- James Dunn - baritone (-78)

- Airron Love - tenor

- Herb Murrell - baritone

- James Smith - bass

- Russell Thompkins Jr. - lead vocals

- Raymond Thompson - bass (replaced James Smith)

  (1982-)

- none known

Genre: soul

Rating: **** (4 stars)

Title:  Round 2

Company: AVCO

Catalog: AV-11006-598

Year: 1972

Country/State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: original AVCO inner sleeve; minor ring wear

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4564

Price: $8.00

Cost: $66.00

All hyperbole aside, 1972's "Round 2" has to be considered one of the shining moments of mid-1970s soul.  Produced, conducted, arranged and largely written by Thom Bell (with Linda Creed getting co-writing credits on most of the ten tracks), the group's sophomore set proved a creative and commercial blockbuster.  Propelled by Russell Tompkin's instantly recognizable tenor and the cream of Sigma Studios sessions players, there simply wasn't a bad song on the set. Even the two MOR covers were stunning good - their take on Carole King's 'It's Too Late' was actually better than the original, while Thompkins and company managed to overcome Burt Bachrach and Hal David's penchant for sappiness on 'You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)'.  Personal favorite - the atypical up tempo 'Pieces'.  As mentioned before, the album proved a commercial bonanza, spinning off three top-40 hits for the group:

- 1972's 'I'm Stoned In Love with You' b/w 'Make It Last' (AVCO catalog number AV-4603)

- 1973's 'Break Up To Make Up' b/w 'You and Me' (AVCO catalog number AV-4611)

- 1973's 'You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)' b/w 'If You Don't Watch Out' (AVCO catalog number AV-4618)

Bottom line, it just doesn't get much better than this !!!  A classic album that no soul (or pop) fan should be without.

"Round 2" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) I'm Stoned In Love with You   (Thom Bell - Anthony Bell - Linda Creed) - 3:22

2.) If You Don't Watch Out   (Thom Bell - Linda Creed) - 2:37

3.) You and Me   (Thom Bell - Linda Creed) - 2:46

4.) It's Too Late   (Carole King - Toni Stern) - 4:23

5.) Children of the Night   (Thom Bell - Linda Creed) - 7:04

(side 2)
1.) You'll Never Get To Heaven (If You Break My Heart)   (Burt Bacharach - Hal David) - 3:40

2.) Break Up To Make Up   (Thom Bell - Linda Creed - Kenny Gamble) - 4:02

3.) Peek-a-Boo  (G. Guess - N. Knox) - 2:56

4.) You're As Right As Rain   (Thom Bell - Linda Creed) - 3:49

5.) Pieces   (Thom Bell - Linda Creed) - 3:13

Genre: soul

Rating: ** (2 stars)

Title:  Thank You Baby

Company: AVCO

Catalog: AV-69008

Year: 1975

Country/State: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Grade (cover/record): VG/VG

Comments: 

Available: 1

GEMM catalog ID: 4563

Price: $8.00

Cost: $66.00

All good things must come to an end and The Stylistics string of creative and commercial success started to rapidly decline with the release of 1975's "Thank You Baby".  With long standing producer Thom Bell no longer working with the group, Hugo Creatore and Luigi Peretti were brought in as replacements, with Van McCoy handling arrangements.  The combination may have looked good on paper, but in practice it was pretty much a disaster.  Penned by Creatore, Peretti and George David Weiss, material such as the title track, 'Can't Give You Anything (But My Love) and 'I'd Rather Be Hurt By You (Than Be Loved By Someone Else)' simply wasn't very strong.  With the exception of the goofy 'Honky Tonk Cafe' and the up tempo 'I'm Gonna Stay', Thompkins and company seemed uninspired by the songs.  For goodness sale, they even made Herb Murrell waste his nice voice handling the lead on an awful disco song ('Disco Baby').  Not a proud moment in The Stylistics' catalog ...

"Thank You Baby" track listing:
(side 1)

1.) Thank You Baby   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 3:43

2.) Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 3:13

3.) What Goes Around Comes Around   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 3:09

4.) I'd Rather Be Hurt By You (Than Be Loved By Someone Else)   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 3:38

5.) Disco Baby   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 3:15

(side 2)
1.) Tears and Souvenirs   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 4:07

2.) A Honky Tonk Cafe   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 3;30

3.) I'm Gonna Win   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 4:16

4.) Stay   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 3:04

5.) Sing Baby Sing   (Hugo Creatore - Luigi Peretti - George David Weiss) - 2:50

The group's decline began with this album, their next to last on Avco and their weakest to that point. Thom Bell's departure hastened the slump, for such songs as "Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)" and "Thank You Baby" lacked the lyrical insight, flow, and rhyme scheme that characterized their past triumphs. Russell Tompkins, Jr., didn't seem as focused or effective, and the backing was feeble, as were the arrangements.