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From: fvr5000
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  • Russell is even talking to the audience. With the "old" Stylistics he let others do this. He is quite a shy front man even now, but I guess with the new Stylistics he needs to do more. Agree with all - a falsetto that is beyond compare.

  • Russell ... timeless and authentic. The best!

  • I think the confusion is in the name "The New Stylistics". Glad to see Russell and the original crew. And thanks for clarifying that.

  • Cliff Richard - Soulicious - Songs Preview - 2011

    Russell Thompkins,Jr. & New Stylistics

    /watch?v=tKGZ7radvS4

  • BEST RENDITION OF THIS GREAT SONG BY THE GREATEST FALSETTO ARTIST.

  • That brings back so many great memories of a time when things were so much better in the world. This is from back when music had a melody and this melody is

    absolutely beautiful!

  • for5000 you are good keep up the good work give them a lesson from old school.

  • very well done.........

  • One of the best falsetto tenors to ever live. Listen to the live band behind them these young entertainers wouldn't know what to do with them so used to singing with tracks. This told the truth between real performers and imitators. If you can sing live and sound like the cd without inhancements you are a true entertainers.

  • They don't come any better than this.

  • This stuff is simply pure and worthy of everyon'e ear! Love it!

  • never heard better falsetto!

  • Great talent and well written tune

  • One of the most recognisable voices ever.......even after all these years he sounds fantastic! Let us hear that voice of yours forever Russell x

  • hi can anybody tell me if the younger lead singer is related to russell as he is very like a young russell saw them in dublin brill

  • even though i still find their stage moves hilarious, i will always love RTJ's voice. no one can come close.

  • STILL! STILL! A beautiful beautiful voice! Russel hasn't lost a step, God bless him!

  • it´s E C S T A SY !!!

  • yes i cry to betcha by golly wow and i a nearly fifty year old chap

  • Damn its like hes getting better

  • wow got to love real singers and talent

  • He still has that amazing voice. I sooooo wish he and the original guys would make up and get back together. That would be superb.

    In the meantime we can enjoy TWO Stylistics groups. Both have validity in my opinion and both are fab!

  • @BusterBroonie i think they would but thee other real three are feeling there age russell looks like he really took care of him self and sounds great . thee other guys have lived the dream what a great ride they must of had . there must like likely feel ready to relax and enjoy the memorys. but russell sounds great he should continue till hes ready to hang up the mike

  • RTJ still has his unique sound!!!! I used to listen to them riding to school in the early 70s.

  • does anyone know when was this show?, he still sounds amazing for the time gone by, his falsetto is still clear and clean, man oh man. He is just one of the very very few that still has a viable sound that could still sell out, just to name some others, Jeffery Osborne, Mel Carter, Donna Summer, Gladys Knight, Stephanie Mills, Peabo Bryson are in this group there are still others to name these are the ones that has come quickly to mind.wonder what will justin timberlake sound like n time 2 come?

  • sigh, made me relax in this charming evening. xD

  • Comment removed

  • I am a subway singer and love to perform classic russel

  • Hermosa canción de 1971

  • Russell in front of an orchestra just like the recordings is THE SHIZZ. Only missing the oboe!

  • the Stylistics songs are timeless..........and so is Russell..........the guy is incredible to sound this good 35 years after he started singing these songs.............magical.

  • He hasn't lost it at all - Oh My Goodness he sounds just as good as he did years ago

  • russel was the entire group anyway

  • Comment removed

  • Just amazing !!! Wow !!!

  • Russell rocks, there are 2 stylistics, one the originals, that have all the originals except Russell and this group that are all new except Russell. Both sound really good. Dont know where they found a replacement for Russell, that guy is really good, but nothing is as good as the original! Russ Rocks

  • You are misinformed...in reality, it is Russell's group "RTJ & The New Stylistics" who is really the original group. Russell's group has the original band and Raymond Johnson. The group that is better know at the "Stylistics 'Tribute' Band" is made up of all new band member, a new lead singer and background singer. The two remaining memebers, Herb & Arrion, never sang backgrounds on the Thom Bell albums. Simply stated, when they perform, their microphones are either off or very low in volume.

  • @fvr5000...which is why to promote the new ?Very Best of the Stylistics...and more!", it was Russell's group who performed on the David Letterman Show! Accept no subsitutes...get the "Real Deal"...the man who sang lead on the 14 number one songs of the Stylistics...simple stated..."Russell IS the Stylistics"!!!

  • You are misinformed...in reality, it is Russell's group "RTJ & The New Stylistics" who is really the original group. Russell's group has the original band and Raymond Johnson. The group that is better know at the "Stylistics 'Tribute' Band" is made up of all new band members, a new lead singer and background singer. The two remaining memebers, Herb & Arrion, never sang backgrounds on the Thom Bell albums. Simply stated, when they perform, their microphones are either off or very low in volume.

  • oh..those moves...sweet!

  • Russell Thompkins - is the one and only lead singer of the Stylistics - no one sings these hits as well as him - there is a stylistics touring without him and they're pretty good but no substitute for the group with Russell. I heard he is touring with his own group under his own name.

  • E C S T A S Y !!! the evergreen Russell Thompkins jr and the Stylistics!

  • Wow, this brings back some great memories. I remember seeing the original Stylistics, with Russell, back in the 70's. He sounded great then and he still sounds great today. Thanks for posting this!

  • Wow! Russell Thompkins, Jr. and the New Stylistics! I'm ecstatic you posted Russell Thompkins the main voice for the Stylistics! In my opinion; no other Falsetto can touch him! I keep seeing the original Stylistics but always wondered what happened to Russell, now I know he's doing what he does best - Singing!

  • love your voice, sir!!!!

  • Amazing... simply amazing.. him and Stevie Wonders voice are both still there.. wow

  • A friend of mine caught Russell Thomkins' Stylistics with The Whispers. They met Levell Degree of heWhispers catching their show. He told him every night he came out just tohear this great voice. Thats one helluva compliment.

  • His voice is a legend. Timeless.

  • The guy is a legend...simple as.

    And when you meet him you'll find a charming thoroughly modest individual too! Beware of imitations........make no mistake Russell Thompkins Jr. is the real deal!! Andy (UK)

  • Betch by Golly Wow, it's over...the big event is behind us for another year. I thankyou for posting this video/song and I want to send you seasonal greetings from a green Vancouver Canada.

  • AGREED!! HE STILL GOT IT!!

  • Russell still has it and will always have it, Awesome singer.

  • Russell's still got it going on! His voice hasn't changed a bit. Wow!

  • That was beautiful! I Love The Stylistics!

  • Can you believe this man!! I grew up listening to this brother sing and his voice hasn't changed. He was one of the best singers from the 70's. Thank you for the post.

  • Totally.  The absolute best. This was the first dance at my wedding!

  • Stunning performance! Falsetto's usually don't age well. Eddie Kendricks's voice was basically gone by his early 40s. Obviously, Russell has taken care of his voice, which is a great national treasure.

  • This cat still got his chops!!!!!

  • Man! When this guy reaches angel status Heavens gonna freaking rock!!!!!!!!!

  • a timeless voice, an american music icon

  • I love the Philly Sound! ;) Great performance!

  • Nobody does it better than Russell!

  • Wonderful!!!!! Great orchestra too!

  • he sounds great still todayWOW!

  • love to see russell again!!!! live....

  • Russell is a legend

  • I have a DVD featuring a live concert by The Stylistics and it included 2 of the original members of the group - but doesn't include Russell. So it's good, but it somehow is not the same. I should know - saw them 5 times back in their fame, both 5 and 4 person line ups - and who was that guy Don who performed a storming version of Bad Luck each time before The Stylistics came on stage? Just great days, and great to see Russell performing again on Youtube.

  • I know ... I saw the original group back in the mid 90's or so and Russell brought me to tears hearing this wonderful Philly Soul LIVE! Nothing else like it! Wasn't all that long ago, but them was some great times!

  • beatiful song thank you for video

  • Lately, this song is on my mind, its a precious song man.

    BBGW!

  • I saw the original group back in the day with Russell!!! Let me just say there is nothing quite as amazing as the Stylistics! So much soul to last a lifetime! My memories will never fade of them and those days back in school ... Bettcha By Golly Wow!

  • i think this is great music, quality music. like the comment states right under me, timeless. 200 years from now, when all of us are dead and gone, people in love will be listening to this song in their flying cars or on mars or something. truly beautiful.

  • I'm whiter than the fallen snow and I love this stuff! Timeless perfection is all I can say.

  • @thebeastlacey Great music hath no color nor does harmony yet their very colorful just the same. If I like it I'ma play it and listen to it. Don't know your age but as a kid in the 60's and 70's the radio stations played everybody's music you heard Rock,R&B,Country and etc.All on the same station of course there weren't many stations except in the city. God bless and peace be unto you.

  • Awesome soul music at its best! Nothing else even comes close to Russell Thompkins, Jr. and the New Stylistics!

  • Russell absolutely IS the Stylistics! What kind of moron says he is not? Obviously someone who knows nothing about early '70's soul music!

  • Russell sounds exactly the same as on those Thom Bell sessions! Outstanding, and the band..they really preserve the feel. Thanks for posting this incredible performance. Wow.

  • I love this song....! The audience is DEAD...I'm not prejudiced but they must be mainly white because black folks would be up and jammin. In any event, Russell sounds GREAT!!!!

  • He's a legend and a true artist.

    MusicMatty67 on Youtube

  • russell and ted mills are the best.....

  • He is still unreal!!!!! They were /are one of the greatest bands ever. I am so proud of him!!! What a sweetheart!

  • I hope Russell made a real good living because he certainly deserves it. I always thought they were/ARE the greatest soul group in pop history.

  • what about harry ray suavesteppers?

  • I am not familiar with Harry Ray. Enlighten me please !

  • Eban Brown can't do the same runs and does not have the vocal variety that Russell Thomkins can hit. Russell can hit a pretty soprano, 1st tenor and has a beautiful 2nd tenor. Other than Eddie Kendricks Russell Thomkins has the second best tenor heard !

  • what about harry ray?

  • Russell has a nice voice, but absolutely NO SEX APPEAL.. And no sensuality. yet Eban Brown has a beautiful voice and range and loads of sex appeal and sensuality. No one person is bigger than the group. I wish Mr. Thomkins the best, but he along was and is not the Stylistics, and had he kept that in mind, perhaps he would still be with the Stylistics, but he is not. I wish them all great success in the stage that they are in now.

  • This line up and the other (called The Stylistics) suggests a fractious parting of the ways.

  • Russell's voice is just as creamy and silky as ever! He is looking good too! Thanks for this posting. Helps me get the best bang for my concert dollar. When we go to 'legend' concerts, unfortunately with these groups-we don't always know who or what we're going to get. Some performers don't know when to hang it up, they just keep 'Tryin to make a fool of us!'

  • I saw Eban Brown with Airain and Herb the other night and they were fabulous. But seeing this....Russell sings great too.

  • The best falsetto voice in the history of pop music. RT jr hasn't lost a thing, it's like 1972 when he sings this classic song.

  • ruedydude:

    No question about it, there have been many great falsettos in the 20th century. You can choose your who's who among the many, but Russel's falsetto voice is the greatest above all. He stands alone among the best. No one else, I mean no one else, can sound like him - just silky, smooth, like butta. And it is great to see that he stills sounds wonderful after 35 years later... His voice should be a National Treasure!

  • Hi,akai1962!! I'm so happy to hear that Mr. Thompkins can still hit his notes with authority and conviction. This is a very nice video.

  • No prejudice against any new members of The Styistics but you as Marvin Gaye said there ain't nothing better than the real thing, and Russell Thompkins delivers on that promise with his unforgettable signature voice. The instrumentals where a bit loud though.

  • Russell Thompkins JR Has Still Got The Vocie Wow

  • The most beautiful LOVE SONG in the Universe!

    This brings back such memories! I saw the original Stylistics around early to mid 90's before Russell went on his own. I shot lots of pictures and when he sang this song ... I lost it ... started crying it was so awesome hearing this live! Held that camera to my eyes so no one saw my tears ... but others around me looked pretty choked up too. Love it! Thank You!

  • PUTOBINAN....your 4 words says it ALL!

    Thanks to fvr5000 for this great post.

    Thank you 1972 and THE STYLISTICS.

  • this song is timeless

  • I was a teenager when the stylistics was at their peak. The music is timeless. With Thom Bell at the helm, all their songs were hits! Het nog klinkt goed na al deze jaren!

  • A real smooth classic!!! ...in some parts "Valentine Girl" from the New Kids On The Block sounds pretty similar, mmhhh...

    No one's ever mentioned that... ;-)

  • Russell's still a bad man...

    -Emile

  • I just adore Russell Thompkins Jr. Nothing against Harlod Eban Brown, but there can only be one signature voice of the Stylistics and that voice is none other than Russell Thompkins Jr's.

  • I don't know! Harlod Eban Brown can blow and sounds just as good! Thompkins may be the original but Brown is on par with him!

  • I love Harold Eban Brown. I think that he has one of the most beautiful and angelic voices out there today. All I am saying is that I love Russell Thompkins, Jr. greater. I would rather pay to hear Russell Thompkins, Jr. sing live at 85 percent than pay to hear Harold Eban Brown sing covers of the Stylistic hits at full strength.

  • thank you for posting this love song

  • Russell is the best!!

  • This is brilliant. He can still get up there voice wise. I think there best song is pieces from stylistics 2

  • Gsaugen there are two groups, hey I just found out recently myself that Russell Thompkins had formed another group. That's why I suppose they are called the new stylistics or maybe thats just the way the poster of the footage has phrased it but the other two original members still continued to sing after Thompkins' vacant spot was filled with new lead singer Eban Brown, another new member Van Fields also came on board, they both have been with the remaining two original members since 2000.

  • Hey Gsaugen.How can you be the Fakes,When you have the man that recorded every Million Seller for the Stylistics..Here is a thought..What have the other Stylitics done? NOTHING..They weren't even in the studio.Tom Bell didn't want them.So you have 4 singers in the other group and ONE MEMBER sang a few seconds on 2 records,,so you have the other 3members that have no creation to those hits..WHO ARE THE FAKES...?

  • Russell will not sing"You're a Big Girl" Because He said it the Worst song the Stylistics recored..I guess so when u have the Original singer on it.

  • Whoever said that the Airion Stylistics sings better than Russell Stylistics just convince me that they cannot hear.

  • Hey, somebody answer me: Is Mr Russell Thompkins Jr still giving concerts? Is the NEW Stylistics fake?

  • Russell Thompkins, Jr. & The New Stylistics are performing on July 4th in their hometown of Philiadelphia, on the steps of the Art Museum...opening for John Legend - televised on ABC. The group performs appoximately 70 to 80 concerts worldwide each year!

  • @fvr5000

    Opening for John Legend....that's absurd! He should be opening for them!

    The Stylistics are the BEST!

  • I'm confused... Please someone explain to me: Are there TWO  vocal groups named The Stylistics? Is the original Stylistics still giving concerts? Why did the original Stylistics split up? (GILBERTO SAUGEN--FROM BRAZIL)

  • If it doesn't say "Russell Thompkins, Jr.", then it is NOT the Stylistics...the other group is a "Quazi-Tribute-Cover Band"!

  • Thank U! for explaining it. now can u explain,what is "Blue Magic" without the "Wizard for Blue Magic"?? "Ted Mills".

  • Awesome song. Russell voice rocks.

  • I'm very impressed, this is THEE man when it comes to singing these ballads.

  • parabéns para a equipe do russell thompkins jr., os musicos tocam muito bem parabéns

  • The first time i saw Russel jr. and the original Stylistics was in N.Y.C. when they made their first hit "You're A Big Girl Now". They gave a mini concert of their first songs on 112th st.and Madison ave. in the Taft prodjects [East Harlem]. The next time was at the Appollo with the "Godfather of Soul" James Brown in 1971. Great show.

  • I have to give to him. He still sounds just as good as 40 years ago.

  • Russell IS the man!!! saw him with the original stylistics many years ago at the cambridge corn exchange.Fantastic then,fantastic now...

  • Dang! He still got it going on!!!

  • Absolutely, RTJr. is the only voice of the Stylistics, now and forever. Name the classics and one will recall the man's amazing falsetto on "Betcha By Golly Wow', "Stop, Look, Listen", " Peek-a-Boo", "You're as Right as Rain", "Break Up to Make Up", "Children of the Night", "You Are Everything", etc. Russell rules!

  • RTjr just makes my heart flutter and goosebumps form.....20 yrs or more later, that falsetto is still swooning his fans. And also the other boys done a good job with the harmonising effects.

  • amazing...brilliantly composed and arranged songs and a brilliant singer leading the way.......Russell is the man.

  • estes caras são bons parabéns

  • i have listened to russell and eban,russell wins hands down,love ya russell.

  • With all due respect to Herb and Arrion, Russell is the Stylistics and his voice is as pure and strong as it was 35 years ago. He was the only voice on Stylistics first 3 albums btw. Stop,Look,Listen is a soul masterpiece and I never get tired of listening to it.

  • Russell has always been my favorite since "Stop Look Listen". An awesome, God-given smooth and wonderful voice that touches my heart as soon as he starts singing. Whenever he's in concert, I'M THERE!! LOVE YA, RUSSELL....

  • A fab piece of footage, thanks for sharing.

    Russell Thompkins vocals are absolutely sensational and yet I am amazed that his profile here in England is nothing like it should be. IMO one of the best singers who has ever performed live music, Sensational !

  • Phil Bailey of EWF ,,,,,,

  • Let's just get it clear. Russell Thompkins, Jr. is THE voice of the Stylistics. Not only is his voice in pristeen condition, the person behind the voice is a wonderful human being, who likes to help others, and please his fans. He takes pride in his music, and is not threatened by any comparisons to

    Eban. Eban is a great vocalist, and has done well to fill the lead for Arrion and Herb. But there is no one who can ever be RUSSELL! LEAVE THE COMPARISONS ALONE AND LET RUSSELL BE RUSSELL!!

  • greatness..

  • Russell Thomkins Jr. is amazing. I saw The Stylistics with the new guy Eban Brown who has Russells thing down almost to a science. But after seeing this clip Beware the Master is back.

  • Hello I loved it just as I did 36 years ago,Russell still sounds excusite let's quit comparing him and Eban Brown their both out standing Artist,now compare give them their propers.Both those superb vocials I'm lovin

    this.We're blessed to have both.

  • In the Fall of 2008!

  • thats great thanks,if you have any dates i can inform fans on my website,its been about 8 years since i have seen russell my idol live,by the way i love this video,russell and his group are fantastic,i love when russ hits them high notes.

  • russell is and always will be the voice of the stylistics he sounds just as good now than all them years ago when will russell be touring the uk soon i hope

  • Exquisite.

  • folks, you just listened to the best falsetto voice in pop music history. THIS IS WHAT MUSIC AND PASSION IS ABOUT. Today's music has no soul like this classic.

  • This song reminds me of my mum, she used to play it all the time when i was about 5/6 .And for somebody who went onto be a punk it is in my top 3 songs of all time ........

  • Oneblackgeye, I like your idea!

  • Ok - Youtubers - is it time or IS IT TIME for the old school to come back one more time and remind the world what music, showmanship, talent and love is really about? Oprah - you are listening...you can pull this off - a full week of interviews and performances by 3 groups each day is not too much to ask. DO IT!

  • This is one of the sexiest songs ever written. I've been loving it since I was four year old. That's a long time!

  • I saw them in philly last summer,He is the original lead singer and he still has his voice,it was an awsome show at the dell east.I wasso gladto be there!!

  • Still awesome after all these years!

  • russell is great there's no doubt but, the greatest falsetto voice as a matter of fact voice period belongs to EDDIE KENDRICKS, the greatest of all time.

  • I love them too...but the best falsetto is Philip Bailey of Earth wind and Fire.

  • Wow. Still an amazing voice at his age. He was always the greatest falsetto voice in the history of soul/r&b music.

  • Russell Thompkins Jr has kept his health in check as his voice is very well-maintained till this age.Thnks for this clip or I may not have remembere them.

  • his voice is still the best way to go russell!!!

  • This is the real thing! Thanks for sharing!

  • Russel, terrific. What a voice!

  • Great song but yep, he' miming - it's so obvious in parts.

  • The Internet streaming video does not always play in synch with the audio...many of the videos on YouTube do that...but I assure you, this is NOT fake. Listen to the other version we have posted...same voice, different performance.

  • THATS NOT MIMING

  • That was fantastic.

  • faucete fantastico, linda voz.

  • what can Isay from England , from the day THIS MAGIC GROUP hit us in the UK in the 1970s...luscious orchestra , performance - gem

  • betcha by golly WOW!!! The new stylistics are wicked...Russell is the stylistics indeed. If only Arrion Love was still with this group, it will be complete....but weve got RJT so thats all that matters. WOW.

  • every generation has someone or something that is unique and in the music field russell thompkins jr has to be mentioned because at age 50 he still melts my heart with his brillant voice..shine on..shine on

  • great!!!

  • oh my god that was so amazing of russell. his voice never changed. despite his age he can still manage that same falcetto sound back in early 70's. rest in peace russell and thanks for the great memories.

  • RIP!!?? isn't that reserved for the dead???? Russell is not dead!!!!!

  • russell has a voice of a angel,fantastic performace

  • ok so here's the thing. Russell Thompkins jr still sounds great!! But the Stylistics with eban covering sounds better. Now i'm not sayin eban sounds better than russel but that group sounds better than this New stylistics.

  • russell you are the stylistics

  • agreed

  • Russell still sounds great .. but Eban's voice is magically beautiful...what's that old sayin'....imitation is the greatest form of flattery...he does Russell's vocals justice....I'd rather hear the songs in close original form than for somebody to STEP ON IT..mess it up ...go on Eban !! do yo thang..and Russell..you still going strong...amazingly strong Russell.

  • "magically beautiful"???...imitation is NOT artistry...it is stealing! The new lead singer of the Four Tops does not "steal" Levi Stubbs 'persona'...rather he tries to create something new!...think about it.

  • hmmm...thought about it..and I stand on my opinion. Just like a photo captures the image...imitation Captures the original flow. I appreciate the songs' original flow, accentuation, etc. From my own personal view, I think it's flattering to be imitated. It's like a Di Vinci painting, who can afford the original ? but I have some replica's and they are just as fascinating to look at.

  • When you go to a concert in which the act performing as the "Stylistics"...just know, those performers on stage had NOTHING to do wtih the creating, recording or magic in the original records...NONE whatsoever!...they have great imitation acts all over Las Vegas..go there!

  • thanks for posting this performance..this is golden...I wonder why Russell isn't singing with the other members ? He's sounding greater than ever !! Do you have "You're A Big Girl Now" ???

  • Russell has not performed "Big Girl Now" for over thirty years.

  • Why has'nt Russell performed such a great song like "You're A Big Girl Now" in over thirty years? Pl3ase Answer, thanks, Bill in Alaska

  • "magically" ..meaning if I closed my eyes, I would think it was Russell. Oh, do you think you could get a "You're a Big Girl Now", "People Make the World Go Round", and "Stop, Look, Listen to your Heart'. Do you remember a group called Young Generation...they did "Love Gonna Pack Up"

  • Ampeg AMB bass...

    If you have this instrument, tell me! I WANT IT!!!