The Stylistics - Thank You Baby (1975) Hi-Res

I like when they go disco or uptempo pop soul. But most of the albums' content, including this album, seems to be slow nightclub soul, just the kind of music that you can guess while looking at the loving couple on the album cover. And again, as you can see while looking at it, there are certain moments for that kind of music, but I am not having one now and just trying to enjoy a nice soul record instead. This way, Thank You Baby is a mixture of good and average.

"Can't Give You Anything (But My Love)" is a wonderful classic in its genre, while the other hit, "Sing Baby Sing", is very nice as well. "Disco Baby" may not be a similar triumph but it is OK. "Stay" is more laid back, and I still like it, while "What Goes Around Comes Around" is the best of the slow numbers in my opinion. "A Honky Tonk Cafe" leaves a 'novelty' feeling, but I can stand it very well. The rest is... average. I mean, I can stand everything and anything that The Stylistics have recorded, but while they are really good at their best, I would wish more of that really good stuff and less of the average material, quite intelligibly, I guess.

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.