr. joined Eddie Kendricks, Phillip Bailey, and William Hart among Soul music’s most distinctive falsetto voices.

This album is available in CD and MP3 format from major vendors. Please consider purchasing it from a local independent record store.

Here’s an interesting fact!

Thompkins is often confused with Eddie Holman. Holman is best known for a classic remake of the Ruby and the Romantics hit, “Hey There Lonely Boy.”