The Stylistics - Let’s Put It All Together (1974)

“Let’s Put It All Together” by The Stylistics (1974)

Release Date: May 1974
Produced by Hugo & Luigi, Thom Bell
Genre: R&B, Philadelphia Soul, Quiet Storm
Label: Avco

Chart Positions: #14 (US), #26 (UK), #4 (US R&B)
Certifications: Gold (US), Silver (UK)
Awards: N/A

Singles and Chart Positions: 
“You Make Me Feel Brand New” #1 (Canada, Brazil), #2 (US, UK), #3 (Australia), #6 (South Africa), #11 (Netherlands), #23 (Belgium), #5 (US R&B), #6 (US Adult Contemporary)
“Let’s Put It All Together” #4 (Brazil), #9 (UK), #18 (US), #8 (US R&B), #26 (US Adult Contemporary)
Singles Certifications: “You Make Me Feel Brand New” (US Gold, UK Silver)
Other Charting Tracks: N/A

Best Tracks: “You Make Me Feel Brand New,” “Let’s Put It All Together Again,” “I Got A Letter,” “We Can Make It Happen Again,” “Doin’ The Street”

“Let’s Put It All Together” by The Stylistics (Click Here) 

“Let's Put It All Together is the fourth studio album by The Stylistics and was their best selling album overall.

The album reached #14 on the Billboard 200, their highest ever position on that chart, and #4 on the R&B albums chart. "You Make Me Feel Brand New", which originally appeared in a five-minute version on their previous album, Rockin' Roll Baby, was included in an edited version. This version was released as a single and became a huge hit, reaching #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and the UK Singles Chart. It also peaked at #5 on R&B singles chart and #6 on the Easy Listening chart. “You Make Me Feel Brand New” ended up being The Stylistics biggest hit worldwide and was their last to reach the Top 15 in the US. This was written by the Philadelphia songwriters Linda Creed and Thom Bell. Both songwriters made huge contributions to the Philadelphia Soul sound, writing many hits for The Stylistics and The Spinners. Bell also produced this track.

You Make Me Feel Brand New (1974)

The title track, “Let’s Put It All Together,” was also successful, peaking at number #18 on the Billboard Hot 100, their last big hit on that chart, #8 on the R&B singles chart, and #9 on the UK Singles chart. The Hugo & Luigi tracks were arranged and conducted by Van McCoy.

The following review appeared in the May 11, 1974 issue of Billboard Magazine in the Top Album Picks section:
"One of today's finer soul congregations, able to offer a variety of styles both vocally and instrumentally. The falsetto vocals so popular in soul is prominent, but the group is also able to offer lead singers with more traditional sounding vocalizing as well as serving up a healthy dish of harmonizing. Production of Hugo & Luigi is as outstanding as it was 15 years ago. Sure to get Pop and MOR play as well as soul play. Best Cuts: Let's Put It All Together," "You Make Me Feel Brand New," "I Got Time On My Hands." Dealers: Group has been around and is well known. Use step down display if possible."

The Stylistics 1974

Link to “Let’s Put It All Together” 

THE STYLISTICS

Lou Rawls - All Things In Time (1976)

“All Things In Time” by Lou Rawls (1976)

Release Date: June 7, 1976
Produced by Kenny Gamble, Leon Huff, Bunny Sigler, Dexter Wansel, Jack Faith, Bobby Martin
Genre: Philadelphia Soul, Jazz, Adult Contemporary, R&B
Label: Philadelphia International Records
Chart Positions: #7 (US)
Certifications: Platinum (US), Gold (Canada)

Singles: “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” #1 (South Africa), #2 (US, Canada), #8 (Netherlands), #10 (UK, Belgium), #16 (New Zealand), #22 (Australia), #1 (US R&B, US Dance, US Adult Contemporary), “Groovy People” #64 (US), #19 (US R&B), #19 (US Adult Contemporary), "From Now On" #53 (UK)
Other Charting Songs: "this Song Will Last Forever" #74 (US R&B)
Singles Certifications: You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" (US Gold, Canada)

All Things in Time is an album by American R&B singer Lou Rawls, released in June 1976 on the Philadelphia International Records (PIR) label. It was his 27th studio album. Coming after a career lull in the years immediately preceding, All Things in Time was Rawls' first album for PIR; at the time he was the first artist to sign with PIR after having already enjoyed a substantial recording career and chart success with other record labels.

“All Things In Time” by Lou Rawls (Click Here) 

“All Things in Time” became an immediate success on the back of its celebrated lead single "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine", which gave Rawls the biggest hit of his career. The album was Rawls' third R&B chart topper (the first since 1966), and reached #7 on the pop chart. It was certified Platinum in the US by the RIAA for sales in excess of 1 million.

“All Things in Time” was highly rated by critics on its original release for the quality and variety of its material, faultless production standards and Rawls' vocal performances.

Rawls was one of the few acts on the label that could do great work with a variety of producers and arrangers. The biggest track was the bravado-filled "You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine." With its subtle Latin rhythms and Rawls' tongue-in-cheek intonations.

"Time" written by Jack Faith and Allan Felder has Rawls doing a pitch-perfect vocal that makes the song sound like a standard. Despite not being released as a single “Time” with Rawls’ rich crooning vocal, reached #8 on the US Dance chart.

On this album, Rawls also got a chance to do work with the quixotic Bunny Sigler. Both "Need You Forever" and "From Now On" have Sigler accentuating Rawls' rougher edges. Unfortunately, all of the tracks aren't great here. All Things in Time ends on a great note, on "Let's Fall in Love All Over Again," a song previously done by Billy Paul and Nancy Wilson, Rawls' take is arguably the best version.

The lead single “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” ensured the success of this album. The legendary songwriting team of Kenny Gamble and Leon Huff wrote the song. They were the powerhouse producers behind most of the Philadelphia Sound, and they wrote this song specifically for Rawls. The track helped lure Rawls to Gamble & Huff's Philadelphia International label, as he was impressed that they took the time to understand his voice and write something to suit it. The song was not only a huge pop hit but was an even bigger crossover hit reaching #1 on the US R&B chart, US Dance chart and the US Adult Contemporary chart. The song was a popular favorite in roller skate rinks across the US during 1976 and 1977. “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” was a chart topper in South Africa and reached #2 in both the US and Canada. In the UK it charted a tad bit lower reaching #10. “You’ll Never Find Another Love Like Mine” was certified Gold in the US for sales of more than 500,000. The song was also nominated for a Grammy Award in the Best Male Pop Vocal Performance category but lost out to Stevie Wonder's "Songs In The Key Of Life."

"You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine" (1976)

“Groovy People, with its electric guitar chord opening, was the second single from the album. Though it did receive airplay it charted low at US #64 and made it into the Top 20 on both the US R&B and Adult Contemporary charts. Fans were thrilled by the songs optimistic nature and Rawls’ carefree vocal performance.  The song received a Grammy Nomination for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance but lost out to Stevie Wonder's "I Wish." The song’s b-side “This Song Will Last Forever” made it to #74 on the US R&B charts.

Lou Rawls (1976)

Link to “All Things In Time” (Click Here)

LOU RAWLS