The Stylistics, “Stop, Look, Listen…” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 35^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” by The Stylistics. 

The vibes, the vibes, those Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶! Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 is a column that celebrates awesome songs from the past.  The records that grace Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 are older, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re ancient – no fossils 🦴! All genres of music are welcome – we don’t discriminate ‘round here! In the 35^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)”, performed by 🎙 The Stylistics. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍ 

When you hear the name 🎙 The Stylistics, the first soul gem that comes to mind is probably 🎵 “You are Everything”.  That’s totally understandable – it’s their ‘ace-in-the hole’ and an incredible song.  Perhaps the second Stylistics gem that comes to mind (or maybe the first) is 🎵 “Betcha by Golly Wow”.  Both songs appear on the collective’s critically acclaimed, 1971 album, 💿 The Stylistics.  You know what other standout that appears on their self-titled debut? 🎵 “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)”.

“Stop, look

Listen to your heart, hear what it’s saying

Stop, look

Listen to your heart, hear what it’s saying

Love, love, love.”

“Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” marks another stellar joint by this stellar soul collective.  Like the other songs off The Stylistics, “Stop, Look, Listen” was penned by 🎼✍ 🎛 Thom Bell and 🎼✍ Linda Creed.  That tells that the writing is ELITE.  Furthermore, Bell helps to craft that lush, signature Philly soul sound, one of the best things to come out of the 1970s. Ample credit also goes to lead singer 🎙 Russell Thompkins, Jr., who sounds amazing, wowing with a ripe falsetto.  The theme is nothing new – matters of the heart – but have they ever sounded better than in the hands of this fivesome?  Thompkins and company encourage allowing yourself to L-O-V-E on this magnificent opener!

“Though you try, you can’t hide

All the things you really feel, this time decide

That you will open up, let it in

There’s no shame in sharing love you keep within.”

Final Thoughts 💭

Honestly, couldn’t all of  💿 The Stylistics be considered a Throwback Vibe 🕶️🎶? Why, yes, of course, it could! The Stylistics ‘put in work’ on this entire album while 🎵 “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” just happened to be my pick for this 35^th edition.  Honestly, music just doesn’t sound like this anymore. “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” is a surefire classic gem!

🎙 The Stylistics • 💿 The Stylistics – The Original Debut Album • 🏷 Amherst • 🗓 1971

The Stylistics, “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 35 (2022) [📷: Amherst, Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]