Rockin' Roll Baby - Stylistics (1973) 4/7/23

Songwriters Thom Bell and Linda Creed were two of the principal architects of the soulful Philadelphia Sound.

They wrote and produced for several artists with great success all around...but probably their MOST successful collaborations were with The Stylistics.

Everything they wrote for the group turned out to be a "Great Song," and the list was long: "Betcha by Golly, Wow", "I'm Stone in Love with You", "Break Up to Make Up", "You Make Me Feel Brand New," "You Are Everything," all of which we've already highlighted, and the song we're highlighting today: 1973's "Rockin' Roll Baby!"

As always, the song featured the incredible falsetto of Russell Tompkins, Jr., but unlike most of The Stylistics' other hits, "Rockin' Roll Baby" was uptempo. And, instead of being a romantic ballad, it was literally about a baby--who was born into show business.

Chartwise, the song reached #3 on Billboard's Rhythm & Blues Chart, and #13 on The Hot 100.

"Rockin' Roll Baby" was a "Great Song of 1973: one of the many reasons why Thom Bell and Linda Creed are in the Songwriters Hall of Fame--and the Stylistics are in the Vocal Group Hall of Fame! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c-fX5cc_frY

Tomorrow: Monti Rock III Coming Soon: Great Songs of the 80s.