The Stylistics People Make the World Go Round

1971 album The Stylistics

Composed By Thom Bell/Linda Creed

This 1971 classic appeared on the Stylistics' self-titled Thom Bell-produced debut. Like most of the songs on that effort, "People Make the World Go Around" has a timeless quality and a singular sound. Vocalist Russell Thompkins Jr. covered the lines here in his precise, mellifluous falsetto. With his deliberate delivery he made Linda Creed's vivid lines about the "Big men smoking in their easy chairs" and "Wall Street losing dough on every share" seem like pure poetry. It is hard to believe that he was only in his early twenties when this was recorded. While the Stylistics were fast becoming the known for their harmony, "People Make the World Go Round" only featured Thompkins Jr. on vocals. There is a sense of cool here, a comfortable, lived-in musical presentation that makes it sound like the style had been around for years. It hadn't. In fact, upon leaving the Delfonics, arranger, producer, writer, and conductor Thom Bell left the " Delfonics" sound behind for a style defined by work with artists like the Spinners, Johnny Mathis, and Dionne Warwick, among many others. In fact, "People Make the World Go Round" has a poise and strong lyrics reminiscent of Burt Bacharach and Hal David's work with Warwick. This song has also had quite a few distinguished covers. The Ramsey Lewis Trio and Milt Jackson did remakes in the early '70s. Angela Bofill did a disco-styled take for her second album. For 1995's Crooklyn soundtrack, Marc Dorsey did a great remake that had the original's poignancy.

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Music

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[dasfmn1997]

I remember this song as a child but heard the long version with the second half instrumental for the first time on the radio in 1988 while driving around Atlanta, GA late one summer evening in my beat up '71 Ford. I was a college senior and getting close to graduation. This song evoked a feeling of nostalgia and a lonely, wistful, yearning to reach out to humanity somehow late that evening in the streets of Atlanta. Thanks for the memories and for sharing the long version.

[msjazzylinn]

@dasfmn1997 My pleasure! ♫♫ ʝαʑʑӌɭíŋŋ ♫♫

[xman8109]

May GOD save the world. GOD bless JAPAN.

[msjazzylinn]

@xman8109 Amen!

[jorgealbertobaron3]

Hermosa canción

[msjazzylinn]

@jorgealbertobaron3 ;o)

[MJsexyboylover11]

i love this version it seem original or is it cause it sounds just right for this group

[Scalaswagger]

crooklyn brought me here as well

[digitalkillaz]

golden

[ScienceProjek]

Crooklyn.

[Eccehomo01]

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