"You Make Me Feel Brand New"
[song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed]
This time around the Smooth Soul Survivor mines into the rich vein of smooth soul that is Philadelphia and a recording that has enjoyed numerous comebacks over its thirty year history. It's a history that just keeps on getting longer as the 1974 hit by The Stylistics, ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New,' continues to enjoy outings with such diverse talents as Richard Elliott, James Last and Simply Red.
"You Make Me Feel Brand New"
[song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed]
This time around the Smooth Soul Survivor mines into the rich vein of smooth soul that is Philadelphia and a recording that has enjoyed numerous comebacks over its thirty year history. It's a history that just keeps on getting longer as the 1974 hit by The Stylistics, ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New,' continues to enjoy outings with such diverse talents as Richard Elliott, James Last and Simply Red.
Legendary production genius Thom Bell worked with the (Detroit) Spinners, the O'Jays and the Stylistics during the early seventies and, in so doing, made them into the leading Philly soul groups of that era. During this period the Stylistics had 12 straight top ten US hits, including ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New.' They were perhaps one of the smoothest and sweetest soul groups of their era. All of their hits were ballads and all were gifted with the hallmark tones of Russell Thompkins Jr. and the lush production techniques of Bell.
The Stylistics formed in 1968, from the debris left after the split of Philadelphia soul groups The Monarchs and The Percussions. Thompkins, James Smith and Airrion Love originated with The Monarchs while James Dunn and Herbie Murrell were from The Percussions. Initially they were signed to Sebring Records but it was in 1971, after they switched to the larger Avco Records, that they enjoyed their first top ten single.
Joining Avco enabled the Stylistics to begin their relationship with producer/songwriter Thom Bell, who had already fashioned hits for The Delfonics. Together with lyricist Linda Creed, Bell set about creating a string of hit singles for the band that included ‘You Are Everything,' ‘Betcha by Golly, Wow,' ‘I'm Stone in Love With You,' ‘Break Up to Make Up,' and, of course, ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New'.
In the spring of 1974, and following the success of ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New', the Stylistics began working with Van McCoy, who assisted them in creating a softer, easy listening style. When, in 1976, they left Avco and signed with H&L it signaled the start of a decline in the group's American record sales. However, their European popularity, fueled by the 1975 hits ‘Sing Baby Sing', ‘Na Na Is the Saddest Word' and ‘Can't Give You Anything' was given an unexpected lift. ‘Can't Help Falling in Love' followed a year later and further extended their European shelf life. Read more on the Stylistics.
‘You Make Me Feel Brand New' is a hugely covered track. Philly compilations and reggae renditions, the ridiculous of Mantovani and James Last to the sublime of Roberta Flack, this tune has been done every which way. True notables come in the guise of the 1995 version by Regina Belle from her outstanding Philly retrospective ‘Reachin Back' and from jazz guitarist Norman Browne on his 1999 ‘Celebration'. Soul and jazz cross over artist Norman Connors features it on his 1978 release ‘This Is You Life' and Babyface, with a style that can only be called urban smooth, includes it on his 2001 ‘Love Songs'.
A real blast from a shaky past comes courtesy of The 5th Dimension and their version of ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New' lifted from their 1995 album ‘In The House', a collection that was critically hammered for being a "cabaret caricature." One of the better versions is that by Everette Harp from his 1994 CD ‘Common Ground'. On this recording, smooth jazz saxophonist Harp, who employs a style not dissimilar to Dave Koz and Warren Hill, has Marcus Miller on bass and executive production from George Duke. It's a nice piece of work.
In 2003 Simply Red selected their version as a single from the album ‘Home'. At the time, this record came in for some criticism as being bland and was seen as just another marker along the road of Simply Red decline. That 2003 was not all bad for ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New' can, in the main, be attributed to its inclusion on the CD ‘Ricochet' from the excellent Richard Elliot. Of the current crop of smooth jazz saxophone superstars ex Tower of Power horn player Elliot is perhaps the most distinctive. Indeed it would not be overstating the case to say that Elliot can be heard coming a mile away. Certainly, his version of ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New' has his own very individual style written all over it.
In a way this version would have been a fitting end to a great story but 2004 brought yet more covers. Sax man Jimmy Greene features it on his ‘Forever', respected session man and former Upsetters bass player Boris Gardiner includes it on ‘I Want To Wake Up With You'. In addition, Boyz II Men, statistically the most success R & B group of all time, choose to make it part of their 2004 release, ‘Throwback'. Finally, the phenomenon that is American Idol makes ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New' part of their own musical heritage with the performance by Amy Adams from the spin off CD ‘American Idol Series 3 - Greatest Soul Classics'. Such a tapestry of covers can only mean one thing. ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New' is a true Smooth Soul Survivor.
Watch this space for more great Smooth Soul Survivors. Alternatively, if have you a favourite that you would enjoy being featured in a future edition, please e-mail me on denispoole2000@yahoo.com.
By Denis Poole