Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)

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"Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" is a soul song written by Thom Bell and Linda Creed. The song was a hit for the Philadelphia soul group The Stylistics in 1971, and was covered as a duet by Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross in 1973.

[edit] The Stylistics version

The Stylistics saw their first song, 1971's "You're a Big Girl Now", reach success on the U.S. Billboard R&B chart peaking at #7, whilst it peaked at #79 on the Billboard Hot 100. However, their second release, "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)", peaked at #39 (U.S. Pop) and #6 (U.S. R&B). The song was sung by the Stylistics' falsetto frontman, Russell Thompkins, Jr., and was produced by Thom Bell.

[edit] Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross version

Around the same time, Motown wanted their most successful label mates Gaye and Ross to record a duet album. Among the songs they released, their version of "Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)" was recorded in separate studios, and was released as a UK only single from their duet album, Diana & Marvin, in 1973. The song became a hit in the UK reaching #25 on the UK Singles Chart. In America, "You're a Special Part of Me", which was the more successful offering.

In 2001 the Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross duet version was used as part of the movie soundtrack for "Bridget Jones's Diary (film)".

[edit] Covers and samples

The song has been covered many times. Patti Austin recorded it for her 1981 album, Every Home Should Have One, and Will Downing's 1998 album, Pleasures of the Night version featured saxophonist Gerald Albright. The duet approach was mimicked by Michael McDonald and Toni Braxton, for McDonald's Motown II album in 2004.

Smilez and Southstar's hit, "Tell Me", sampled from the Gaye/Ross version. A second sample of that version of the song, at least the music, was by Ja Rule and Ashanti with their joint hit, "Mesmerized". 50 Cent also sampled it in his song, "Ghetto Qu'ran (Forgive Me)".

Boney James has also covered the song.

Johnny Mathis covered the song for his 1973 album "I'm Coming Home," an album of Philly soul record standards composed mostly by Thom Bell and Linda Creed.

Rapper Shaquille O'Neal sampled the Gaye/Ross version for the song "Legal Money."

Rapper J.K. Specific sampled the original in his song "Slow down".

Kool & The Gang made an instrumental version of this song on in 1973 on their compilation album "Kool Jazz".

[edit] Credits

[edit] The Stylistics version

• Lead vocals by Russell Thompkins, Jr.
• Background vocals by James Smith, Airrion Love, James Dunn, and Herbie Murrell
• Produced by Thom Bell

[edit] Marvin Gaye & Diana Ross version

• Lead vocals by Marvin Gaye and Diana Ross
• Instrumentation by The Funk Brothers
• Produced by Hal Davis