Style on the Rebound

S -m-o-o-t-h.

That’s the word that most frequently comes up when people talk about the Stylistics, the Philadelphia soul group that made its name in the ‘70s with such hits as the sillily titled “Betcha By Golly Wow” and “Break Up to Make Up.”

“I’m glad people use that word, because we try to present that,” says Herbert Murrell, 39, who with fellow co-founders Russell Thompkins Jr. and Arrion Love has been the core of the Stylistics continually since 1968. “I don’t want to pat myself on the shoulder, but we just try to do the best we can. We try to be classy with whatever we do.”

That, Murrell says, includes attempting a comeback. Though the group, which performed Friday at the Celebrity Theatre in Anaheim and appears Sunday at the Wiltern Theatre on Wilshire Boulevard,

has maintained an extensive international touring schedule, it has done so without the benefit of a Top 40 pop hit single since 1974’s “Let’s Put it All Together,” and hasn’t even made the pop Top 100 since 1976. But newly signed to Warner Bros. Records, the Stylistics hope to bring that old, smooth sound back to the charts.

“Basically we’re using the same formula as always,” Murrell says. “We can’t get away from what we are, though we’re updating the sound. Times have changed since our hits. . . . You have to be aware of what’s going on today, but not try to jump on a bandwagon. We’re not a rap group, so we can’t be part of that. We’re known for doing love songs, so we’re finding the best love songs we can and doing them in our manner, but updating them.”

The key to a smooth comeback, Murrell maintains, is that despite the fact that much of the group’s audience consists of long-time fans, it refuses to consider itself an oldies act.

“No, no. Once you put that label on yourself that sticks with you no matter what you do,” he says. “We couldn’t sit back and say it’s over and become an oldies group.”