Sweet Soul Symphonics: Thom Bell and the Stylistics

THE STYLISTICS were a permanent fixture on the British pop charts of the early '70s. Every tenth record that came out of my tinny transistor radio in that time seemed to be another creamy hit by this Philadelphia vocal group. But when you're 12 years old and half in love with Marc Bolan, the last thing you want to hear is a seraphic black falsetto backed by oboes and bassoons - not to mention twelve violins, four violas, and two cellos.