The Stylistics, “You are Everything” | Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶

In the 68^th edition of Throwback Vibez (2022), we recollect and reflect on “You are Everything” 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 68^th edition of Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 (2022), we recollect and reflect on 🎵 “You are Everything”, performed by 🎙 The Stylistics. 

Theme & Lyrics ✍

When you hear the name 🎙 The Stylistics, one of the first soul gems that come to mind is 🎵 “You are Everything”. The top-10 Billboard Hot 100 hit (no. 9) graces the Philadelphia soul collective’s critically acclaimed, 1971 album, 💿 The Stylistics.  The Original Debut Album also features some of the group’s biggest hits including 🎵 “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” and another contender for their ‘best of the best,’ 🎵 “Betcha By Golly, Wow”.  The gold-certified “You Are Everything” was written by 🎼 ✍ Thom Bell and 🎼 ✍ Linda Creed – elite songwriters!

Singing the lead on this lush ballad is 🎙 Russell Thompkins Jr., who also sings background vocals too. Interestingly, other members of The Stylistics don’t sing on this record! According to the embedded article from Michigan Chronicle, producer “Thom Bell, was only impressed with Thompkins’ singing, so he only used him…” Of course, looking back, specifically on “You are Everything,” it is the perfect soul record, even if only one Stylistic is utilized! The harmonized vocals, using various other vocalists, are stunning, especially against that Philly soul backdrop.  Thematically, it encompasses expired love – one you can’t forget about.  Thompkins asserts, “I just can’t go on / Living life as I do / Comparing each girl with you / Knowing they just won’t do / They’re not you.”  Why are they not you? Well, that’s where the tuneful chorus comes into play: “You are everything / And everything is you.” Woo!

Final Thoughts 💭 

The Stylistics’ 🎵 “You are Everything” ranks among the elites when it comes to soul classics.  It should come as no surprise that it has been sampled time and time again.  🎙 Mary J. Blige interpolated it in her 1997 single, 🎵 “Everything” (💿 Share My World), which peaked at no. 24 on the Billboard Hot 100.  Furthermore, former 🎙 Destiny’s Child member, 🎙 LeToya Luckett, sampled it on 🎵 “Torn”, the crowning achievement from her platinum-certified, 2006 album, 💿 LeToya.  See, The Stylistics helped spawn more hits beyond their own surefire vibe.  You love to see it!

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

The Stylistics, “You are Everything”: Throwback Vibez 🕶️🎶 No. 68 (2022) [📷: Amherst, Brent Faulkner, Gerhard G., JL G via Pixabay,  Karl Hörnfeldt via Unsplash,  The Musical Hype]