Rockin' Roll Baby

Rockin' Roll Baby is the third studio album recorded by American R&B group The Stylistics, released in November 1973 on the Avco label. It was produced by Thom Bell and recorded at Sigma Sound Studio North in Philadelphia. This would be the group's last album to be produced by Bell.

Rockin' Roll Baby
Studio album by
ReleasedNovember 1973
RecordedSigma Sound Studio North
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
GenreR&B, Soul
Length42:36
LabelAvco
ProducerThom Bell
The Stylistics chronology
Round 2
(1972)
Rockin' Roll Baby
(1973)
Let's Put It All Together
(1974)
Singles from Rockin' Roll Baby
  1. "Rockin' Roll Baby"
    Released: 1973
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
Allmusic [1]
Christgau's Record GuideC+[2]

Background

While on Avco, they began working with producer/songwriter Thom Bell, and along with songwriter Linda Creed created a bunch of hit singles that used lavish production backing the lead vocals of Russell Thompkins, Jr.. Every single that Bell produced was a hit.[3]

History

The album reached #66 on the Billboard 200 and #5 on the R&B albums chart. The title track was a successful single, reaching #14 on the Billboard Hot 100, #3 on the R&B singles chart, and #6 on the UK Singles Chart. The album also includes the original full version of the song, "You Make Me Feel Brand New".

Track listing

All tracks are written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed, except where noted.

Side one
No.TitleLength
1."Only for the Children"4:38
2."Could This Be the End?" (Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes, Charles Simmons)4:09
3."Let Them Work It Out"3:58
4."Make It Last"2:59
5."Pay Back Is a Dog" (Thom Bell, Kenneth Gamble)4:31
Side two
No.TitleLength
6."Love Comes Easy"4:58
7."There's No Reason" (Joseph B. Jefferson, Bruce Hawes)3:58
8."Rockin' Roll Baby"4:27
9."You Make Me Feel Brand New" (long version, not the 1974 hit single version)5:30
10."I Won't Give You Up" (Charles Simmons, Bruce Hawes, Joseph B. Jefferson)3:38

Personnel

  • Russell Thompkins, Jr. lead vocals, background vocals
  • Airrion Love background vocals, lead vocals on "You Make Me Feel Brand New"
  • James Smith, Herb Murrell, James Dunn background vocals
  • Linda Creed, Barbara Ingram, Evette Benton, Carla Benson additional background vocals
  • Norman Harris, Bobby Eli guitar
  • Ronnie Baker bass
  • Earl Young drums
  • Larry Washington timbales, congas, bongos
  • Vince Montana percussion
  • Thom Bell keyboards
  • Joseph DeAngelis, Milton Fipps French horn
  • Jack Faith alto saxophone, flute
  • John Davis tenor saxophone, baritone saxophone
  • Bobby Hartzell, Rocco Bene trumpet, flugelhorn, piccolo trumpet
  • Freddy Joiner, Bobby Moore tenor trombone
  • Richard Genevese bass trombone
  • Walter File harp
  • Don Renaldo & His Swinging Strings strings

Charts

Chart (1973/74) Peak
[4][5]
Australia (Kent Music Report)[6] 43
U.S. Billboard Top LPs 66
U.S. Billboard Top Soul LPs 5
UK Albums Chart 42
Singles
Year Single Peak chart positions
US
[4]
US
R&B

[4]
US
A/C

[4]
UK
[5]
1973 "Rockin' Roll Baby" 14 3 44 6

References

  1. Hamilton, Andrew. Rockin' Roll Baby review at AllMusic. Retrieved 2011-10-16.
  2. Christgau, Robert (1981). "Consumer Guide '70s: S". Christgau's Record Guide: Rock Albums of the Seventies. Ticknor & Fields. ISBN 089919026X. Retrieved March 13, 2019 via robertchristgau.com.
  3. "Stylists All Music Bio". AllMusic. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  4. "US Charts > The Stylistics". Allmusic. Retrieved 2012-11-21.
  5. "UK Charts > The Stylistics". The Official Charts Company. Retrieved 2011-09-29.
  6. Kent, David (1993). Australian Chart Book 1970–1992 (illustrated ed.). St Ives, N.S.W.: Australian Chart Book. p. 299. ISBN 0-646-11917-6.
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