The Stylistics’ hits include “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “You Are Everything” and “I’m Stone in Love with You.” Courtesy photo

With more than 55 years of entertaining audiences, the Stylistics called on some famous friends to perform on their latest album, “Falling in Love with My Girl,” including Shania Twain, who co-wrote and sings on “Yes, I Will,” with the Philly group.

“That was a pretty nice song,” the Stylistics vocalist Jason Sharp said. “When you hear the name, ‘Shania Twain,’ you’re like, it’s very interesting. She was a Stylistics fan, which most people are. Everybody knows the Stylistics.”

Other guests on the album included Ronnie Wood playing slide guitar, and Toto’s Steve Lukather, Gene Simmons of KISS and Chicago’s Bill Champlin contributing vocals. Plus, ZZ Top’s Billy Gibbons, Elton John band musicians Nigel Olsson and Davey Johnstone, and the Tower of Power horn section. The lineup was arranged by producer Tom Cridland.

“Tom Cridland brought it together,” Sharp explained. “A lot of collective minds put a masterpiece together.”

Returning to the Maui Arts & Cultural Center for a concert on Sunday, the Stylistics were consistent hit-makers in the 1970s with 12 consecutive R&B top 10 hits. Their array of top-selling singles included “Betcha By Golly, Wow,” “You Are Everything,” “Ebony Eyes,” “People Make the World Go Round,” and “I’m Stone in Love with You.”

Still thrilling audiences today, the Stylistics feature founding members Airrion Love and Herb Murrell with Sharp.

“I love the old songs like ‘You Make Me Feel Brand New,’ and ‘Betcha By Golly, Wow’,” said Sharp. “Those songs are timeless. People just love to still hear those tunes, which they will be hearing in Maui.”

Champions of what became known as smooth Philly soul, along with groups like the O’Jays and the Spinners, the Stylistics formed in 1968 in Philadelphia by combining local high school rival singing groups known as the Percussions and the Monarchs. Following the military draft just a few members remained and they became the Stylistics.

“We’ve been friends since junior high school,” Love said about Murrell in an earlier interview with the Maui News. “We got together in 1968 and at that time the Motown sound was big. We patterned ourselves after the Temptations. We were just singers, and it wasn’t until we started working with Tom Bell that he guided us in the direction we’re known for today.”

Released in 1971, the band’s self-titled debut album was hailed as a sweet soul masterpiece. With its combination of lead vocalist Russell Thompkins Jr.’s silky falsetto, rich harmonies and lush symphonic production, it contained a feast of memorable tracks by Bell and co-writer Linda Creed, including “You Are Everything,” “Stop, Look, Listen (To Your Heart)” and “Betcha By Golly, Wow.”

“We were surprised,” Love said about their immediate success. “Things happened so fast for us. We had five songs released as successful singles from the first album. The record company milked it.”

While they tended to focus on romantic ballads, their song, “People Make the World Go Round,” on their debut album addressed social and economic ills and environmental pollution, and was stretched over six minutes.

Their follow-up, “Round Two,” was equally memorable, including the classics “Break Up To Make Up,” “I’m Stone in Love with You” and a cover of “You’ll Never Get to Heaven (If You Break My Heart).” Then their third album, “Rockin’ Roll Baby,” earned them their first No. 1 crossover hit, “You Make Me Feel Brand New.”

When Bell decided to stop working with the Stylistics in 1974, the group’s fortunes diminished. It wasn’t until 1981 when they returned to their Philadelphia roots, joining celebrated hit-makers Kenneth Gamble and Leon Huff’s Philadelphia International Records label, that they scored their first U.S. hit in years with the haunting “Hurry Up This Way Again.”

Among their recent albums, “That Same Way” was hailed as a great return to form and the group’s best album in a quarter century.

Artists who have covered Stylistics’ hits include Diana Ross, Michael Jackson, Rod Stewart and Michael McDonald, while their songs have been sampled by Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Snoop Dogg and Jay-Z.

“People just can’t forget those love songs,” Sharp said. “When you want to listen to some good music, you put on the Stylistics.”

With special guests the Manhattans, the Stylistics will perform at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the MACC’s Castle Theater, with a dance floor. Tickets are $42-$77 with a limited number of premium seats available for $137 at MauiArts.org.